What is a Defra Approved Stove?

A defra approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been tested and approved by the UK Government's Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. This permits them to use in Smoke Control Areas within the UK.

Defra is an English government department responsible for protecting the environment as well as food production and standards, agriculture, and a flourishing rural economy. Defra also has robust protocols to manage known diseases.

Approved by Defra

Defra approved wood stoves and multi-fuel stoves are compliant with the government's emission standards for use in Smoke Control Areas. These new standards do not restrict the use of wood stoves in these areas, but rather limit the amount of smoke they emit when operating.

At ESSE we are proud to offer a wide range of stoves that are DEFRA list stoves approved from the top manufacturers, including Arada, Burley, Parkray and Stovax. All of our Defra approved stoves offer the latest clean burning technology. This means that they have secondary and third-party combustion systems that aid to cut down on emissions, resulting in less noxious smoke coming from the chimney, and leaving a more environmentally friendly footprint.

Defra approved products can be used to disinfect and clean hard surfaces such as buildings, farm equipment and vehicles. The Defra approved disinfectants list is maintained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which charges an annual fee to approve the new back-to-back approval trade names for disinfectants. APHA may also retest a disinfectant's efficacy at anytime. This is done without the need to submit an actual sample. The results will be then added to the approved disinfectants list.

Approved for Smoke Control Areas

Many areas of the UK are classified as Smoke Control Areas, meaning you are only allowed to burn fuels that are approved or appliances exempt from the regulations. This is to reduce air pollution from burning fuels that are not approved, causing nuisance smoke and ash builds up. Many cities and towns fall in this category, and to avoid breaking the law and getting a fine you must only use an DEFRA approved stove, fire or fireplace to burn wood logs. Stovax offers a variety of multi-fuel stoves, wood, fireplaces and fires that are DEFRA-approved to be used in Smoke Control Areas.

They have passed the rigorous DEFRA emissions tests and have met the low smoke levels permitted in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn different types of fuels like logs, semi-anthracite or anthracite Briquettes, or manufactured smokeless fuels, such as heat logs. They can also be used to burn electricity, gas, low volatile steam or a combination of these. On the defra lawful stoves (conrad-mejer-3.Federatedjournals.com) website, you can find a complete list of approved fuels.

When choosing a stove for your home, DEFRA lawful Stoves look out for the DEFRA logo, which can be found on the website of the manufacturer or at their showrooms. If they have the logo then you know that the stove is Defra approved for defra Lawful stoves use in smoke controlled areas and can be used to burn wood in these areas. You will still need to use a chimney liner that is suitable, however the narrower 5kW stoves are usually more affordable and easier to install than larger models as they can be used with 5" twin wall stainless steel liner instead of the standard 6" liner.

If you do not have an DEFRA approved stove, you may be able to get a licence from your local authority to burn unapproved fuels in your home. You'll need to go to the DEFRA website to see whether you are eligible for an exemption, and there are specific guidelines to follow like having a smoke detector installed. You will also need to comply with the rules for Smoke Control Areas if you have an outdoor chiminea or BBQ.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

To be approved by the defra, wood burners need to be able to burn smokeless fuels that are approved by the government without producing excessive emissions. These fuels are commonly called 'Smokeless Coal' or "Heat Logs' and have undergone stringent tests to ensure that they meet the standards laid out by Defra for Smoke Control Areas. These fuels are a fantastic alternative to logs made from real wood, since they are less pollutant and emit less smoke than the seasoned logs.

Before the rules for smoke control areas were in place, residents could burn whatever they wanted, which caused a lot of air pollution, which led to health issues for people living in areas with built-up structures. Since the rules came into place, Defra has worked to reduce the amount of pollutants in these areas by regulating the materials that can be burned in stoves and fireplaces.

If you live in a smoke-free zone, it is essential that your stove be Defra approved to avoid costly fines. However, even if you aren't in a smoke-free area it's still worth investing in a defra exempt stove as they are safer for the environment and your chimney too.