What's The Reason Defra Approved Stove List Is Everywhere This Year

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a smoke control area then you must buy 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. Stoves that are certified as such typically carry the logo 'Defra-approved' in their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. It's not the case. Many towns and cities are within a smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It just means they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a type of wood burning stove that has been tested to ensure it meets certain standards in regards to the emissions that it produces when burning fuels that are approved and therefore it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that are approved bear SE after their name, meaning they are smoke exempt. To be able to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria with regards to emissions, so you can be certain that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and best burning wood stove on the market.

If you're looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or that has SE after its title You will see that the manufacturer has taken measures to make sure that there are enough 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 avoid soot accumulation. This is crucial as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and enter your home.

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

At Stovax we are proud to offer a range 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, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are able to be used with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety of approved smokeless fuels, including 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 known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used for solid fuel, that is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they are only suitable for use with approved fuels.

linked web site between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. With a kit from the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be easily converted to DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it smoulder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it is burning. It is usually concealed within the stove or beneath 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 a vast variety of styles and finishes. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the upcoming requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to the website of your local authority to determine whether you reside in one. If you reside in a smoke controlled area it is crucial to purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home, to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel on an unapproved stove, like coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke exempt wood stove, is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear 'SE' after its name meaning it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas that burn approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.


Many older wood stoves emit large amounts of particles into the air, which can cause or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is crucial to purchase a new wood stove that meets the strict emission standards established 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 that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area, you will need to get it recertified before you can use it. It's costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. In addition homeowners who sell a 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, most modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that controls the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it is operating normally. Modifications are typically applied to the base or the underside of the firebox.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stoves one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is because the process of running a stove through the stringent Defra tests can be very costly, so to help recoup some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air in the course of the test process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, which resulted in high levels of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To prevent this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can cleanly burn authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They do this by using the latest combustion technology which constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even if the stove is used with approved fuels like 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 that are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free area and need a new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not any noticeable difference in appearance between an Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However, the Defra approved models have a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They will usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they might have a slightly different size flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have five" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've used this 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 re-lining the chimney stack with a wider diameter liner.

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Pub: 21 Mar 2024 16:50 UTC
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