What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a zone of smoke control then it is crucial to buy 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 possible. Stoves with this certification often feature the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled area means they can't make use of a fireplace that burns wood. It's not the case. In reality, a majority of cities and towns are in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you cannot have stoves, it just means you need to make use of an exempt device and only burn authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. This means it can be legally used in smoke-control zones.

The Defra logo is widely adopted in the industry, and a lot of the stoves approved bear SE after their name which means they are smoke free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria with regards to its emissions, so you can be assured that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and most efficient wood stove available.

If you're looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer has taken measures to make sure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with a 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with UK building regulations, whilst stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved Fireplaces And Stove and stoves as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved can also be used conjunction with a smoke control system for homes 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, which is also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and can only be used with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not can be very minimal. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be easily transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that these limitations are not violated during testing, the stove needs to be able to limit the amount of combustion air it gets to ensure that it doesn't deplete itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove that allows a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove, and under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the most reputable manufacturers in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and colors. You can also select from a vast variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located predominantly in towns and cities with large populations. You can check the website of your local authority to find out if you live in one of these. It is essential to buy a DEFRA-approved stove if you live in a smoke-controlled area. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a smoke-free stove, is an appliance that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have 'SE' after its name which means it can be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter. This can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart issues. Therefore, it is essential to choose a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove is in compliance with the emissions limits currently in place.

If you buy a stove that isn't EPA-certified and you live in a smoking area it is necessary to recertify it before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is legally required. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stove that is not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines relating to pollution-free air.

Modern stoves can be upgraded to become Defra approved with an adjustment kit or Fireplaces And Stove a kit provided by the installer. This is because the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that are not, is the combustion air management system which controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually applied to the base or Fireplaces And Stove the underside of a stove's firebox.

There are some manufacturers who produce two versions of a wood stove. One is Defra-approved and the other that isn't. This is due to the process of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the costs, they'll offer the non-approved version at a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the testing process.

Gas Approved

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any kind of fuel they liked which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions and health problems. To combat this Defra created 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 certified to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous testing in order to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved in a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox to ensure that even if the stove is used with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a large selection of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control area and require a new wood-burning fireplace. We have a broad selection of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional, contemporary and inset models from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is there is no difference in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a stove that is not approved. However, the DEFRA approved wood burning stoves-approved models do have a few features that are designed to make them burn cleaner. They usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they may have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with five" (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 a great option when you install a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.