What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

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

The government's Defra department oversees rules and regulations concerning the environment, agriculture and rural issues. The Defra Test ensures that you can burn wood, approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite ovals in a smoke-controlled space without disturbing neighbors.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves use sustainable fuels and materials to reduce emissions. Eco-friendly stoves are generally built 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 dung as an efficient and carbon-negative substitute for wood.

The most important aspect to ensuring that your stove is eco-friendly is to ensure that the fuel you use is properly seasoned and kiln dried. This reduces the moisture content of the wood and allows it to burn more efficiently. It is recommended to buy only wood harvested from sustainable forests. Look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' logo when purchasing wood to ensure it has been dried to the right level.

Most newer stoves are made to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require that stove manufacturers create wood-burning stoves with energy efficiency and environmental protection in the back of their minds. Manufacturers must consider emissions as well as resource efficiency and waste reduction when they design Ecodesign stoves. These are among the most eco-friendly and clean stoves that are available.

Replace the grates on your stove with ceramic grate. This makes it more sustainable. It is not just attractive but also has the added benefit of not being a smoker and helping reduce sulphur dioxide in the air. Ceramic Grease liners also have a longer span and are easier to clean than steel grate inserts.

While you can still take pleasure in the comfort of cozy wood burners or a multi fuel stove in a Smoke Control Area It is vital to use only Defra approved fuels. If you don't, it is possible that you could be in breach of the law and face a fine from the local council. To avoid this, only make use of Defra approved fuels, for example, an amorphous smokeless oval, in your stove.

Clean Burning

A Defra approved multi fuel stove can be used in smoke-controlled areas if it burns authorised smokeless fuel only. It can be a kind of naturally occurring or manufactured smokeless log or anthracite and it must conform to specific regulations to meet the criteria for an Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove makers must also comply with the regulations in order to make an DEFRA exempt wood burner available for sale. Here at The Stove Yard we have a fantastic choice of DEFRA approved wood burning stoves as well as multi fuel stoves from top brands like Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more.

These Defra-exempt stoves use the most advanced combustion technology to reduce tar emissions and tar accumulation within your chimney or flue system. The stoves employ secondary and tertiary systems that ignite particulates, tar gasses and other pollutants before they go into the air. This is the reason Defra approved wood burning stoves are much more clean than open fires and Defra approved wood burning stoves older models of stoves.

The design of a Defra approved stove is also distinct. Most of our models have an internal mechanism that allows for a small, continuous flow of air to the flame even after the air vents have been shut. This stops ash and soot from being blown into the fireplace, which could cause dangerous chimney fires.

This is a crucial feature for those who live in a smoke control area, the new Defra approved stoves don't allow you to close off the air vents completely and slumber your stove overnight that could release combustibles that have been partially burned into the air.

A DEFRA approved stove will also offer you an extended burn time than non-Defra models, but it's important to note that if you changed your fuel of choice for smokeless coal and wanted to slumber your stove overnight it would reduce the burn time because the continuous supply of air needed for slumber burning would curb the combustion of the smokeless fuel.

Emissions Reductions

When used properly, a DEFRA exempt stove can produce extremely low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles which, when inhaled, can cause various health issues, including heart problems and lung diseases.

The high efficiency of combustion in a DEFRA approved wood burner minimizes the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the burning process. This reduces the impact of the process of burning on the environment.

As well as cutting harmful emissions In addition, the efficiency of a stove decreases the cost of heating your home. If you use a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove in place of a gas boiler, you can lower your carbon footprint while saving money on your energy bills.

If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it's important to make sure that your stove is DEFRA approved or Exempt because this permits you to use Defra approved fuels such as manufactured smokeless coal ovals, such as Anthracite and Homefire and dried wood and other authorised solid fuels. This will let you enjoy your fireplace without having to worry about whether the smoke will disturb your neighbours.

In addition to being DEFRA Approved, many stoves are also tested to clearSkies level requirements and can be labelled with the clearSkies mark. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme which requires stove manufacturers display information on the effectiveness and emissions of their products to help consumers make an informed decision. The information must include a stove's efficiency rating as well as emissions, along with its size and type.

It is important to keep in mind that, as with Ecodesign, clearSkies regulations represent minimum standards. Manufacturers can go above and beyond these. ESSE has designed its latest stoves so that they are even more efficient and less polluting, generating less smoke without impacting the performance or control. This latest development uses Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology, a patent-pending technology that burns all smoke particles and reduces their impact on the atmosphere.

In reality when you're in a smoke controlled zone and use a DEFRA Approved stove with a good quality, kiln dried or seasoned log, you'll be able to generate as much, or more, heat from the same amount of dry wood as you would if you were burning it on a non-DEFRA Approved stove. In fact, it could be as much as 24 percent less expensive to heat your home with a an newest DEFRA Approved stove than the traditional gas boiler.

Conforms to Building Regulations

If you live in an area that is under smoke control, it is crucial to choose a multi-fuel stove that has been approved by DEFRA. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they don't produce 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 range of DEFRA approved log burners from the top brands including Mi-fires, Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.

A DEFRA approved multi fuel stove will also allow you to burn wood, peat and other solid fuels safely. It is crucial to be aware that certain fuels can't be used in Smoke Control Areas.

To ensure that a multi-fuel stove can perform safely, it's important that you have the appropriate ventilation. This will help reduce the formation of carbon monoxide inside your home. DEFRA approved stoves come with an inbuilt ventilation system that provides sufficient air to the combustion process. This will ensure that your home is always well ventilated, and safe to use.

DEFRA approved stoves also have a minimum dimension of 550mm2, meaning they can be used in combination with a standard dualwall system. Our range of flue liners can be used with DEFRA-approved stoves. You can make your fireplace meet the most recent emission standards with our wide selection.

When choosing a DEFRA approved stove look for the 'affordable DEFRA stoves symbol on the packaging or in the manufacturer's information online. Many reputable stove retailers will include this information on their websites as well as in-store displays to help you identify which stoves meet the requirements.

If you're thinking of installing a multi-fuel stove, it's crucial that you get the job done by a professional who is certified to ensure that you are in compliance with building regulations. Inadequately following instructions for installation could result in a fine and damage to your property. We suggest you choose an HETAS-approved contractor to install your stove, since they are knowledgeable about the guidelines of the manufacturer as well as the building codes.