5 The 5 Reasons Defra Approved Stove List Is Actually A Great Thing

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

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

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. This is not true. Most cities and large towns are within a 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 Defra approved stove is a kind of wood burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it releases when burning fuels that are approved and consequently, it is able to be legally used in smoke control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict requirements in relation to its emissions and emissions, so you can be sure that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and best burning 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 see that the manufacturer may have taken measures to ensure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of the fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove is not able to escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with 5" chimney liner, which complies with UK building regulations, whereas stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been developed with the future standards of air quality in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn a variety in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be put in within a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with solid fuel, that is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't emit excessive smoke and can be used only with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't is usually very little. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA compliant in minutes. This is due to the fact that defra stoves approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen which can cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by a mechanism in the stove which opens an air pocket into the firebox during combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove and DEFRA registered Stoves beneath the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the most reputable brands in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and designs. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the future needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are typically located in cities and DEFRA registered Stoves towns with large populations and you can visit the website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as 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 the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel in a non-approved stove, such as coal or any other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA registered stoves approved wood stove, also called a smoke-free stove, is an appliance that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or have an 'SE' in its name which means it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas that burn approved fuels which is in this case wood.

Many older wood stoves emit a lot of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. Therefore, it is essential to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove is in compliance with the emissions limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a zone of smoke control you must have it recertified before you can use it. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is legally required. In addition homeowners who sell a house with a wood stove that isn't certified may be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

Most modern stoves can be upgraded to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or kit that the installer provides. The major 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 is operating normally. Modifications are usually applied to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of a wood stove, one that is Defra-approved and the other that isn't. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To offset the costs, they sell the non-approved version for a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air performed as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To combat this, DEFRA recognized stoves established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved for burning only authorised materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can burn cleanly authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest combustion technology delivers an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using 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 zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional, contemporary and inset models from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is there is no difference in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a stove that is not approved. However the stoves that are approved by Defra come with a few extra features that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. They will usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents, and on gas versions they might have a slightly different size flue outlet.

Another benefit of an 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 a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've seen this helpful when a customer has an older or non-standard chimney that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove into and it saves the cost of relining the chimney with a wider diameter liner.