What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you reside in a smoke-free zone then it is crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled zone.
The stoves are tested independently to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this status often feature the logo 'Defra-approved' in their name or on their specifications.
Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas
Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled area means they can't use a fireplace with wood. This isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are within a smoke control zone however, that doesn't mean that they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's just that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in terms of the emissions it generates when burning authorised materials. It can therefore be legally used in a smoke control area.
The Defra logo is widely adopted by the industry and a large number of the stoves that are approved bear SE after their names which means they are smoke free. To be able to be SE approved, it must meet strict requirements in relation to emissions So you can be assured that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and most efficient wood stove on the market.
If you're looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer might have done things like ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to prevent accumulation of soot. This is crucial as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape the chimney and into your home.
Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to fit it with five" chimney liner, which complies with UK building regulations. However, stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.
At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are capable of being used with smoke control kits for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a range of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.
Approved for Smokeless Fuels
The only stove that can be installed within a smoke-control zone is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to by the name DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't produce excessive smoke and that they can only be used with fuels that are 'authorized.
The difference between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that is not approved is usually minimal. With a kit from the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA conforming in just a few only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they can produce.
To ensure that these restrictions are maintained during testing the stove must be able to limit the combustion air supply so that it does not exhaust itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens a small amount air into the firebox when it is burning. It is typically hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of the firebox.
Stove World UK has a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top brands in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. You can also pick from an impressive range of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.
Smoke Control Zones are predominantly in large cities and towns. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out if you live in one. It is essential to buy an approved DEFRA-approved stove if reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.
Approved for Wood
A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke exempt wood stove is a device 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 which means that it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas that burn approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.
The older wood stoves can release lots of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it's crucial to purchase an updated wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits that are currently in place.
If you purchase a stove that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoking zone it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is legally required. In addition homeowners who sell their home with an uncertified wood stove may be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.
Modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or kit that the installer offers. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system, which regulates the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it's operating normally. The modifications are usually located on the bottom of the firebox, or in the base.
Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stove one that is Defra approved and the other not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To offset these costs, they sell the non-approved version for a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have undergone the combustion air modification in the course of the test procedure.
Approved Gas
Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any kind of fuel they wanted, which resulted in large quantities of smoke emissions and health issues. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not emit smoke in the event that their wood burners or multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved substances like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.
Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Area. The latest technology for combustion delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.
If you're in the market for a brand new wood-burning stove and live in Smoke Control Area then we recommend to look into the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found here at The Stove Yard. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.
The good thing is that there is no visual difference between a stove that is Defra-approved and a stove that is not approved. However the models that are Defra-approved have a few features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They will usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents and on gas models, they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.
click here. Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel 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 stack which we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it reduces the cost of relining the chimney with a bigger diameter liner.