What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a zone of smoke control then you must buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA list stoves exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled space.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the word 'Defra approved' in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. This isn't the case. In reality, many cities and large towns are in an area that is smoke-free, but that doesn't mean you cannot have stoves, it just means you need to make use of an exempt appliance and only use authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised fuels. It is therefore able to be legally used in smoke-control zones.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that are approved have SE after their names, meaning they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved it must meet strict requirements in relation to its emissions So you can be assured that when you purchase a stove that is defra exempt, defra stoves Cost 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 has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer has taken measures to ensure 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 prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it generally allows you to fit it with five" chimney liner, which will comply with the UK building regulations, whilst stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a variety of fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved 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 suitable for use with smoke control kits for properties in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety 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 type of stove you can install in a smoke-control area when you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't produce excessive levels of smoke and can be used with 'authorised fuels (coal only).

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not is usually very little. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be made DEFRA certified in a matter of just a few minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and is limited in the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these limitations are maintained during testing the stove needs to be able to limit the combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which can 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 firebox.

Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and colors. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the upcoming requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large cities and towns. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one. If you live in a smoke-free zone, it is very important that you buy a DEFRA approved stove for your home, 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 PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove also called a smoke-free stove, is a device that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the front of its name that means it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas where you can burn approved fuels. In this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit huge amounts of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart problems. This is why it is essential to buy a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area you must have it recertified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is legally required. Additionally homeowners who sell a home with an uncertified wood stove may be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, the majority of modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove when it is in normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or the underside of a stove's firebox.

There are some manufacturers who produce two different versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved and the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the rigorous Defra tests is very expensive and to offset some of the cost, they'll sell the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air done as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, leading to large amounts of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have gone through stringent testing to prove that they are able to burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, so that even if the stove is used with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke control area and need a new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional, contemporary and inset models from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good part is that there's really a distinction in appearance between the appearance of a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, but the Defra approved models do come with a number of features which are designed to ensure that they burn more efficiently. They will usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents as well as on gas models they may have a different size flue outlet.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've found this useful when customers have an old or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and DEFRA Recognized stoves it saves the cost of re-lining the chimney stack with a wider diameter liner.