What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you reside in a smoke control area it is essential to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.
They are independently tested to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry 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. It's not the case. In reality, a majority of cities and towns are within an area that is smoke-free, but that doesn't mean you cannot have an oven, it simply means that you must make use of an exempt appliance and only burn authorised fuels (usually Briquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it is in compliance with certain requirements regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised fuels. It is therefore able to be used legally in smoke-control zones.
The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves feature the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria in regards to its emissions and emissions, so you can be sure that when you purchase a stove that is defra exempt, you are getting the cleanest and best burning wood stove available.
If you are searching for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes in the front of stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.
Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it generally allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with the UK building regulations, whilst stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.
At Stovax we are delighted to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future standards of air quality in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with a smoke control kit for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a range of approved smokeless fuels, including fire logs.
Approved for Smokeless fuels
The only stove that can be used in a smoke-control area is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to as DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used for solid fuel, which means wood, preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with fuels that are 'authorized.
The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that is not approved is usually quite small. With a kit from the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it can generate.
To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen which can cause it smoulder. This is accomplished by a mechanism inside the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the firebox.
Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the most reputable manufacturers in the world such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. Our Web Site from a variety of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the upcoming demands for air quality.
Smoke Control Zones are located mainly in large towns and cities. You can check the website of your local authority to see if you live in one of these. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential that you buy a DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel on an unapproved stove, for example coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.
Approved for wood
A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke exempt wood stove, is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear an 'SE' in its name meaning it can be used in smoke-controlled areas, when burning approved fuels only which is in this case wood.
The older wood stoves produce huge amounts of particulate matter. These can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart problems. This is why it is important to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.
If you purchase a cooktop which is not EPA-certified and you live in a smoking area you'll have to renew the certification before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time-consuming, but it is legally required. In addition, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits as well as fines.
Most modern stoves can be upgraded to become Defra approved by an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer offers. This is because the main difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that aren't is the combustion air management system which controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually applied 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. 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 price. The DEFRA approved version will have had the combustion air modification performed as part of the testing procedure.
Approved for Gas
Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any type of fuel they liked which led to large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To combat this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing in order to prove that they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers a constant 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 authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.
The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.
The good news is that there is no distinction in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and a stove that is not approved. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They typically have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents, and on gas versions they may have a smaller flue outlet.
Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've used this when a customer has an old or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove into and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a bigger diameter liner.