What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke-free zone then it is crucial to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this certification typically carry the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or defra legislation Stoves on their specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means that they aren't able to use a wood burning fireplace. This is not true. In reality, many cities and large towns are in a smoke-free zone, but this doesn't mean you cannot use a stove, it just means that you must make use of an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (usually briquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised materials. This means it can be used legally in areas of smoke control.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves are marked with the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission criteria. This means that you can be confident you're buying the best wood stove available.

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will see that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it will ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with 5" chimney liner, which will comply with UK building regulations, whilst stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are pleased to offer a range of DEFRA legislation stoves approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with future air quality standards in mind. Many of our Defra-approved stoves are also able to be used in combination with a smoke control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be put in in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known as DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with solid fuel, which is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and are only suitable for use with 'authorized' fuels.

The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that is not approved is usually quite small. Modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA certified by the kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted in just a few minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted in the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be able to limit the combustion air supply to ensure that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoulder. This is done by a mechanism inside the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove and underneath the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the best manufacturers in the world including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. You can also pick from a vast range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are usually situated around large towns and city centres and you can visit the official website of your local authority to determine if your area is classed as such. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel in a non-approved stove, such as coal or other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA recognized stoves approved wood stove, also called a smoke exempt stove is an appliance that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' in front of its name, DEFRA Legislation Stoves which means it is only permitted to be used in smoke-controlled areas if you burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.

A lot of older wood stoves emit huge amounts of particulate matter. These can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart issues. Therefore, it is essential to purchase a stove that meets strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove has met the emissions limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoke-free area it is necessary to renew the certification before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is required by law. In addition homeowners who sell their home with an uncertified wood stove could be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

With a kit or an adjustment supplied by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. This is because the primary difference between the DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system which regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually made to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Certain manufacturers make two types of wood stove. One is Defra-approved, and the other not. The reason is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To help recoup these costs, they sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA regulations stoves approved version will have had the combustion air modification included in the testing procedure.

Gas Approved

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, which resulted in high levels of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To stop this, Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have gone through rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who live in a smoke control area and require a new wood-burning fireplace. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good part is that there's really a distinction in appearance between an Defra approved wood-burning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models do come with a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. Generally they will have a different design of grate and air vents and on gas stoves, they may also have an alternative size flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have a 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). We've seen this helpful when customers have an old or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it saves the cost of re-lining the chimney stack with a larger diameter liner.