10 Defra Approved Multi Fuel-Friendly Habits To Be Healthy
What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?
A DEFRA requirements stoves approved multi fuel stove is one that has cleared of the Defra smoke tests. They are also sometimes called SE (smoke exempt) stoves.
The government Defra department is responsible for implementing rules and regulations related to the environment, farming and rural issues. The Defra Test guarantees that you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite Ovals in a smoke-free area without causing disturbance to your neighbors.
Eco-Friendly
Eco-friendly stoves use renewable materials and fuels to reduce emissions. They typically use wood or a combination of approved fuels, and are designed with environmental considerations in mind. There are a selection of eco-friendly log burning and multi fuel stoves are readily available with a range of styles from contemporary to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves even use dung (the excrement of domestic livestock) as a highly efficient and carbon negative alternative to wood.
The most important thing you can do to ensure your stove is green is to make sure that the fuel is properly seasoned or kiln-dried. This reduces the moisture content of the wood and enables it to burn more efficiently. It's also a great idea to only purchase wood from sustainable forests. When purchasing wood be sure to look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' label to confirm that it has been dried properly.
Most modern stoves are designed to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require that stove makers design wood burning stoves that have energy efficiency and environmental protection in mind. Manufacturers must consider emissions, resource efficiency, and waste reduction when designing Ecodesign stoves. These stoves are among the cleanest and greenest stoves on the market.
Replace the grates on your stove with a ceramic grates. This will make it more eco-friendly. It is not just visually appealing and attractive, but it also comes with the added benefit of being anti-smoking and helping reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide that is released into the air. Ceramic grate liners are easy to keep clean and last longer than steel grate inserts.
In a Smoke Control Area you can still enjoy a wood-burner or multi-fuel stove, but it is crucial to use only fuels that have been approved by Defra. You could be in violation of the law if you do not. To avoid this, only use DEFRA stoves disadvantages 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 when it is burning authorised smokeless fuels only. It can be a kind of naturally occurring or manufactured smokeless log or anthracite, and it must comply with certain rules to be able to qualify as a Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove manufacturers must comply with the regulations in order to make a DEFRA exempt wood burner for sale. The Stove Yard has a huge selection of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves and wood burning stoves by leading brands like Arada, Parkray and Burley.
These types of Defra exempt stoves offer the most advanced combustion technology, designed to reduce emissions and tar build in your chimney and flue system. They use the latest secondary and tertiary airflow systems to ignite tar gases and particulates before they can escape into the air. This is the reason why the Defra approved stove more eco-friendly than the older generation stoves that burn wood and open fires.
The design of a Defra-approved stove is different. The majority of our models have an internal mechanism that allows for a small, continuous flow of air to the fire even after the vents for air are shut. This stops ash and soot from being sent through the fireplace, which could cause dangerous chimney fires.
The new Defra-approved stoves don't allow you to shut the vents for air and sleep the stove over night that could release part burned combustibles in the air.
A DEFRA approved stove also has an extended burn time than non-Defra models, however it's worth noting that if you swapped your fuel of choice for smokeless coal, and wanted to sleep your stove for the night, then this would shorten the burn time as the continuous supply of air needed to slumber burn would slow the combustion of the smokeless fuel.
Reduced Emissions
When used properly when it is properly used, a DEFRA exempt stove can produce very low levels of emission. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles, which can cause a variety of health problems, including heart conditions and lung diseases when inhaled.
The high combustion efficiency of a DEFRA approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollution released during the burning process. This helps reduce the impact of the burning process on the environment.
The effectiveness of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your home. Using an DEFRA approved wood burning stove over gas boilers that are conventional can help reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your energy costs.
If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it's essential to make sure that your stove is DEFRA approved or Exempt since this will permit you to use Defra Lawful Stoves approved fuels, such as manufactured smokeless coal ovals, such as Anthracite and Homefire and dried wood and other authorised solid fuels. This allows you to relax in your fireplace and not worry about a nuisance smoke affecting your neighbours.
In addition to being approved by DEFRA Many stoves are tested to clearSkies level requirements and can be marked with the mark clearSkies. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme which requires stove manufacturers display information about the effectiveness and emissions of their appliances to help consumers make an informed choice. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating and emissions, along with the type and size of the stove.
It's important to remember that, just like Ecodesign the clearSkies regulations are minimum standards. Manufacturers may go above and above these. ESSE for instance has designed its latest stoves to be more efficient and less polluting with less particles, without compromising on performance or control. This latest innovation utilizes Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology that recycles 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, from the same amount dry wood as the same amount of wood burned in an non DEFRA Approved Stove. In fact, it can be as much as 24 percent cheaper to heat your home with a new Defra Approved stove than with conventional gas boilers.
In compliance with Building Regulations
If you reside in an area under smoke control, it is crucial to use a multi-fuel stove approved by DEFRA. These stoves have passed tests to ensure that they don't produce any smoke when burning authorised fuel, so you can use them in areas that are heavily populated by buildings. We install and supply DEFRA approved log stoves made by top brands like Mi-fires or Contura.
You can also safely burn wood, peat, and other solid fuels by using a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. You should be aware that certain fuels are not permitted in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local regulations and restrictions.
To ensure that a multi-fuel stove can perform safely, it's important that you have the right ventilation. This will help reduce the buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home. DEFRA approved multi fuel stoves have an integrated venting system that is able to automatically deliver sufficient air to the combustion process, so your home will be fully ventilated and safe to use.
DEFRA approved stoves also come with a minimum size of 550mm2, meaning they can be used in combination with a standard dualwall flue system. Our line of flue liners can be used with DEFRA-approved stoves. You can upgrade your fireplace to meet the latest emission requirements with our wide selection.
Look for the DEFRA symbol on the stove's packaging, or online. Many reputable stove retailers will include this information on their websites as well as on their displays in the store to help you identify which stoves comply with the regulations.
It is important to work with an expert who is certified when you intend to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is in line with the building codes. Inadequately following instructions for installation could result in the issuance of a fine and damage to your property. We suggest you choose a HETAS-approved installer to install your stove, since they are familiar with the guidelines of the manufacturer and the building codes.