What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's important to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves that are certified are often branded with the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. This is not true. The majority of towns and cities are in a smoke control zone however that doesn't mean they can't use a wood burning stove. It's just that they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning approved materials. This means it can be legally used in a smoke control area.

The Defra logo is widely adopted in the industry and many of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their name, meaning they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission requirements. This means that you can rest assured that you are buying the best wood stove on the market.

If you're looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will see that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes on the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with a 5" chimney liner, which will comply with UK building regulations, whereas stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke-control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn a variety in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA Stoves Reviews approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove, is the only type of stove you can install in a smoke control zone in the event that you intend to make use of it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with 'authorized' fuels.

The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that isn't approved is usually minimal. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be made DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and has to be limited to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove has to be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen which can cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove that opens an air pocket into the firebox during combustion which is usually hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the most reputable manufacturers in the world including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet future demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large cities and towns. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out if you live in one of these. It is important to purchase a DEFRA-approved stove if you live in a smoke-controlled area. This will help you avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or any other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a smoke exempt 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 bear an 'SE' in its name meaning it can be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels which is in this case wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. This is why it's essential to buy new wood stoves that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area you must have it recertified before you can use it. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stoves that are not certified may also be liable for tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.

Modern stoves can be altered to be Defra approved using an adjustment kit or kit that the installer offers. This is because the main difference between the DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system that controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or the underside of a stove's firebox.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves one that is Defra approved and the other not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To reduce these costs, they will sell the non approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved version has been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing procedure.

Approved Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they wanted which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions and health problems. To prevent this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to prove they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved in a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even if the stove is used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and DEFRA stoves reviews live in a Smoke Control Area then we suggest that you take a look at the selection of Defra approved stoves that are available at The Stove Yard. We have a broad selection of DEFRA recommended stoves-approved stoves, DEFRA stoves reviews including traditional, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is that there isn't any noticeable difference in appearance between a Defra approved wood-burning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models do have various features that are designed to ensure that they burn more efficiently. They will usually have a slightly different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they may have a 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 seen this helpful when a customer has an older or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing the Defra approved wood-burning stove in and also saves the expense of re-lining the chimney stack with a wider diameter liner.