What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a smoke control area then it is crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke controlled area.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves that are certified as such typically have the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot make use of a fireplace that burns wood. This isn't the case. In reality, many cities and towns are in a smoke controlled zone but this doesn't mean you cannot use stoves, it just means you need to use an exempt appliance and only burn authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. It can therefore be used legally in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves that have been approved have SE after their names which means they are smoke exempt. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict requirements in relation to emissions So you can be sure that when you purchase a defra exempt stove you will get the most clean and most efficient wood stove available.

When you look for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has carried out things like making sure there enough air inlets 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 as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney into 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.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of Defra-approved Fireplaces And Stove and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved can also be used conjunction with a smoke-control system for homes located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

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

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually quite small. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be easily transformed into DEFRA compliant in only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen which can cause it to smolder. This is achieved by a mechanism inside the stove that allows the 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 has a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the most reputable manufacturers in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and designs. You can also choose from a vast range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Areas are typically located in cities and towns with large populations and you can look up the website of your local authority to determine if the area you live in is classed as such. If you reside in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential that you purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or 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 an appliance that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' in the front of its name meaning it can only be used in areas controlled by smoke when you burn approved fuels. In this instance, wood.

A lot of older wood stoves emit huge amounts of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. Therefore, it is essential to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a zone of smoke control it is necessary to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It is expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stove that is not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines related to pollution-free air.

Most modern stoves can be upgraded to become Defra approved with a kit or an adjustment that the installer provides. This is due to the primary difference between the DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system that controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous DEFRA approved wood burning stoves testing is high. To help recoup these costs, they sell the non approved version for a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have undergone the combustion air modification as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could use any fuel they wanted to, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To combat this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can cleanly burn authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with Defra regulations 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 which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke control area and require a new fireplace that burns wood. We have an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is that there isn't any noticeable distinction in appearance between a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, but the Defra approved models do come with various features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They will usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner, which is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). We've seen this helpful when customers have an older or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing the Defra approved wood-burning stove in and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.