What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area then it is 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 for the lowest emissions possible. Stoves that are certified as such typically carry the word 'defra guidelines stoves approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

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

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves feature the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission criteria. This means that you can be confident you are purchasing the top wood stove that is available.

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt or that has SE after its title, you will find that the manufacturer might have taken steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

Stovax is proud to offer a selection of Defra-approved stoves and fireplaces as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future air quality standards at heart. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved can also be used in combination with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be used to burn a variety non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove you can install in a smoke-control area when you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that is not approved is usually very small. With a kit from the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be transformed into DEFRA compliant in only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept the stove has to be able limit its 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 which opens the air into the firebox during combustion, which is often hidden inside the stove, and under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the top manufacturers in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet the upcoming needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are typically located in large cities and towns and you can visit the official website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as one. It is important to purchase a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you could be fined PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a smoke-free stove, is an appliance that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have an 'SE' in its name which means that it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas that burn approved fuels which is in this case 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. It is therefore essential to purchase a stove that meets strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you live in a zone of smoke control you must be able to get it certified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a home with wood stoves that are not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to the clean air.

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

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stove one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To reduce the costs, they sell the non-approved version for a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air done as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not emit any smoke unless their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only approved materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone stringent testing to prove that they can cleanly burn authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They accomplish this by using the most advanced combustion technology that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the combustion chamber, to ensure that even if the stove is operating with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control zone and require a brand new fireplace that burns wood. We have a broad collection of traditional, contemporary and inset DEFRA guidelines stoves approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no distinction in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and a non-approved model. However the models that are Defra-approved include a few features that are designed to make them burn more efficiently. They generally have a different design of grate and air vents, and on the gas models they might also have an alternative size flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). We've found this useful when the customer has an old or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove in to and also saves the expense of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.