Five Defra Approved Stove List Projects For Any Budget

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a region where smoke is controlled, it's essential to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled space.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this status are usually branded with the 'Defra approved' logo on their specifications or name.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. It's not the case. Most cities and large towns fall under a smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. It is therefore able to be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely adopted by the industry and a large number of the stoves that have been approved have SE after their name which means they are smoke exempt. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission requirements. This means that you can be confident you are buying the best wood stove available.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove that is DEFRA stoves reviews-exempt, Wood burning fireplace or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer may have done things like ensure that there are sufficient air intakes in the front of stove to allow for full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is important because it ensures that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and enter your home.

Another benefit of a DEFRA stoves ratings and reviews approved stove is that it generally permits you to use it with a 5" chimney liner, which complies with the UK building regulations, whereas stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are proud to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with future air quality standards in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are capable of being used with a smoke control kit for properties located in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be installed inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to by the designation DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, that is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are tested by the government to ensure that they don't produce excessive levels of smoke. They are able to be used with 'authorized fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that isn't approved is usually very small. Modern stoves can be converted to DEFRA compliant with a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and fitted within a matter of minutes. This is because 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 not violated during testing, the stove will have to be capable of limiting its combustion air supply to ensure that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished through the mechanism that allows an air pocket in the firebox while it is burning. It is usually hidden within the stove or beneath the base of its fire box.

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

Smoke Control Zones are located mainly in towns and cities with large populations. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out if you live in one of these. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential that you purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to 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 the Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or bear 'SE' after its name meaning it can be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels only, in this case wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart issues. It is therefore important to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove meets the emissions limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop which is not EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone you'll have to recertify it before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time consuming, but it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that is not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to pollution-free air.

With a kit or an adjustment provided by the installer, the majority of modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is due to the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and those that aren't is the combustion air management system which regulates how much air flows through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically done to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

Certain manufacturers make two types of wood stove. One is Defra-approved while the other that isn't. This is due to the process of placing a stove through stringent 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 approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air performed as part of the testing process.

Approved Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any type of fuel they wanted, which led to large amounts of smoke emissions as well as health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only authorised substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to prove that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly in a Smoke Control Zone. They accomplish this by using the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even when the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a large selection of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. 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 is no difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and a stove that is not approved. However, the Defra-approved models do include a few features designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They typically have an aesthetically different grate and air vents and on gas models, they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have 5" 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 and also saves the expense of re-lining the chimney stack with a bigger diameter liner.