What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a smoke-free zone then you must purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled area.
The stoves are independently tested for the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this status will often display the 'Defra-approved' logo on their name or the specifications.
Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas
Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. It's not the case. In reality, a majority of cities and towns are within an area that is smoke-free, however this doesn't mean that you cannot use an oven, it simply means you need to use an exempt appliance and only use authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The Defra approved stove is a type of wood burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain standards in relation to the emissions it releases when burning fuels that are approved and therefore, it can be legally used in smoke control Area.
The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves feature the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means you can be confident you're buying the best wood stove available.
If you are searching for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will see that the manufacturer has taken measures to make sure that there are enough air intakes on the front of stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove is not able to escape through the chimney and into your home.
A stove that is Defra-approved allows you to use a 5" liner that is in compliance with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require a 6" liner.
Stovax is proud to offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves and fireplaces, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future air quality standards at heart. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also able to be used with smoke control kits for those properties that are located in a Smoke Control Area and therefore 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 referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove, is the only type of stove that you can put in a smoke-control area in the event that you intend to use it to burn solid fuel (wood or wood that is well-seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and that they can only be used with approved fuels.
The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that isn't approved is usually minimal. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be made DEFRA conforming in just a few minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove must undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it is able to produce.
To ensure that the restrictions are kept, the stove must be able to limit its combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through the mechanism that allows a small amount air into the firebox when it is burning. It is usually hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of the firebox.
Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and finishes. You can also pick from an impressive range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future requirements for air quality.
Smoke Control Areas are primarily situated around cities and towns with large populations and you can check your local authority's website to determine if the area you live in is classed as such. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is very important to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you use coal or any other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you may be fined up 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 that burn approved fuels only which is in this case wood.
Many older wood stoves emit lots of particles into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. It is therefore essential to buy a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove meets the emissions limits that are now in place.
If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke-free zone, you will need to have it recertified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a home with wood stoves that are not certified may be liable for tax credits or fines related to the clean air.
Most modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or kit that the installer provides. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is in normal operation. Modifications are usually applied to the base or side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.
Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. 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 included in the testing process.
Approved Gas
Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could use any fuel they wanted to, leading to excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not produce any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved for burning only approved substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.
Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can burn cleanly authorised fuels within 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 regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised 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 zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.
defra stove is that there is no visual difference between a stove that is Defra-approved and a stove that is not approved. However the stoves that are approved by Defra include a few features designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate and air vents, and on gas stoves they may also feature an alternative size flue outlet.
Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've seen this helpful when customers have an older or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it saves the cost of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.