What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke-free zone it is essential to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled zone.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest emission possible. Stoves that are certified are usually branded with the 'Defra approved logo on their specifications or name.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a stove that burns wood but this isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are in a smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they must burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a type of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain requirements regarding the emissions it releases when burning fuels that are approved and therefore, it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

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

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer has taken steps to make sure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove is not able to escape through the chimney into your home.

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

At Stovax we are proud to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future standards of air quality in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are capable of being used with smoke control kits for properties in a Smoke Control Area and can therefore 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 you can install in a smoke-control area if you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA approved sustainable stoves [polimentosroberto.com.br said] approved stove and one that is not typically is very small. Modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA conforming with an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and installed in a matter of minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and has to be limited to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions are maintained during testing the stove must be able to limit its combustion air supply so that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smoulder. This is achieved by the mechanism that allows an air pocket in the firebox when it's burning. It is typically hidden in the stove or under the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top brands in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge variety of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the future needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are usually located around large towns and city centres and you can check your local authority's website to determine if the area you live in is classified as one. If you reside in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential that you buy a DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke-free wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or have the word "SE" after its name, which means that it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter. These can trigger or exacerbate respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart issues. This is why it's essential to buy an updated wood stove that meets the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you buy a stove which is not EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It is time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. In addition, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit, or an adjustment supplied by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and defra approved Sustainable Stoves those that aren't combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is operating normally. The modification will usually be located on the bottom of the firebox or in the base.

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is because the process of putting a stove through the stringent Defra tests is expensive, so to help recoup some of the cost, they'll offer the non-approved model at a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved model will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the test process.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any kind of fuel they liked which resulted in large quantities of smoke emissions and health issues. To stop this, Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra certified to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone rigorous tests to prove that they can cleanly burn approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. The most modern combustion technology allows a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This allows the stove to meet DEFRA regulations stoves standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with approved fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke-free zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We have a broad 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 that there is no difference in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and one that isn't. However the models that are Defra-approved include a few features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They generally have a different design of grate and air vents and on the gas models they may also feature a different sized flue outlet.

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 useful when installing an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.