Arnoldcantu2279

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a smoke control area then you must 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 have this status are often branded with the 'Defra-approved' logo on 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. Many towns and cities fall under a smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they can't use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain criteria regarding the emissions it produces when burning approved materials. It is therefore able to be used legally in a smoke control area.





The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves feature the SE after their names to indicate that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means that you can be sure that you're buying the best wood stove on the market.

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 steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes in the front of 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 because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove is not able to escape through the chimney into your home.

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

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove that you can put in a smoke control zone in the event that you intend to use it to burn solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't produce excessive amounts of smoke and are able to be used with 'authorized fuels (coal only).

The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one can be very minimal. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be easily converted to DEFRA compliant in minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that these limitations remain in place during the testing process, the stove must be capable of limiting its combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through the mechanism that allows an air pocket in the firebox while it is burning. It is usually concealed in the stove or under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top manufacturers in the country including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. You can also pick from a vast selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet the future standards for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one. If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it is essential that you purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home, to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the front of its name that means it is only permitted to be used in smoke-controlled areas where you can burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.

The older wood stoves produce huge amounts of particulate matter, which can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. Therefore, it is essential to purchase a stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke-free zone it is necessary to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. In addition homeowners who sell a home that has a wood stove that is not certified could be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

With a kit or an adjustment made by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. 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's operating normally. The modifications are usually placed on the underside of the firebox, or in the base.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stove, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To offset the costs, they sell the non approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved version has undergone the combustion air modification as part of the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they liked which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions and 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 approved materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have gone through rigorous testing to demonstrate that they are able to burn cleanly authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox so that even when the stove is being used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke-free area and require a new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

DEFRA stoves installation is that there is no visual difference between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However the stoves that are approved by Defra include a few features designed to make them burn more efficiently. They typically have a slightly different grate and air vents as well as on gas models they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.