What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a zone of smoke control then it is crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A
DEFRA approved clean Burning stoves exempt stove (or SE) permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke controlled area.
The stoves are independently tested for the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this status typically have the logo 'Defra-approved' in their names or specifications.
Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas
Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means that they aren't able to use a wood burning fireplace. This isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are in the smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that you can't use a wooden burning stove. It just means they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a specific type of wood-burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels and therefore, it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.
The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves have the SE after their names to indicate that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means that you can be confident you are purchasing the
top DEFRA stoves wood stove on the market.
If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer might have done things like ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of stove to allow full combustion of the
5kw multi fuel stoves defra approved, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and enter your home.
A Defra-approved stove allows you to install a 5" liner that is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require an 6" liner.
At Stovax we are proud to offer a range of Defra approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used in conjunction with a smoke control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn a variety smokeless fuels, including fire logs.
Approved for Smokeless Fuels
The only stove that can be used inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with a solid fuel, which is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and that they are only suitable for use with fuels that are 'authorized.
The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one can be very minimal. Modern stoves can be made DEFRA compliant with an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.
To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove has to be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is achieved through a mechanism within the stove that opens a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove, and under the base of the fire box.
Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from the best brands in the country, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and colors. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the future requirements for air quality.
Smoke Control Areas are typically located in cities and towns with large populations and you can check the website of your local authority to determine if the area you live in is classified as one. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.
Approved for wood
A DEFRA approved wood stove also known as a smoke exempt stove, is an appliance that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the title that means it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas when you burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.
The older wood stoves produce huge amounts of particulate matter. These can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. It is therefore essential to choose a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove has met the emissions limits currently in place.
If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area you must be able to get it certified before you can use it. It can be costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stoves that are not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.
Most modern stoves can be modified to become Defra approved using a kit or an adjustment that the installer offers. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it's in normal operation. Modifications are typically done to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.
Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. This is due to the process of placing a stove through strict Defra tests is very expensive and to offset some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved version at a lower price. The DEFRA-approved model will have undergone the combustion air modification in the course of the test process.
Approved Gas
Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in high levels of smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet
DEFRA approved clean burning stoves regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with authorised fuels like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.
The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free area and need a new wood-burning fireplace. We offer a variety of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.
The good thing is that there is no difference in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a stove that is not approved. However the models that are Defra-approved come with a few extra features designed to help them burn cleaner. They usually have a slightly different grate and air vents and on gas models, they may have a smaller flue outlet.
Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have 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. We've found this useful when a customer has an old or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove into and it saves the cost of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.
