What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in a smoke control area it is essential to 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 often feature 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 that they aren't able to use a wood burning fireplace. This isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are within the smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It just means they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra approved stove is a specific type of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels and therefore it can be used legally in the Smoke Control Area.
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 satisfy strict criteria in regards to its emissions, so you can be certain that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you will receive the cleanest and most efficient wood stove on the market.
When you look 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 taken care of things such as made sure there are enough air inlets on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet is large enough to prevent soot build-up. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the wood stove is not able to escape through the chimney into your home.
Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which will comply with the UK building regulations, whilst stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 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 designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with smoke control kits for those properties that are located 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 put in within a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, which is also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with solid fuel, which is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with approved' fuels (coal only).
The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't is usually very little. A lot of modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA certified by a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted within a matter of minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted in the amount of smoke it is able to produce.
To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove has to be able to limit its combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it smoulder. This is accomplished by a mechanism inside the stove that allows an air pocket into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the fire box.
Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the most reputable brands in the country, including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. You can also select from a wide selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet the future requirements for air quality.
Smoke Control Areas are usually located in large cities and towns and you can visit your local authority's website to determine if the area you live in is classed as such. It is essential to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you could be fined up PS300.
Approved for Wood
A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke exempt wood stove is an appliance that can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or have 'SE' after its name which means that it can be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.
The older wood stoves produce large amounts of particulate matter. This can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart issues. It is therefore important to choose a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.
If you buy a stove that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stove that is not certified may also be liable for tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.
With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can be Defra approved. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or underside of the firebox.
Certain manufacturers make two types of wood stove. One is Defra-approved and the other is not. This is because the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests is very expensive and to offset some of this expense they will sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing procedure.
Approved for Gas
Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted to, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to prove that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. The latest technology for combustion delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This allows the stove to meet Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with approved fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.
If you're in the market for a brand new wood-burning stove and are in a Smoke Control Area then we recommend that you take a look at the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that are available at The Stove Yard. We offer a wide selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.
The good news 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 that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. In general, they have a different grate and air vents and on the gas versions, they may also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.
DEFRA stoves cost of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.