What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves that are certified as such typically carry the word 'Defra approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. This is not true. The majority of towns and cities are within a smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's just that they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The DEFRA approved eco design stoves approved stove is a type of wood burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain requirements in regards to the emissions that it produces when burning authorised fuels, and consequently, it is able to be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved it must meet strict requirements in relation to its emissions and emissions, DEFRA approved British Stoves so you can be sure that if you choose a defra exempt stove you are getting the cleanest and best burning wood stove available.

If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you will often find that the manufacturer has taken care of things such as made sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for DEFRA Approved British Stoves full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet is large enough to prevent the build-up of soot. This is important because it will ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it generally allows you to fit it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with the UK building regulations, whereas non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn a variety of smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be used within a smoke-control zone is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to by the name DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with solid fuel, which means wood, preferably well-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 isn't approved is usually very small. Many modern stoves can easily be made DEFRA certified by an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted within a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous tests and must be restricted on how much smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions are not violated during testing, the stove needs to be capable of limiting the amount of combustion air it gets to ensure that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smoke. This is achieved by a mechanism inside the stove that opens the air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of luxury DEFRA stoves approved stoves from the top manufacturers in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a huge range 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 Zones are mostly in large cities and towns. You can go to the website of your local authority to see if you live in one of these. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel on a non-approved stove, like coal or any other solid fuels that could result in fines of 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 a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the title that means it is only permitted to be used in smoke-controlled areas when you burn approved fuels. In this instance wood is the fuel.

The older wood stoves produce huge amounts of particulate matter. This can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart problems. It is therefore important to buy a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke-free zone you must be able to get it certified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time consuming, but it is required by law. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stove that is not certified may be subject to tax credits or fines related to clean air.

With a kit, or an adjustment supplied by the installer, the majority of modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is because the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and those which aren't, is the combustion air management system which controls how much air passes through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are usually applied to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves one that is DEFRA approved British stoves; my sources, approved and the other that is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To offset these costs, they sell the non approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved model will have been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any kind of fuel they wanted which led to large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not produce any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved for burning only authorised materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous testing in order to prove they can safely burn approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox to ensure that even if the stove is operating with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it will still be able to comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

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 wood burning fireplace. We have an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no difference in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However the stoves that are approved by Defra come with a few extra features designed to help them burn cleaner. They typically have an aesthetically different grate and air vents and on gas models, they might have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have a 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.