What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a zone of smoke control then you must purchase 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 with this status typically carry the word 'Defra approved' in their name or specification.
Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas
Many people believe that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove however this isn't true. In reality, most cities and towns are located in an area that is smoke-free, however this doesn't mean that you cannot use an oven, it simply means that you must make use of an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (usually Briquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning approved materials. It can therefore be used legally in a smoke control area.
The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their name, meaning they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict criteria in regards to its emissions, so you can be certain that when you purchase a defra exempt stove you are getting the cleanest and most efficient wood stove available.
If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has carried out things like ensuring that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent soot build-up. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney into your home.
Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with a 5" chimney liner, which complies with the UK building regulations. However, stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.
Stovax is proud to offer a range of fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future air quality standards at heart. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are able to be used with a smoke control kit for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and can therefore be used with a variety of approved smokeless fuels, including fire logs.
Approved for Smokeless fuels
The only stove that can be put in inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the designation
DEFRA Stoves Disadvantages exempt. The stove has to be used with solid fuel, which is wood, preferably well-seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't produce excessive smoke and are only suitable for use with 'authorized' fuels.
The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not typically is very small. A lot of modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA compliant with an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted within a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce.
To ensure that these restrictions are maintained during testing the stove needs to be capable of limiting the combustion air supply so that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove which opens an air pocket into the firebox during combustion which is usually hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the firebox.
Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the
best DEFRA stoves manufacturers in the country such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. You can also choose from an impressive selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future requirements for air quality.
Smoke Control Areas are primarily located around large towns and city centres and
defra Stoves Disadvantages you can visit the website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as one. If you reside in a zone that is smoke-free, it is crucial to purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel on an unapproved stove, like coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.
Approved for wood
A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke exempt wood stove, is a device that can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have an 'SE' in its name which means that it can be used in smoke-controlled areas that burn approved fuels only which is in this case wood.
A lot of older wood stoves release lots of particles into the air that can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. Therefore, it is essential to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.
If you purchase a cooktop that is not EPA-certified, and you live in a smoking area it is necessary to renew the certification before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time consuming, but it is required by law. In addition homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.
Most modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved with an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer offers. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or the underside of the firebox.
Certain manufacturers make two different versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved while the other is not. This is because the process of putting a stove through the rigorous 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 exempt stoves-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the testing process.
Approved for Gas
Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they wanted, which resulted in large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not emit smoke unless their wood burners and multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Zone. The most modern combustion technology allows an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.
The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are perfect for those who reside in a smoke control zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We have an extensive range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.
