What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in an area where smoke is controlled, it's crucial to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this status typically carry the logo 'DEFRA stoves benefits-approved' in their name or on their specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means that they aren't able to make use of a fireplace that burns wood. It's not the case. In reality, many cities and large towns are within a smoke controlled zone but this doesn't mean you cannot use an oven, it simply means you need to make use of an exempt device and only use authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it meets certain standards in terms of the emissions it generates when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be used legally in smoke-control zones.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry and many of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their names, meaning they are smoke free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means you can be sure that you are purchasing the top wood stove that is available.

If you are searching for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or that has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer has taken measures to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes in the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of the fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically permits you to use it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with UK building regulations. However, non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are proud to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with future air quality standards in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are suitable for use with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a range of approved 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 referred to as DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used for solid fuel, which means wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't release excessive smoke and that they can only be used with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that isn't approved is usually 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 due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that these limitations are maintained during testing the stove will have to be able to limit the amount of combustion air it gets so that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is achieved by a mechanism in the stove that opens an air pocket into the firebox during combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the fire box.

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

Smoke Control Areas are usually located in large towns and city centres and you can check the website of your local authority to determine if the area you live in is classified as one. If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it is very important that you purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you may be fined 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 a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear an 'SE' in its name meaning it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels which is in this case wood.

The older wood stoves produce large quantities of particulate matter. This can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. This is why it's important to purchase new wood stoves that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove 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. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is required by law. In addition homeowners who sell their home that has a wood stove that is not certified may be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

Most modern stoves can be altered to become Defra approved using an adjustment kit or kit that the installer provides. The major difference between DEFRA lawful stoves approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is operating normally. The modifications are usually made on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To reduce these costs, they sell the non approved version for a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version has undergone the combustion air modification in the course of the test process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could use any fuel they wanted, leading to high levels of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To prevent this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners 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 testing to demonstrate that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Area. The latest technology for combustion delivers an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet defra burning mdf standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking for an all-new wood burning stove and are in Smoke Control Area then we suggest that you look at the range of Defra approved stoves which 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 approved by Defra and one that isn't. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features designed to help them burn cleaner. In general, they have a different grate design and air vents, and on the gas models they may also feature 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 twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). We've seen this helpful when the customer has an older or non-standard chimney that we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and also saves the expense of relining the chimney with a bigger diameter liner.