What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's essential to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled space.
The stoves are independently tested for the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this certification typically have the word 'Defra approved' 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 fall under a smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that you can't use a wooden burning stove. It just means they must 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 ensure that it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. It can therefore be used legally in a smoke control area.
The Defra logo is widely adopted by the industry and a large number of the stoves approved bear SE after their name, meaning they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means you can be confident you're buying the best wood stove that is available.
When you look for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you will often discover that the manufacturer has done things like making sure there are enough air inlets on the front of the stove to permit full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet is large enough to prevent soot build-up. This is crucial because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.
Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install 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.
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 able to be used with a smoke control kit for properties located in a Smoke Control Area and so 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 area if you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive levels of smoke and can be used with approved' fuels (coal only).
The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. With www.fireplacesandstove.com supplied by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be easily made DEFRA certified in a matter of only a few minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and is limited in the amount of smoke it can produce.
To ensure that the restrictions are kept, the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen, which could cause it smoulder. This is accomplished through the mechanism that allows the air in the firebox when it's burning. It is typically hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of the fire box.
Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the country's best manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge range of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the upcoming demands for air quality.
Smoke Control Areas are usually located in cities and towns with large populations and you can look up the official website of your local authority to determine if your area is classed as such. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you could be fined PS300.
Approved for Wood
A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke exempt wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have the word "SE" after its name, which means that it can be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.
The older wood stoves can release large amounts of particles into the air, which can cause or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. It is therefore essential to purchase a stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.
If you buy a stove which is not EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone you'll have to recertify it before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is required by law. In addition, homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.
Most modern stoves can be altered to be Defra approved by a kit or an adjustment that the installer offers. This is because the primary difference between the DEFRA approved stove and those that aren't is the combustion air management system that regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually made to the base or the underside of the firebox.
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 placing a stove through strict Defra tests is expensive, so to help recoup some of the costs, they'll offer the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing process.
Approved for Gas
Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any type of fuel they wanted which led to large amounts of smoke emissions and health problems. To prevent this Defra created 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 to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Area. They accomplish this by using the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox so that even if the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as 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-free zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We have an extensive range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.
The good thing is that there is no difference in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However, the Defra-approved models do have a few features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They typically have a slightly different grate and air vents as well as on gas models they may have a slightly different size flue outlet.
Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically have five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is useful when installing wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.