The Reason Everyone Is Talking About Defra Approved Stove List This Moment

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a zone of smoke control then it is crucial to 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 ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the word 'Defra approved' in their name or on their specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free area means they can't use a fireplace with wood. This isn't the case. Most cities and large towns are in a smoke control zone but that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's just that they must burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood-burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised fuels, and therefore, it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves have the SE after their names to signify that 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 select a defra exempt stove you will receive the cleanest and best burning wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has taken care of 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 the build-up 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 approved stove is that it usually allows you to fit it with 5" chimney liner, which complies with the UK building regulations. However, stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with future air quality standards in mind. In fact, a lot 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 therefore can be used with a variety of approved smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove, is the only type of stove that you can put in a smoke control zone when you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood and preferably well-seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive levels of smoke and can be used with approved fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that isn't approved is usually minimal. Many modern stoves can easily be transformed into DEFRA certified by the kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove has to be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen which can cause it to smolder. This is achieved by a mechanism in the stove that opens an air pocket into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove, and under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK offers a vast 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 colors. You can also choose from an impressive variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large towns and cities. You can visit the website of your local authority to determine whether you are in one. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel on a non-approved stove, like coal or other solid fuels and you are 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 a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or an 'SE' in its name meaning it can be used in smoke controlled areas when burning approved fuels that is, in this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit huge amounts of particulate matter. This can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory issues and heart issues. It is therefore important to choose a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use it. It can be time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stoves that are not certified may be subject to tax credits or fines related to the clean air.

Most modern stoves can be upgraded to be Defra approved using an adjustment kit or a kit provided by the installer. This is because the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system which regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox, or in the base.

There are some manufacturers who produce two different versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved while the other that isn't. This is due to the process of putting a stove through the stringent Defra tests can be very costly in order to recover some of the cost, 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 included in the testing process.

Gas Approved

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought into effect, residential homes could use any type of fuel they wanted which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions and health issues. To combat DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves 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 authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.


Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to prove that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest combustion technology delivers an unabated minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This allows the stove to meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and you live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we recommend 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 industry-leading manufacturers such as 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 stoves that are approved by Defra have a few features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They will usually have a slightly different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they might have a slightly different size flue outlet.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.

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Pub: 21 Mar 2024 20:47 UTC
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