What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a region where smoke is controlled, it's essential to purchase a DEFRA approved efficient stoves-exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled space.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest possible emissions. Stoves that are certified as such typically carry the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

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 however this isn't true. Most cities and large towns are in the smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that they can't use a wood burning stove. It's just that they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain standards in terms of the emissions it generates when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be legally used in a smoke control area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves feature the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. In order DEFRA stoves online for a stove to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict criteria with regards to its emissions, so you can be sure that if you choose a defra exempt stove you will get the most clean and best burning wood stove available.

When you look for a stove that burns wood that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll often discover that the manufacturer has carried out things such as made 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 stop the build-up of soot. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the wood stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it generally allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with the UK building regulations, whereas 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, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future air quality standards at heart. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also able to be used with smoke control kits for properties located in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can 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 known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove you can install in a smoke control zone in the event that you intend to use it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and are only suitable for use with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that isn't approved is usually very small. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA compliant in only a few minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous testing and must be restricted in the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that these limitations are maintained during testing the stove will have to be able to limit its combustion air supply to ensure that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished by a mechanism inside the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove and beneath the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stylish stoves approved stoves from some of the top manufacturers in the world such as Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and finishes. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the upcoming demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located mostly in large cities and towns. You can go to the website of your local authority to see if you live in one. It is essential to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or any other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke exempt wood stove, is a device that can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. 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 areas controlled by smoke if you burn approved fuels. In this instance wood is the fuel.

Many older wood stoves emit huge amounts of particulate matter, which can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart issues. Therefore, it is essential to choose a wood stove that meets strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits that are now in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA certified and you live in a smoke-free zone it is necessary to have it recertified before you can use it. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that is not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines relating to clean air.

With a kit or an adjustment supplied by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. This is due to the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and those which aren't, is the combustion air management system that controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. The modifications are usually made on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stoves one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the costs, they'll sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air included in the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they liked which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions as well as health issues. To prevent this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was DEFRA list stoves approved to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they are able to burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the latest combustion technology which continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even when the stove is being used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of DEFRA stoves ratings and reviews-approved stoves that are ideal for those who live in a smoke control area and need a new wood-burning fireplace. We have a broad selection of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no visual difference between a stove that is Defra-approved and a non-approved model. However the stoves that are approved by luxury DEFRA stoves include a few features designed to make them burn cleaner. Generally they will have a different design of grate and air vents, and on the gas versions, they may also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is less expensive than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.