This Is The History Of Defra Approved Stove List In 10 Milestones

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area then it is crucial 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 possible. Stoves with this status are often branded with the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't use a wood-burning stove however this isn't true. In reality, many cities and large towns are located in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you can't have a stove, it just implies that you have to make use of an exempt device and only use authorised fuels (usually Briquettes) in your stove. The Defra approved stove is a type of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions it emits when burning fuels that are approved and consequently, it is able to be used legally in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must meet strict emission criteria. This means you can be sure that you are buying the best wood stove that is available.

When you look for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll often discover that the manufacturer has carried out 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 stove does not escape through the chimney and enter your home.

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

At Stovax we are pleased to offer a range of Defra approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with the future of air quality standards in mind. Many of our Defra-approved stoves are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke-control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be used in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known as DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, that is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with  approved fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not typically is very small. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be easily transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of just a few minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous tests and is limited on how much smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that these restrictions are not violated during testing, the stove needs to be able to limit its combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smoke. This is achieved by a mechanism inside the stove which opens an air pocket into the firebox during combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove and beneath the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from the best brands in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. You can also select from a wide variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been designed to meet the future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one. If you reside in a zone that is smoke-free, it is very important to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home, to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

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

The older wood stoves can release a lot of particulate matter into the atmosphere, which can cause or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is essential to buy an updated wood stove that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove which is not EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone, you'll need to recertify it before you can use the stove. It is expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Additionally, homeowners who sell their home with an uncertified wood stove may be liable for 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 stove and those which aren't, is the combustion air management system which regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically done to the base or the underside of the firebox.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To offset  DEFRA lawful stoves , they will sell the non-approved version at a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air done as part of the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any type of fuel they wanted, which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions as well as health problems. To combat this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved in a Smoke Control Zone. The latest technology for combustion delivers a constant 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 like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're in the market for a brand new wood-burning stove and live in Smoke Control Area then we would recommend to look into the range of Defra approved stoves which are available at The Stove Yard. We have an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not much of a difference in appearance between an Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However, the Defra approved models do have various features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They generally have a different design of grate and air vents and on the gas versions they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner, which is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.