What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a zone of smoke control it is essential to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled zone.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this certification often feature the logo 'affordable DEFRA stoves-approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a stove that burns wood but this isn't the case. Many towns and cities fall under the smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they can't use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they must burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be legally used in smoke-control zones.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry and many of the stoves approved have SE after their names which means they are smoke free. In order for a stove to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria with regards to emissions and emissions, so you can be sure that when you purchase a defra exempt stove you will receive the cleanest and most efficient wood stove on the market.

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 may have taken steps to make sure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the wood stove is not able to escape through the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra Compliant Stoves (Qooh.Me) approved stove is that it generally allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which complies with the UK building regulations. However, stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. Many of our Defra-approved stoves can also be used combination with a smoke control system for homes located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be put in within a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to as DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with a solid fuel, that is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and can only be used with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not typically is very small. A lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified by a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and installed in a matter of minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and is limited to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by a mechanism that opens a small amount air into the firebox while it is burning. It is usually concealed in the stove or under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the country's best manufacturers including Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and finishes. You can also choose from an impressive range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Areas are typically situated around large towns and city centres and you can look up your local authority's website to determine if your area is classified as one. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA-approved stove if live in a smoke-controlled area. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. If you use coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you could be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the front of its name, which means it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke where you can burn approved fuels. In this case wood is the fuel.

Many older wood stoves emit lots of particulate matter into the atmosphere which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it's important 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 means that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke control area you must have it recertified before you can use it. It can be costly and time-consuming, DEFRA compliant Stoves but it is legally required. Additionally, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is due to the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and those that are not, is the combustion air management system that controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually done to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove 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 help recoup the costs, they sell the non approved version for a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any type of fuel they wanted which resulted in huge quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to prove that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox so that even when the stove is operating with authorised fuels such as anthracite or defra compliant Stoves manufactured smokeless coals it can still meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're in the market for a brand new wood-burning stove and you live in Smoke Control Area then we suggest to look into the selection of Defra approved stoves which are available at The Stove Yard. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional models, modern and inset from top DEFRA stoves brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good news is that there is no difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and a stove that is not approved. However the stoves that are approved by Defra include a few features designed to help them burn more efficiently. They typically have a slightly different grate and air vents and on gas models, they might have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've used this when a customer has an older or non-standard chimney that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.