What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a region where smoke is controlled, it's crucial to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest emissions possible. Stoves that are certified will often display the 'Defra-approved logo on 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 but this isn't the case. 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 simply that they must burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria in terms of the emissions it generates when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be used legally in smoke-control zones.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves approved have SE after their name which means they are smoke free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission standards. This means you can rest assured that you are buying the best wood stove that is available.

If you're looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer might have done things like make sure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to allow for full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important as it will 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 fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future air quality standards at heart. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are capable of being used with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a variety of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be put in in a smoke-control area is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, which is also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with solid fuel, which is wood, preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and can only be used with approved fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA compliant in just a few 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 these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove must be capable of limiting the combustion air supply so that it does not exhaust itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished by the mechanism that allows a small amount air into the firebox while it is burning. It is typically hidden in the stove or under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the most reputable manufacturers in the world such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and defra Recommended stoves designs. You can also pick from a vast range of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been specifically designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large cities and towns. You can check the website of your local authority to determine if you live in one of these. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA-approved stove if reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also known as a smoke exempt stove, is a device that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the front of its name meaning it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke where you can burn approved fuels. In this instance wood.

A lot of older wood stoves release lots of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it is important to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a zone of smoke control you must have it recertified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it is legally required. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stove that is not certified may be liable for tax credits or fines that relate to pollution-free air.

Modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or kit provided by the installer. This is because the primary difference between the DEFRA approved stove and those which aren't, is the combustion air management system which regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are typically applied to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

There are some manufacturers who produce two versions of a wood stove. One is Defra-approved, and the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the stringent Defra tests is very expensive in order to recover some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA approved version will have had the combustion air modification included in the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any kind of fuel they liked which led to large amounts of smoke emissions and health issues. To prevent this, defra recommended stoves; imoodle.win, established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not produce any smoke unless their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved for burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

DEFRA stoves reviews approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest combustion technology which constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, so that even when the stove is used with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're looking to purchase an all-new wood burning stove and are in a Smoke Control Area then we suggest that you look at the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found at The Stove Yard. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional modern, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good news is that there is no distinction in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a non-approved model. However the models that are Defra-approved come with a few extra features designed to help them burn more efficiently. They generally have a different grate and air vents, and on gas stoves, they may also have a different sized flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.