What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a smoke-free zone then it is crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled area.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this certification typically carry the logo 'Defra-approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means that they aren't able to use a fireplace with wood. This isn't the case. In reality, most cities and large towns are located in a smoke controlled zone but that doesn't mean you cannot use stoves, it just means you need to make use of an exempt device and only use authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra approved stove is a specific type of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria regarding the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels, and therefore it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that are approved have SE after their name which means they are smoke exempt. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict criteria in regards to emissions, so you can be certain that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you will receive the cleanest and most efficient wood stove available.

When you look for a stove that burns wood that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you will often discover that the manufacturer has carried out things such as made sure there are enough air inlets on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent soot build-up. This is crucial as it ensures that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and enter your home.

Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it generally permits you to use it with five" chimney liner, which is in compliance with the UK building regulations, whereas non-DEFRA recognized stoves approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future air quality standards at heart. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also able to be used with smoke control kits for those properties that are located in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a range of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove that you can put in a smoke control area in the event that you intend to make use of it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and can be used only with approved fuels.

The difference between a best DEFRA stoves-approved stove and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. Modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified by the kit supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in a matter of minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and defra Approved Stylish stoves has to be limited on how much smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept the stove has to be able to limit its combustion air to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is done through a mechanism within the stove which opens the air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove, and under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the most reputable brands in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. You can also pick from a wide variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are primarily located around large towns and city centres and you can visit the official website of your local authority to determine if your area is classed as such. If you live in a smoke controlled area it is crucial to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home, to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, like coal or any other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to 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 stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have 'SE' after its name which means it can be used in smoke controlled areas, Defra Approved Stylish Stoves when burning approved fuels only, in this case wood.

A lot of older wood stoves release large amounts of particulate matter into the atmosphere which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is crucial to purchase new wood stoves that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the stove is in compliance with 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. This can be expensive and time consuming, but it is required by law. In addition, homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that isn't certified may be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit, or an adjustment supplied by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that flows through the stove operating normally. The modification will usually be located on the bottom of the firebox or within the base.

Certain manufacturers make two versions of a wood stove: one that is DEFRA approved stylish Stoves-approved, and the other is not. The reason for this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non-approved version for a lower cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air performed as part of the testing process.

Gas Approved

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted to, leading to excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To combat this, Defra 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 authorised materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have gone through rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can cleanly burn authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox so that even when the stove is used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a large selection of Defra-approved stoves that are ideal for those who live in a smoke control zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is there is no difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and a non-approved model. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features that are designed to make them burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate and air vents, and on the gas versions, they may also have an alternative size flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner, which is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). We've seen this helpful when a customer has an old or non-standard chimney that we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a wider diameter liner.