10 Top Books On Defra Approved Stove List

What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's essential to purchase a DEFRA-exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled space.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves that have this status will often display the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't use a wood-burning stove but this isn't the case. In reality, many cities and large towns are located in an area that is smoke-free, however this doesn't mean that you can't have an oven, it simply implies that you have to make use of an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra approved stove is a type of wood burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain criteria in relation to the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels and therefore it can be legally used in a Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves are marked with the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means that you can be confident you're buying the best wood stove available.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often discover that the manufacturer has taken care of things such as made sure there enough air inlets on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent soot build-up. This is important as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and enter your home.

Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with a 5" chimney liner, which complies with the UK building regulations, whereas stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been developed with the future of air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves 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

The only stove that can be used inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves exempt. This stove must be used with solid fuel, that is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and can only be used with approved fuels.

The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that isn't approved is usually quite small. With a kit from the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be easily converted to DEFRA compliant in minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and must be restricted on how much smoke it can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens a small amount air into the firebox while it is burning. It is usually concealed in the stove or under the base of its firebox.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the country's best manufacturers, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge variety of styles and finishes. You can also select from an impressive variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been designed to meet the future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are mostly in large cities and towns. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out whether you are in one of these. It is essential to buy DEFRA stoves a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or any other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you could be fined up 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 be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the front of its name, which means it can only be used in areas controlled by smoke if you burn approved fuels. In this instance, wood.

The older wood stoves can release a lot of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it's important to purchase an updated wood stove that meets 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 is in compliance with the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoking zone, you'll need to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with a wood stove that is not certified may also be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to pollution-free air.

The majority of modern stoves can be altered to become Defra approved by a kit or an adjustment that the installer offers. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that flows through the stove when it's in normal operation. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is because the process of putting a stove through the strict Defra tests is expensive, so to help recoup some of the cost, they'll sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the test procedure.

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 homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was DEFRA stoves cost approved to burn only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

DEFRA registered stoves approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to demonstrate that they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Area. The latest combustion technology delivers an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet DEFRA approved low emission stoves regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase an all-new wood burning stove and live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we would recommend that you look at the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found 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 difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and one that isn't. However the stoves that are approved by Defra include a few features that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. They generally have a different grate design and air vents, and on gas stoves, they may also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). This is beneficial when putting an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.