What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A defra-approved multi fuel stove is one that has been cleared of the Defra smoke tests. They are also known as SE (smoke-exempt) stoves.

The government Defra department is responsible for implementing rules and regulations related to the environment, farming and rural issues. The Defra Test assures you that you are able to burn wood or approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite ovals in a smoke-controlled area without disturbing your neighbours.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves emit less carbon dioxide, while making use of fuel efficiently and using sustainable materials. They typically burn wood or a mixture of authorised fuels and are designed with eco-friendly considerations in the back of their minds. A wide variety of eco-friendly log burners and multi fuel stoves are offered that range from modern to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves make use of dung as an efficient and carbon-negative substitute for wood.

The most crucial aspect in making sure that your stove is eco-friendly is to make sure that the fuel used is properly seasoned or kiln dried. This reduces the moisture content of the wood, allowing it to burn more efficiently. It is also a good idea to buy only wood that comes from sustainable forests. When purchasing wood look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' label to confirm that it has been dried correctly.

Most newer stoves are made to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require stove manufacturers to design wood-burning stoves with energy efficiency and the environment in mind. Manufacturers must take into account emissions, resource efficiency, and waste reduction when designing Ecodesign stoves. These are among the most eco-friendly and clean stoves available.

Replace the grates on your stove with ceramic grate. This makes it more sustainable. It is not just visually appealing but also has the added benefit of being anti-smoking and helping reduce sulphur dioxide in the air. Ceramic Grease liners also have a longer life span and are easier to clean than steel inserts for grates.

In a Smoke Control Area you can still use a wood-burner or multi-fuel stove, however it is important to only use fuels approved by Defra. You could be in violation of the law if you do not. To avoid this, you should only use Defra approved fuels, such as an amorphous smokeless oval, in your stove.

Clean Burning

Multi fuel stoves that have been approved by Defra can only be used in smoke-controlled areas in the event that they burn only smokeless fuel. It can be a smokeless log, anthracite or manufactured or natural product. Stove makers must also comply with the regulations in order to produce an DEFRA exempt wood burner available for sale. The Stove Yard has a an extensive choice of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves as well as wood burning stoves by leading brands like Arada, Parkray and Burley.

These types of Defra exempt stoves offer the most advanced combustion technology, designed to reduce emissions and tar build in your chimney and flue system. They employ the most advanced secondary and tertiary airflow techniques to ignite tar gases and particulates before they are released into the air. This is what makes the Defra approved stove much cleaner than older generation stoves that burn wood and open fires.

The design of the Defra approved stove is unique Most of our range include an internal mechanism hidden within the stove that allows a small continuous flow of air through to the fire, even when the air vents are closed. This is to prevent the soot and ash being released up the chimney that can cause obstruction to your stove and lead to dangerous chimney fires.

This is a crucial feature for anyone living in a smoke control area, the new Defra approved stoves don't allow you to close off the vents completely and then sleep on your stove for the night which can send part-burned combustibles into the air.

A DEFRA-approved stove will also have a longer burn time compared to older stoves that aren't DEFRA-approved. However, if you were to swap your authorised fuel with smokeless coal to rest the stove for a night, this would also shorten the burn as the continuous supply of air required to slumber would reduce the combustion of smokeless fuel.

Reduced Emissions

When used correctly, a DEFRA-exempt stove can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles which, when inhaled, can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart diseases and lung diseases.

The high efficiency of combustion provided by a DEFRA-approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and stove installation pollutants released by the burning process. This reduces the environmental impact especially in urban areas where pollution levels are very high.

The efficiency of a stove can lower the cost of heating your house. Making use of the DEFRA approved wood burning stove instead of a conventional gas boiler can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy costs.

If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's vital that your stove is DEFRA approved (or Smoke Exempt) because this will enable you to burn approved Defra fuels like manufactured smokeless ovals like Anthracite or Homefire and dried wood and other fuels that are authorised. This will let you relax in the fireplace, without worrying that nuisance smoke could disturb your neighbors.

Many stoves that are DEFRA certified, are tested to meet clearSkies standards and are able to be labeled with the clearSkies label. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme that requires stove makers to provide information on the efficiency and emissions of their products to help consumers make an informed choice. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating and emissions, as well as the type and size of the stove.

It is important to keep in mind that, like with Ecodesign, clearSkies regulations represent minimum standards. Manufacturers can go above and above these. ESSE has developed its most recent stoves to make them even more efficient and cleaner, producing less smoke without compromising performance or control. This latest development uses Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology, a patent-pending technology that reburns all smoke particles and reduces their impact on the environment.

In fact it's true that if you're in an smoke-free zone and stove Installation are using an DEFRA Approved stove with a good quality, kiln dried or seasoned log, you'll get as much, or more, heat from the same amount of dry wood as if you were burning it in a non-DEFRA Approved stove. In fact, it could be as much as 24 percent cheaper to heat your home with a an newest DEFRA Approved stove than with the traditional gas boiler.

In compliance with Building Regulations

If you reside in an area that is under smoke control, it's crucial to use a multi-fuel stove that is approved by DEFRA. They have passed tests to ensure that they don't emit any smoke when burning an approved fuel, so they can be used in areas that are typically well-populated with buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a range of DEFRA approved log burners from top brands, including Mi-fires Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.

A DEFRA approved British stoves approved multi fuel stove will also allow you to burn peat, wood and other solid fuels safely. It is important to be aware that certain types of fuels cannot be used in Smoke Control Areas.

For a multi-fuel stove to be safe to use, it is crucial that you have right ventilation. This will minimize the formation of carbon monoxide inside your home. DEFRA approved stoves have an inbuilt ventilation system that delivers sufficient air to the combustion process. This will ensure that your home is always fully ventilated and safe for use.

In addition, DEFRA approved stoves have minimum flue sizes of 550mm2, so they can be used with a standard twinwall system. Our line of flue liners is compatible with DEFRA-approved stoves. You can upgrade your fireplace to meet the latest emission requirements by choosing from our extensive range of.

Look for the DEFRA symbol on the stove's packaging or on the internet. This information is also available on numerous trustworthy retailers' websites and in store displays.

It's important to hire an experienced professional who is certified if you are planning to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is in line with building codes. Failure to follow the proper guidelines for installation could lead to a fine and damage to your property. We recommend choosing an HETAS certified installer to handle your stove installation, as they will be well-versed in the guidelines of the manufacturer and building regulations.