What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a smoke control area 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 to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this certification typically carry the word 'Defra approved' in their names or specifications.
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. In reality, a majority of cities and towns are in an area that is smoke-free, however this doesn't mean that you cannot use a stove, it just implies that you have to make use of an exempt device and only burn authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be legally used in a smoke control area.
The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves are marked with the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria in regards to emissions and emissions, so you can be certain that if you choose a defra exempt stove you will get the most clean and most efficient wood stove available.
If defra stove are searching for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer might have done things like make sure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow 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 the smoke from the wood stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.
Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with UK building regulations. However, non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.
Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke-control system for properties 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 approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove that you can put in a smoke control zone when you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood or wood that is well-seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive amounts of smoke and can be used with approved' fuels (coal only).
The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't can be very minimal. A lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA conforming with a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and installed in just a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they can produce.
To ensure that these limitations remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be able to limit its combustion air supply to ensure that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by an opening mechanism that lets the air in the firebox when it is burning. It is usually hidden in the stove or under the base of the firebox.
Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the country's best manufacturers, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. You can also choose from a vast selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future standards for air quality.
Smoke Control Zones are mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can check the website of your local authority to find out whether you are in one of these. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is crucial that you buy a DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you could be fined up PS300.
Approved for wood
A DEFRA approved wood stove also called a smoke-free stove, is a device that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear the word "SE" after its name, which means that it can be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels only, in this case wood.
Many older wood stoves emit lots of particulate matter into the atmosphere that can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. Therefore, it is essential to choose a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.
If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you live in a zone of smoke control it is necessary to have it recertified before you can use it. It can be time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a home with wood stove that is not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines related to the clean air.
With a kit, or an adjustment made by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that flows through the stove in normal operation. The modifications are usually placed on the underside of the firebox or within the base.
There are some manufacturers who produce two versions of a wood stove, one that is Defra-approved while the other is not. This is because the process of placing a stove through rigorous Defra tests is very expensive in order to recover some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air done as part of the testing process.
Approved for Gas
Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To stop this, Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing in order to prove they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They accomplish this by using the latest technology for combustion that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, to ensure that even if the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it will still be able to meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas.
If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and are in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we would recommend to look into the wide selection of Defra approved stoves which are available at The Stove Yard. We have a broad selection of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.
The good thing is that there's not any noticeable distinction in appearance between the appearance of a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, but the Defra approved models have several features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They generally have a different design of grate and air vents, and on the gas versions they might also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.
A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless twin wall flexible liner, which is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). We've used this when the customer has an older or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove into and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a bigger diameter liner.