Choosing a Defra Exempt Wood Burner

Smoke Control Areas are the most popular classification for UK towns and cities. If you live in a Smoke Control Zone and want to install a stove, you'll need a Defra approved stove. You can identify them by their Defra-approved logo.

Defra exempt stoves are built to stop the flame from burning and reduce the amount of smoke that is produced. They also burn fuel more efficiently.

What is an Defra exempt stove?

A Defra Exempt Stove is a wood-burning heating appliance for domestic use that has passed the tests conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Defra Exempt label is applied to stoves that have been independently tested and have met the strictest standards for emissions. The stoves that are Defra Exempt can be used in Smoke Control Areas.

If you reside in a smoke control zone, you must have a DEFRA stoves comparison approved stove, as it is illegal to burn wood (unless you are an authorised fuel) without one. Installing the use of a non DEFRA approved stove within the smoke control zone is an infraction of the Clean Air Act. You could be charged.

There is no difference on the outside of the one that is Defra approved and one that does not have this status. There are a few ways stove manufacturers can do to make their appliances exempt from DEFRA. The DEFRA approved stoves have burners that aren't made to starve the fires of oxygen. This could cause them to smolder or create excessive amounts of smoke.

To avoid this, manufacturers will adjust the air vent at the top of a Defra-approved stove. This will stop the possibility of shutting the vent completely down because it would cut off the air supply to the fire. The adjustment is typically located inside the top of the stove, beneath the base of the stove or on the back of the stove.

Stoves with Defra exemption tend to also be multifuel stoves and can be used to burn wood, as well as other fuels. This is a great alternative for those who live in areas that are designated as Smoke Control Areas however do not want to restrict their usage to only authorised fuels. Certain stoves that are exempt from DEFRA approved efficient stoves exemptions can be fitted with a 5" liner for wood burning (if the manufacturer doesn't insist on a bigger size). This is great news for those who are planning to install wood-burning stoves in their homes but are worried about local regulations on smoke.

What are the advantages of a Defra-Approved Stove?

In addition to complying with local regulations and offering warmth and a cozy fire, Defra approved stoves can also offer many other benefits. For instance, they are likely to have higher energy efficiency than non-Defra approved stoves and therefore reduce the amount of carbon produced when they are used. This can result in significant savings on your heating bill. In addition, Defra approved stoves are generally more user-friendly than non-approved stoves and can be equipped with simple controls.

There are a variety of factors to consider when buying a wood-burning stove or multi-fuel stove. This includes your heating needs, aesthetic preferences, and your long-term goals. When selecting a stove, it is important to consider these factors. A stove that is defra-exempt is a great choice for homeowners who live in areas that are smoke-free. They are eco-friendly and have been thoroughly tested.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, Defra approved stoves are also designed to offer better combustion and flame spread. This ensures that the fuel burns evenly, resulting in a more pleasant and consistent flame. They are also more durable than non Defra approved stoves. This means that they can withstand higher temperatures and last for longer.

As an added benefit, most Defra approved stoves work with a 5" chimney liner, which is ideal for homes in smoke controlled areas. However, it is important to note that if you plan to use your stove using damp wood or any other wet fuel, this will still produce nuisance smoke and can be a cause for prosecution by the local authority.

In order to achieve Defra approval, stove makers are required to make adjustments to the appliance in order to limit how much air it can be starved of during the burning process. The air control on the top is usually altered to prevent the complete closure. If you shut off the air supply too tightly it could cause the stove to smoulder instead of properly burning. This could result in unpleasant smoke.

What is the difference between a Defra approved stove and a non-Defra approved stove?

A stove that is approved by defra will let you burn wood legally in a Smoke Control Area. However, a nondefra-exempt stove will not. This is because stoves that are Defra approved have passed tests to prove that they are able to safely and efficiently burn wood in smoke-controlled areas without producing excessive levels of smoke. If you reside in a region that is smoke controlled you can use the new stove without fear of fines.

A Defra-approved stove is also more energy efficient than other types, producing more heat and emitting less harmful emissions in the air. This makes them an excellent option for homeowners seeking to save money and care about the environment.

Stoves that have been DEFRA certified stoves approved will usually be advertised with the Defra Approved logo, which is very recognisable and has been adopted by the stove industry. You can also check whether a stove is Defra exempt by examining the specification details or by looking on the website of the manufacturer for information about it.

When you are choosing a Defra approved stove it is important to consider the style you prefer because there are a variety of choices available. Some are more traditionally styled and look stunning in an old fireplace or inglenook. Other stoves are more modern and would be ideal for a modern living space.

Check that the stove is Defra exempt. It should be listed on the DEFRA list of authorised appliances, or bear the DEFRA logo. Many manufacturers will market their stoves as Defra exempt even if they haven't been tested to demonstrate that they are. It is much easier to sell a Clean Burn stove than to test it and incur the expense of becoming Defra-exempt.

A stove that has been Defra exempt will ensure that the wood that is used to power it is sustainable and properly dried, seasoned and before being burned. This reduces the amount of smoke generated, which is better for the environment. It also helps keep chimneys in good condition for longer.

What is the difference between a Defra exempt stove and a non-Defra exempt stove?

You'll need to take into consideration a number of factors when choosing the ideal stove for you home. These include style, heat output, and fuel type. You may have seen on our website that a lot of multi-fuel and wood burning stoves are DEFRA exempted or DEFRA approved. This is jargon that to the average homeowner may appear to be nothing more than a marketing term but it has significant implications for those who live in smoke controlled areas.

In order to comply with the laws that ban the sale of wood in Smoke Control Areas, Defra exempt wood burners have an internal mechanism that prevents you from closing the air supply valve completely. If you cut down the flow of air to the fire in excess, it will cause the wood to smoulder and emit smoke. This is against the law. To prevent this from happening you should ensure that the wood you use in your stove is dried out prior to putting it on the stove.

You can also use an exempt DEFRA wood burner in a Smoke Control Area, if you only use approved fuels that are listed on the DEFRA website. These include gas, semi-anthracite and anthracite as well as low volatile steam coal. However, if you decide to fit a non-DEFRA approved stove in your home and you burn wet wood or any other fuels that aren't listed on the DEFRA list that you can be punished up to PS1000.

Even if you do not live in a Smoke Control Area a DEFRA exempted wood burner is still an excellent choice. They are more environmentally friendly and neighbor-friendly as they are able to operate without generating nuisance smoke. They are also more efficient and keep your chimney and flue system clean for a longer period of time. It is important to note that all new stoves must to meet the more stringent Ecodesign standards by 2022. These regulations define minimum efficiencies and NOX and OGV ceilings and emissions limits that are significantly higher than the limits currently in place for DEFRA-exempt appliances.