What Are Defra Approved Stoves?

Also known as Defra Exempt Stoves and Smoke Control Approved Stoves, these stoves are usually designed to burn Defra approved smokeless fuels like Anthracite ovals. They are not suitable for use with wood.

To be exempt from Defra, a stove's air controls as well as its flue draught have to pass tests in the laboratory. These tests differ slightly from the real-world conditions.

Clean Burn Technology

A DEFRA-approved stove is a multifuel or wood-burning stove that has passed a rigorous test designed by the UK Government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This test confirms that the stove is able to burn authorised smokeless fuels such as briquettes and logs in Smoke Controlled Areas. This type of stove is not just better for the environment however, it is better for your neighbors as it will reduce nuisance smoke.

These DEFRA stoves have a special combustion technology that allows them to sleep or slumber longer than other stoves. They can burn smokeless fuels that are approved in a clean and efficient way while maintaining the required heat output for your home. They accomplish this by limiting the flow of oxygen into the firebox, causing the fuel to burn at a low level until it is depleted.

Defra stoves are often called smoke-free or SE stoves. They will have a badge or label with the DEFRA logo on it. They may be labeled as Ecodesign compliant 2022 to indicate that they will be able to meet the new Ecodesign emission limits when they go into effect next year.

There are many factors to take into account when buying a DEFRA accredited stoves. Included in this are the kind of stove, the fuel types that can be used and the amount heat it is capable of producing. There are additional features that you might wish to think about such as a simple remote control system or an air-washing system.

There are a variety of DEFRA woodburning stoves and multi-fuel stoves available. If you are looking for a stove to be installed in an existing fireplace or cost inglenook, there are a variety of traditional stoves to choose from, while there are also modern and contemporary models that would look great without mantles or surrounds. It is also important to think about the fuel you want to use as there are DEFRA exempt wood burners as well as many dedicated Defra approved stoves that only allow for the usage of approved smokeless fuels.

Suitable for Smoke Controlled Areas

Most towns and cities in the UK are classified as Smoke Control Areas, so if you live in one then you'll require an DEFRA exempt wood burner or multi-fuel stove. These stoves are designed to comply to the Clean Air Act regulations, and have been tested for smokeless combustion.

A DEFRA compliant stoves approved stove has been developed with Clean Burn Technology, which is the reason they are smoke-free. This is achieved by forcing a continuous supply of oxygen into the combustion chamber until all the fuel is consumed. This means the fire can't be shut off as in a traditional stove, and it will continue to burn at low levels until the fuel is consumed completely and the flue gases are exhausted.

This permits the stove to be used legally in a Smoke-Control Area and with approved fuels. This includes wood and manufactured smokeless fuels such as anthracite and smokeless briquettes as well as firelogs. This is in contrast to non-Defra stoves that are only permitted to be used in a Smoke control Area provided they are fitted with a special smoke control kit.

It is possible to fit a non-DEFRA exempt wood stove with the correct Smoke Control Kit, this is not recommended because you could be putting your family at risk of breathing toxic gases and toxins that can cause lung damage. Additionally, using a non-DEFRA exempt stove in a Smoke Control Area can result in substantial fines.

Stovax offers a wide range of wood burning multi-fuel and fireplaces that are all DEFRA-exempt and may be used in smoke-controlled areas. Our dealers are happy to help with finding the perfect DEFRA approved stove for your home, just put in your postcode here to find your closest dealer.

It is essential to remember that all new stoves must be installed by a HETAS registered installer to ensure that they are fitted safely and comply with the requirements of current building regulations. A DEFRA-approved kitchen appliance that can be used in Smoke Control Zones helps reduce emissions, leading to a reduction in amount of sulphur dioxide emitted into the air. From 2022 EU-wide Ecodesign regulation will establish minimum efficiencies OGV, NOX, and NOX ceilings, and emission limits that appear to be more strict than those currently required for Defra Exempt stoves.

Smokeless Fuels

There are a variety of things to take into consideration when selecting an appliance that is smokeless fuels. To begin with, the stove needs to be DEFRA approved to be used in a smoke controlled area. The stove has been subjected to rigorous tests to reduce particulate emissions. Additionally there are a variety of stoves that utilize specially-designed smokeless fuels which burn more cleanly than traditional coal. This is beneficial for the environment, as well as your neighbors!

Briquettes are typically made from anthracite and are non-smokeless fuels. They are made to be greener than traditional coal and can last 40 percent longer. In addition smokeless fuels generate more heat than traditional coal and they don't emit more carbon dioxide.

They cost more than traditional coal, however they have a lot of benefits to offer you and your family. They are less difficult to ignite and do not produce more soot or Ash. The glass screen and stove grate will need to be cleaned less often. They also produce a much more lively flame and don't emit as much nuisance smoke.

Always remember that if your home is located in a smoke-control zone that you are only permitted to make use of approved fuels or wood to heat your stove. You may be penalized if you burn fuels that are not approved. If you are using the wrong woodburner, one that isn't approved by DEFRA, you could create smoke that will upset your neighbors.

This is why it's important to buy the DEFRA exempt stove that allows you to use smokeless fuels inside your home. All stoves in this category have been subjected to rigorous testing to ensure that they comply with the DEFRA regulations and don't emit noxious smoke. This is achieved by making sure that the stoves use the most modern combustion technology that make sure that part-burned combustibles are not released into the air.

The Right to Rent

DEFRA stoves can be wood burning or multi-fuel stoves that are approved to be used in Smoke Control Areas. They have gone through rigorous testing to ensure that they offer clean and efficient combustion, with minimal emissions, and the best performance. They are available in many different styles to match your home's aesthetic.

Defra Approved Stoves are referred to in the marketplace under many different names like Defra Exempt Stoves, SE Stoves, Smoke Exempt stoves, Smoke Control Area Approved stoves and Cleanburn Stoves. They all refer to the same type of stove that has been tested and proven to be able to meet the strict requirements of UK regulations that limit the amount of smoke that can be emitted over a specified period of time.

A Defra Approved stove can only be used to burn dry wood and approved smokeless fuels such as anthracite oval or blue flame anthracite. If you try to burn anything else could produce smoke that is noxious and can cause health problems for people with asthma or other breathing conditions. It is the responsibility of the installer and the consumer to ensure that the appliance is appropriate for their particular property using the Defra calculator, making sure that all chimney components are in good working order, ensuring minimum distances to combustibles are maintained and the hearth size is suitable for the stove being installed.

Stoves installed incorrectly may cause damage, leakage, and void warranty. Installation must be carried out by a HETAS certified engineer to ensure that the stove is safe and properly installed. The warranty does not cover consumables like glass, glass rope seals on doors and windows paint finishes, interior lining plates, firebricks and baffles. They are considered to be customer replaceable parts and are available from us if needed. Damage to the stove by salt air or high moisture environments is not covered under the warranty.

A DEFRA stove will not only bring warmth to your home, but also provide peace of mind knowing you're helping help protect the environment. You can rest assured that the DEFRA-approved wood burning or multi-fuel stove will last many years.