10 Healthy Defra Approved Stove List Habits

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a zone of smoke control it is essential to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled space.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this certification often feature the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a stove that burns wood however this isn't true. Many towns and cities fall under a smoke control zone, but that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden burning stove. It's simply that they must burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. This means it can be used legally in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely adopted in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that are approved have SE after their names which means they are smoke exempt. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means you can rest assured that you are buying the best wood stove on the market.

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer might have taken steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove is not able to escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

At Stovax we are proud to offer a variety of DEFRA Stoves ratings approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with the future of air quality standards in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with a smoke control kit for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and can therefore be used with a range of authorised smokeless fuels including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove that you can put in a smoke-control area in the event that you intend to make use of it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). They are tested by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive amounts of smoke and are able to be used with 'authorized' fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA stoves price range-approved stove and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. Modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified by a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in just a few minutes. This is because DEFRA accredited stoves approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be capable of limiting its combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoke. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove which opens an air pocket into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove, and under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the top brands in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. These are available in a wide variety of styles and designs. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet future demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are predominantly in large cities and towns. You can visit the website of your local authority to determine whether you reside in one of these. If you reside in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the front of its name that means it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas if you burn approved fuels. 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 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 wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone, you'll need to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stoves that are not certified may be liable for tax credits or fines relating to the clean air.

With a kit, or an adjustment provided by the installer, most modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is because the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system that controls how much air passes through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are typically applied to the base or underside of the firebox.

Certain manufacturers make two different versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved, and the other is not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests is expensive, so to help recoup some of the cost, they'll offer the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA approved version will have had the combustion air modification done as part of the testing procedure.

Gas Approved

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any kind of fuel they liked which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions and health issues. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only authorised materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to prove they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This allows the stove to meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with authorised fuels like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking for a brand new wood-burning stove and are in a Smoke Control Area then we recommend to look into the selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found here at The Stove Yard. We have a broad selection of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is there is no visual difference between a stove approved by Defra and a stove that is not approved. However the models that are Defra-approved come with a few extra features that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. They generally have a different grate and air vents and on the gas models they might also have an alternative size flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.