What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in an area where smoke is controlled, it's 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 tested independently to ensure the lowest emission possible. Stoves that have this status will often display the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove but this isn't the case. Many towns and cities are within a smoke control zone however that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in terms of the emissions it generates when burning authorised materials. This means it can be used legally in a smoke control area.

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

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will see that the manufacturer has done things like ensure that there are sufficient air intakes in the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney and enter your home.

A Defra-approved stove allows you to use a 5" liner which is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require an 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a variety of Defra-approved Fireplaces And Stove and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future standards for air quality in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with a smoke control kit for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a range of approved smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove you can install in a smoke control area in the event that you intend to use it to burn solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive levels of smoke. They are able to be used with 'authorized fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that isn't approved is usually very small. Many modern stoves can easily be converted to DEFRA conforming with the kit supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in just a few minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted on how much smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove has to be able to limit its combustion air so that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is achieved by the mechanism that allows an air pocket in the firebox when it is burning. It is usually concealed within the stove or beneath the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country such as Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the future demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are typically situated around cities and towns with large populations and you can visit the website of your local authority to determine if the area you live in is classed as such. It is crucial to buy a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel on an unapproved stove, such as coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke exempt wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the front of its name, which means it can only be used in areas controlled by smoke when you burn approved fuels. In this instance, wood.

The older wood stoves produce large amounts of particulate matter. This can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, fireplaces and Stove respiratory issues and heart issues. This is why it's crucial to purchase a new wood stove that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove meets the emissions limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoke-free area you'll have to recertify it before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is required by law. Additionally, homeowners who sell a home with an uncertified wood stove could be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

The majority of modern stoves can be altered to become Defra approved with an adjustment kit or kit provided by the installer. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that passes through the stove when it is operating normally. Modifications are usually applied to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stoves one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is because the process of placing a stove through stringent Defra tests can be very costly, so to help recoup some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA-approved model will have undergone the combustion air modification in the course of the test procedure.

Gas Approved

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any kind of fuel they liked which resulted in large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To combat this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous testing to prove they can burn authorised fuels cleanly in a Smoke Control Zone. The most modern combustion technology allows an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control area and need a new fireplace that burns wood. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not really a distinction in appearance between a Defra approved woodburning stove and one which isn't, however the Defra approved models have a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They typically have an aesthetically different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they may have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

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