What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?
A defra approved multi fuel stove is one that has passed the Defra smoke tests. They can also be referred to as SE (smoke exempt) stoves.
The Defra department of the government is responsible for implementing rules and regulations that deal with rural issues, agriculture and the environment. The Defra test ensures you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels, such as Anthracite ovals in a smoke-free area without causing any disturbance to your neighbors by emitting noisy smoke.
Eco-Friendly
Eco-friendly stoves use sustainable materials and fuels to reduce emissions. They typically burn wood or a mixture of authorised fuels, and are designed with environmental considerations in the back of their minds. There are numerous eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners available, from traditional to modern models. Some eco-friendly stoves make use of the dung of pigs as a reliable and carbon-negative alternative to wood.
The most important aspect to making sure that your stove is eco-friendly is to ensure that the fuel you are using is properly seasoned or kiln dried. This helps reduce the amount of moisture and allows the wood to burn more efficiently, and produce less smoke. It is recommended to buy only wood that has been sourced from sustainable forests. Look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' logo when buying wood to guarantee that it has been dried at an appropriate level.
Most newer stoves are made to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require stove makers to create wood burning stoves that are energy efficient and with environmental protection in the back of their minds. Ecodesign stoves must take into account the environment, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. These are some of the cleanest and eco-friendly stoves on the market today.
Replace the grate on your stove with ceramic grates. This makes it more sustainable. This material is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also has the added benefit of not being a smoker and helping to reduce sulphur dioxide in the air. Ceramic grate liners also have a longer life time and are more easy to clean than steel grate inserts.
In a Smoke Control Area you can still enjoy a wood-burner or
Defra Regulations Stoves multi-fuel stove, but it is important to only use approved fuels by
DEFRA approved eco design stoves. You could be in violation of the law if you do not. To avoid this, only make use of Defra approved fuels, for example, a manufactured smokeless anthracite oval, in your stove.
Clean Burning
A Defra approved multi fuel stove can be used in smoke-controlled areas if it burns authorised smokeless fuels only. It can be a kind of naturally occurring or manufactured smokeless log or anthracite, and it must adhere to certain rules to meet the requirements for an Defra approved wood burning stove. The stove makers must comply with the rules for selling an exempt from DEFRA wood burner. Here at The Stove Yard we have an amazing selection of DEFRA approved stoves for wood burning and multi fuel stoves made by top brands like Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more.
These stoves that are Defra exempt use the latest technology for combustion to reduce tar emissions and tar accumulation in your chimney or flue system. They utilize the latest secondary and tertiary airflow systems to ignite tar gas and particulates before they escape into the atmosphere. This is the reason why an Defra approved stove so much cleaner than older generation stoves that burn wood and open fires.
The design of a Defra-approved stove is different. Most of our range has an internal mechanism that allows for a small, continuous flow of air to the flame even after the vents for air have been shut. This is to prevent the soot and ash from getting sent up the chimney which can block your stove and can cause dangerous chimney fires.
The new Defra-approved cooktops don't allow you to completely close the vents for air and sleep the stove for a night that could release part-burned combustibles into the atmosphere.
A DEFRA approved stove will also give you a much longer burn time than other models, although it's worth noting that if you changed your fuel of choice for smokeless coal and you wanted to slumber your stove overnight it would reduce the time to burn because the continuous supply of air required for slumber burning would curb the combustion of the smokeless fuel.
Reduced Emissions
If used correctly, a DEFRA exempt stove can produce very low levels of emission. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles which, when inhaled, can lead to various health problems, including heart diseases and lung diseases.
The high efficiency of combustion provided by a DEFRA-approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the burning process. This reduces the impact of the burning process on the environment.
The effectiveness of a stove can lower the cost of heating your home. By using a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove in place of a gas boiler you can reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your energy bill.
If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's crucial that your stove be DEFRA Approved (or Smoke Exempt) because this permits you to burn Defra Approved fuels like manufactured smokeless ovals like Anthracite or Homefire and dried wood and other fuels that are authorised. This will allow you to enjoy the fireplace without worrying about how the stench of smoke will disturb your neighbours.
In addition to being
DEFRA regulations stoves Approved, many stoves are also tested to clearSkies standards and can be marked with the clearSkies mark. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme that requires stove manufacturers display information on the efficiency and emissions of their products that allow consumers to make an informed decision. The information must include a stove's efficiency rating as well as emissions, as well as the type and size of the stove.
It's important to keep in mind that, as with Ecodesign the clearSkies regulations are minimum standards. Manufacturers are able to go over and above these. ESSE for instance has developed its latest stoves to be more efficient and less polluting, producing less particulates without sacrificing performance or control. This latest development uses Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology that reburns all smoke particles which reduces their impact on the environment.
If you live in a smoke-free zone and are using a DEFRA Approved Stove with a high-quality, kiln-dried or seasoned log you'll get as much heat, or perhaps more than that, from the same amount of dry wood as when it was burned in the non DEFRA Approved Stove. In fact, it can be as much as 24 per cent cheaper to heat your home using a an newest Defra Approved stove than the traditional gas boiler.
Conforms to Building Regulations
If you reside in an area that is under smoke control, it is crucial to select a multi-fuel stove that is approved by DEFRA. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they don't emit smoke when burning approved fuel. They can therefore be used these stoves in areas that have a large number of buildings. We install and supply DEFRA approved log stoves from top brands such as Mi-fires and Contura.
You can also safely burn wood, peat, and other solid fuels by using a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. It is important to be aware that certain types of fuel are restricted for use in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local guidelines and restrictions.
A proper ventilation system is crucial to the safe operation of a multi fuel stove as this will help to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide that builds up within your home. DEFRA approved stoves come with an inbuilt ventilation system that provides enough air to the combustion process.