15 Defra Approved Stove List Benefits Everyone Should Know

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's 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 provide the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the logo 'Defra-approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove and this is not true. In reality, most cities and large towns are located in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you cannot have an oven, it simply means that you must make use of an exempt appliance and only use authorised fuels (usually Briquettes) in your stove. The defra exempt stoves approved stove is a type of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain requirements in regards to the emissions that it produces when burning fuels that are approved and therefore, it can be legally used in smoke control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves are marked with the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria in regards to its emissions, so you can be assured that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and most efficient wood stove available.

If you are looking for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll usually discover that the manufacturer has carried out things like making 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 the build-up of soot. This is important because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.

A stove that is Defra-approved allows you to use a 5" liner which is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require an 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also suitable for use with smoke control kits for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety of authorised 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 that you can put in a smoke-control area if you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). They are tested by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with 'authorised' fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually quite small. With a kit from the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be easily made DEFRA compliant in minutes. This is because the defra approved traditional stoves approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox while it is burning. It is typically hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top manufacturers in the country, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the upcoming needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located predominantly in towns and cities with large populations. You can check the website of your local authority to see whether you are in one. It is important to purchase a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke exempt wood stove, is a device that can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear an 'SE' in its name which means it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.

A lot of older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter, which can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart problems. This is why it's essential to buy new wood stoves that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop which is not EPA-certified and you live in a smoking area it is necessary to recertify it before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is required by law. In addition, homeowners who sell a house that has a wood stove that is not certified could be subject to clean air tax credits as well as fines.

With a kit, or an adjustment supplied by the installer, the majority of modern stoves can be Defra approved. This is because the main difference between the DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system which regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are typically done to the base or side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

There are some manufacturers who produce two different versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved while the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests is very expensive in order to recover some of this expense they'll offer the non-approved version at a lower price. The DEFRA recommended stoves 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 use any fuel they wanted, leading to excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not emit any smoke unless their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only approved substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have gone through rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can cleanly burn approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. The latest technology for combustion delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with approved fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of DEFRA approved British stoves-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control area and require a new wood burning fireplace. We have a broad selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is that there isn't any noticeable distinction in appearance between the appearance of a DEFRA stoves price range approved wood-burning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models do have a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. Generally they will have a different grate and air vents, and on gas stoves, they may also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.