What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's important to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke controlled area.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the 'Defra approved' logo in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means that they aren't able to use a wood burning fireplace. This isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are within a smoke control zone but that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure it meets certain standards regarding the emissions that it produces when burning authorised fuels and consequently, it is able to be used legally in smoke control Area.

The Defra logo is widely adopted in the industry and many of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their names which means they are smoke free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means that you can rest assured that you're buying the best wood stove on the market.

When you look for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll usually find that the manufacturer has carried out things such as made sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet size is sufficient to prevent the build-up of soot. This is crucial as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and enter your home.

Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically permits you to use it with five" chimney liner, which is in compliance with the UK building regulations. However, stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a selection of DEFRA approved traditional Stoves approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with future air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves are also able to be used in combination with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be used inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with 'authorised' fuels (coal only).

The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one can be very minimal. A lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified by a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in a matter of minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that these restrictions are not violated during testing, the stove must be capable of limiting its combustion air supply to ensure that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, DEFRA approved Traditional stoves which can cause it to smoulder. This is achieved by an opening mechanism that lets an air pocket in the firebox when it's burning. It is usually concealed within the stove or beneath the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top manufacturers in the country including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge range of styles and finishes. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the upcoming requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are primarily situated around large cities and towns and you can check the website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as one. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is crucial to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, like coal or other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke exempt wood stove is an appliance that can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the title meaning it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke if you burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter, which can trigger or exacerbate respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart problems. It is therefore important to buy a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the stove has met the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA certified and you live in a smoke-free zone, you will need to get it recertified before you can use it. It's expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Additionally, homeowners who sell a house with a wood stove that isn't certified could be liable for DEFRA Approved traditional stoves clean air tax credits as well as fines.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can be Defra approved. This is because the primary difference between the DEFRA approved eco design stoves approved stove and one that are not, is the combustion air management system that regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove in normal operation. The modifications are usually made on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

There are some manufacturers who produce two types of wood stove: one that is Defra-approved and the other that isn't. This is due to the process of putting a stove through the strict Defra tests is very expensive and to offset some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have undergone the combustion air modification as part of the testing procedure.

Gas Approved

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any type of fuel they wanted, which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions as well as health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not produce any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to stringent testing to prove that they can cleanly burn authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, so that even if the stove is operating with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're in the market for a new wood burning stove and live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we suggest that you look at the selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found at The Stove Yard. We have an extensive range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no distinction in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a non-approved model. However the stoves that are approved by Defra have a few features that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. Generally they will have a different grate design as well as air vents. On the gas versions, they may also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is useful when installing wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.