What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a region where smoke 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.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't use a wood-burning stove and this is not true. In reality, most cities and towns are within a smoke controlled zone but this doesn't mean you can't have an oven, it simply implies that you have to use an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (usually Briquettes) in your stove. 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 authorised fuels. It is therefore able to be legally used in a smoke control area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves are marked with the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means that you can rest assured that you are purchasing the top wood stove available.

If you are searching for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its title You will see that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

A Defra-approved stove allows you to use a 5" liner that is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require an 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of 5kw defra multifuel stove-approved Fireplaces And Stove and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future standards for air quality in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used in conjunction with a smoke control system for homes located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be installed in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used for solid fuel, that is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can only be used with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't can be very minimal. With a kit from the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be converted to DEFRA certified in a matter of only a few minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous tests and is limited in the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove has to be able to limit its combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the best brands in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. You can also select from an impressive variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been designed to meet the future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are primarily located around large cities and towns and you can visit the website of your local authority to determine if the area you live in is classified as one. It is important to purchase an approved DEFRA-approved stove if reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or Fireplaces And Stove any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a smoke exempt stove is an appliance that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The Efficient Eco Design: Portable 5KW Stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear an 'SE' in its name which means that 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 amounts of particles into the air, which can cause or contribute to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it's crucial to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone you'll have to recertify it before you can use the stove. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stove that is not certified may be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.

Most modern stoves can be upgraded to be Defra approved with an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer provides. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system, which controls the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it's operating normally. The modifications are usually made on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests is expensive in order to recover some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved model at a lower cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air done as part of the testing process.

Gas Approved

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted to, resulting in high levels of smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to stringent testing to prove that they can burn cleanly authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the latest combustion technology which continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox, so that even when the stove is used with fuels that are authorised, such as 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 wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who live in a smoke control zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We offer a variety of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good part is that there's really a distinction in appearance between an Defra approved wood-burning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models do come with various features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They will usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents and on gas models, they may have a slightly larger flue outlet.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is less expensive than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.