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 zone.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest emission possible. Stoves with this status are often branded with the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. This is not true. The majority of towns and cities are within a smoke control zone, but that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden 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 rigorously tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria regarding the emissions it produces when burning approved materials. It can therefore be used legally in areas of smoke control.

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

If you search for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has carried out things like making sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to permit full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent the build-up of soot. This is crucial because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove you can install in a smoke-control area when you plan to make use of it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't emit excessive smoke and that they can be used only with approved fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA stoves cost approved stove and one that isn't can be very minimal. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA compliant in only a few minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and is limited in the amount of smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated, the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by an opening mechanism that lets a small amount air into the firebox while it is burning. It is usually hidden in the stove or under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from the top manufacturers in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a huge variety of styles and colors. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the upcoming needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are usually located around large cities and towns and you can check the website of your local authority to determine if your area is classified as one. It is essential to buy a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.

Approved for wood

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

Many older wood stoves emit lots of particulate matter into the atmosphere that can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it is essential to buy a new wood stove that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA-certified, and DEFRA recommended stoves you reside in a smoke-free area it is necessary to recertify it before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time consuming, but it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a home with wood stoves that are not certified could be liable for tax credits or fines related to pollution-free air.

Modern stoves can be upgraded to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or a kit provided by the installer. The primary difference between DEFRA Recommended Stoves approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove in normal operation. The change is usually located on the bottom of the firebox or in the base.

There are some manufacturers who produce two different versions of a wood stove. One is Defra-approved while the other not. This is because the process of running a stove through the stringent Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the costs, they'll sell the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved version has been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, resulting in large amounts of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only authorised materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to stringent testing to prove that they can burn cleanly authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. The most modern combustion technology allows an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we recommend that you look at the selection of Defra approved stoves which can be found here at The Stove Yard. We have a broad selection of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional models, modern and inset that are made by top 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 stove that is not approved. However, the Defra-approved models do include a few features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents as well as on gas models they might have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've seen this helpful when the customer has an old 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 bigger diameter liner.