What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled zone.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically have the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. It's not the case. In reality, many cities and towns are in a smoke-free zone, however this doesn't mean that you cannot use stoves, it just means you need to make use of an exempt device and only burn authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised materials. This means it can be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely adopted in the industry and many of the stoves that are approved have SE after their names, meaning 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 sure that when you purchase a defra exempt stove you will receive the cleanest and most efficient wood stove available.

If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or that has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer may have taken steps to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes on the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is crucial as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with five" chimney liner, which complies with UK building regulations, whilst non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be installed within a smoke-control zone is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with solid fuel, which means wood, preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and are only suitable for use with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. With a kit from the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove that allows a small amount of air into the firebox during combustion which is usually hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the top manufacturers in the country, Fireplaces And Stove including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in an enormous variety of styles and designs. You can also choose from a wide selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been specifically designed to meet future standards for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located predominantly in large towns and cities. You can go to the website of your local authority to see whether you reside in one of these. If you live in a smoke controlled area it is crucial that you purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels in 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 which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the title meaning it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas where you can burn approved fuels. In this instance wood.

The older wood stoves produce large quantities of particulate matter, which can cause or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart problems. It is therefore important to buy a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoking zone it is necessary to recertify it before you can use the stove. It's costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with a wood stove that is not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to the clean air.

Most modern stoves can be upgraded to become Defra approved using an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer provides. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove when it's operating normally. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stove one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a lower 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 in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any type of fuel they wanted which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions and health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not produce any smoke except if 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 undergone rigorous tests to prove that they can burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, so that even if the stove is operating with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're in the market for an all-new wood burning stove and are in Smoke Control Area then we suggest to look into the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found here at The Stove Yard. We have an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and inset defra stoves approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers like 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 include a few features designed to make them burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate and air vents and on gas stoves they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have a 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means you can choose a smaller stainless twin wall flexible liner that is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.