What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a zone of smoke control then you must buy 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 names or specifications.
Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas
Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. This is not true. In reality, most cities and large towns are in a smoke controlled zone but that doesn't mean you cannot have a stove, it just means that you must make use of an exempt device and only use authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning approved materials. It is therefore able to be used legally in areas of smoke control.
DEFRA stoves comparison is widely used in the industry, and many stoves have the SE after their names to indicate that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission standards. This means that you can be sure that you are purchasing the top wood stove on the market.
If you're looking for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer might have done things like ensure that there are sufficient air intakes on the front of stove to allow for full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that smoke from the wood stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.
A Defra-approved stove allows you to install a 5" liner that is in compliance with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require a 6" liner.
At Stovax we are pleased to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been developed with the future of air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used in conjunction with a smoke-control system for homes located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of in 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 type of stove you can install in a smoke control area if you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they are only suitable for use with fuels that are 'authorized.
The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't is usually very little. A lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA compliant with an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and installed in a matter of 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 are maintained during testing the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air it gets so that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it is burning. It is usually hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of its firebox.
Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from the best brands in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge variety of styles and colors. You can also choose from an impressive range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet the future air quality requirements.
Smoke Control Zones are located mainly in large cities and towns. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one of these. If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it is essential that you buy an DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you could be fined up PS300.
Approved for Wood
A DEFRA approved wood stove also known as a smoke exempt stove, is an appliance that can be used 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 can be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.
The older wood stoves produce large quantities of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart problems. It is therefore important to choose a wood stove that meets strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove meets the emissions limits currently in place.
If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke-free zone, you will need to get it recertified before you can use it. It can be costly and time-consuming, but it is required by law. Additionally, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits and fines.
Modern stoves can be modified to become Defra approved by a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove when it's operating normally. The modifications are usually located on the bottom of the firebox or in the base.
Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is due to the process of placing a stove through rigorous Defra tests is very expensive, so to help recoup some of this expense they'll sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air included in the testing procedure.
Approved for Gas
Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted, resulting in excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke in the event that their wood burners or multifuel stoves were Defra-approved for burning only authorised materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to prove they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest combustion technology which continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox to ensure that even if the stove is used with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still 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 need a new fireplace that burns wood. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional models, modern and inset that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.
The good thing is that there is no visual difference between a stove that is Defra-approved and one that isn't. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features designed to help them burn more efficiently. They typically have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents, and on gas versions they may have a slightly smaller flue outlet.
Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is useful when installing a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.