What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A multi-fuel stove that has been approved by defra is one that has passed the Defra test for smoke. They are also known as SE (smoke-exempt) stoves.

The DEFRA approved traditional stoves department of the government is responsible for implementing rules and regulations relating to rural issues, agriculture, and the environment. The Defra test ensures you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite in a smoke-free area without causing any disturbance to your neighbors by emitting nuisance smoke.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves make use of renewable materials and fuels to reduce emissions. Eco-friendly stoves are usually made to burn wood or in combination of other approved fuels. A wide variety of eco-friendly log burners and multi fuel stoves are readily available, ranging from contemporary to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves make use of the dung of pigs as a reliable and carbon-negative alternative to wood.

The most important aspect to ensuring that your stove is eco-friendly is to ensure that the fuel you are using is properly seasoned or dried. This helps reduce the amount of moisture and lets the wood burn more efficiently, generating less smoke. It is recommended to purchase only wood that has been procured from sustainable forests. Look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' logo when purchasing wood to ensure that it has been dried to an appropriate temperature.

Most of the newer stoves comply with strict EU EcoDesign Standards. These standards require that stove makers design wood burning stoves that are energy efficient and with environmental protection in the back of their minds. Ecodesign stoves have to take into account the environment, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. These are among the cleanest and eco-friendly stoves that are available.

Replace the grill on your stove with ceramic grate. This will make it more eco-friendly. This material is not only aesthetically pleasing and attractive, but it also comes with the added benefit of not being a smoker and helping to reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, ceramic grate liners are easy to keep clean and last longer than steel inserts for grates.

In a Smoke Control Area you can still use a wood-burner or multi-fuel stove, but it is crucial to only use fuels approved by Defra. If you do not then, you could be in breach of the law and risk a fine from the local council. You should only use fuels approved by Defra for example, a manufactured anthracite round, in your stove.

Clean Burning

Multi fuel stoves approved by Defra can be used only in areas that are smoke-controlled in the event that they burn only smokeless fuel. It can be a smokeless log, anthracite or a manufactured or natural product. The stove manufacturers must also follow the regulations to sell an exempt from DEFRA wood burner. Here at The Stove Yard we have an incredible selection of DEFRA approved stoves for wood burning and 5kw multi fuel stoves defra approved fuel stoves from leading brands like Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more.

These Defra-exempt stoves use the latest technology for combustion to reduce tar emissions and tar accumulation in your chimney or flue system. They use the latest secondary and tertiary airflow techniques to ignite particulates and tar gases before they can escape into the atmosphere. This is the reason why the Defra approved stove so much more eco-friendly than the older generation wood burning stoves and open fires.

The design of a stove that is Defra-approved is also distinct. The majority of our range has an internal mechanism that allows for the continuous flow of air to the flame even if the vents for air have been closed. This is to prevent the soot and ash being sent up the chimney which can hinder the stove's performance and cause dangerous chimney fires.

This is an essential feature for anyone living in a smoke-free zone The new Defra approved stoves don't allow you to shut the air vents completely and allow you to sleep your stove all night that could release combustibles that have been partially burned into the air.

A DEFRA-approved stove will also have a longer burn time than older non-Defra stoves. However it is possible to swap your authorised fuel with smokeless coal to sleep the stove over night, this would also shorten the burning time as the constant air supply required to slumber would reduce the burning of smokeless fuel.

Emissions Reductions

When used correctly, a DEFRA-exempt stove can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are typically PM2.5 particles, which could cause a range of health issues that include heart ailments and lung diseases, if inhaled.

The high efficiency of combustion in a DEFRA approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the combustion process. This significantly lowers the environmental impact especially in urban areas where pollution levels are high.

The effectiveness of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your home. By using a DEFRA-approved wood burner in place of a gas boiler, you can lower your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bill.

If you live in a zone where smoke is controlled, it's essential that your stove is DEFRA Approved (or Smoke Exempt) as this will enable you to burn Defra Approved fuels like manufactured smokeless ovals like Anthracite or Homefire and dried wood and other fuels that are authorised. This will let you enjoy your fireplace without worrying about how the stench of smoke could disturb your neighbors.

Many stoves that are DEFRA certified, are tested to meet clearSkies standards and are able to be identified with the clearSkies label. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme that requires stove manufacturers to display information on the effectiveness and emissions of their products, allowing consumers make an informed decision. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating, emissions, as well as the type and size.

It's important to remember that, as with Ecodesign the clearSkies regulations are minimum standards. Manufacturers are able to go over and beyond these. ESSE, for example has developed its new stoves to be more efficient and defra stoves less polluting and produce less particulates, without sacrificing performance or control. This latest innovation utilizes patented Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology that burns all smoke particles which reduces their impact on the environment.

If you live in a smoke-controlled zone and use a DEFRA Approved Stove with a high-quality, kiln-dried or seasoned log you will get as much heat, or even more, from the same amount dry wood than the same amount of wood burned in the non DEFRA Approved Stove. In fact, it could be up to 24 percent cheaper to heat your home with a an newest Defra Approved stove than with conventional gas boilers.

In compliance with Building Regulations

If you live in an area under smoke control, it's essential to use a multi-fuel stove that is approved by DEFRA. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they don't release any smoke when burning authorised fuel, so you can use them in areas that are usually filled with buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a variety of DEFRA approved log burners from the top brands, including Mi-fires Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.

You can also safely burn peat, wood, and other solid fuels by using a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. Be aware that certain types of fuel are prohibited for use in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local regulations and restrictions.

To ensure that a multi-fuel stove can be safe to use, it is important that you have the right ventilation. This will help reduce the buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home. DEFRA approved stoves come with an inbuilt ventilation system that delivers sufficient air to the combustion process. This ensures your home is always fully ventilated, and safe to use.

In addition, DEFRA approved stoves have a minimum flue size of 550mm2, meaning they can be used with a standard twinwall flue system. Our wide range of flue liners are compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, which means you can use them to upgrade your existing fireplace and ensure it meets the latest emissions requirements.

When you are choosing the DEFRA approved stove look for the 'DEFRA symbol on its packaging or in the manufacturer's information online. This information is also available on numerous reliable retailers' websites as well as in the store displays.

If you're planning to install a multi-fuel stove, it's crucial that you get the job done by a certified professional to ensure that you are in compliance with building regulations. Infractions to the correct instructions for installation could result in a fine and damage to your property. We recommend choosing a HETAS certified installer to carry out your stove installation, because they will be well-versed in the guidelines of the manufacturer and building regulations.