What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area then you must buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to burn wood legally 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 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 but this isn't the case. Most cities and large towns are in a smoke control zone however that doesn't mean they can't use a wood burning stove. It's just that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a specific type of wood burning stove that has been tested to ensure it meets certain standards regarding the emissions that it produces 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 of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their names which means they are smoke exempt. To be able to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict requirements in relation to emissions and emissions, so you can be assured that if you select an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and best burning wood stove available.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or has SE after its title You will see that the manufacturer might have done things like ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with a 5" chimney liner, which will comply with UK building regulations. However, stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future standards for air quality in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved can also be used combination with a smoke control system for homes located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA certified stoves approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA approved Traditional stoves - https://tebe.us - 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). The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't release excessive smoke and that they can only be used with fuels that are 'authorized.

The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that is not approved is usually very small. With a kit from the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA compliant in minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be capable of limiting the amount of combustion air it gets to ensure that it doesn't deplete itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished by a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it's burning. It is usually hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of its firebox.

Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from the country's best manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and designs. You can also pick from an impressive range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are located mainly in large cities and towns. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one of these. It is important to purchase an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or any other solid fuels and you are 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 utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or bear an 'SE' in its name which means it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit lots of particles into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is important to purchase an updated wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove has met the emissions limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that is not EPA-certified, and you live in a smoking area, you'll need to renew the certification before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time consuming, but it is legally required. In addition homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified may be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, the majority of modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is operating normally. Modifications are typically done to the base or the underside of the firebox.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stoves one that is DEFRA approved high-quality stoves approved and the other that is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To reduce the costs, they sell the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA approved version will have had the combustion air modification included in the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could use any fuel they wanted, which resulted in excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only authorised substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone rigorous tests to prove that they are able to burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. The latest technology for combustion delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with authorised fuels like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and are in a Smoke Control Area then we suggest that you look at the range of Defra approved stoves which are available at The Stove Yard. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional models, modern and inset, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good news is that there is no distinction in appearance between a DEFRA recognized stoves-approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However the stoves that are approved by Defra come with a few extra features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate as well as air vents. On gas stoves they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with five" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.