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What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove? If multi fuel stove defra approved live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's important 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 certification often feature the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or on their specifications. Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas Many people believe that living in a smoke controlled zone means they cannot 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 need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra approved stove is a type of wood-burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels, and consequently, it is able to be legally used in a Smoke Control Area. The Defra logo is widely used in the industry and many of the stoves approved have SE after their name which means they are smoke exempt. In order for a stove to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria in regards to its emissions So you can be sure that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and best burning wood stove available. When you look for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll often discover that the manufacturer has carried out things such as made sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is sufficient to prevent soot build-up. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and enter your home. A stove that is Defra-approved permits you to use a 5” liner that is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require an 6” liner. Stovax is proud to offer a range of Defra-approved fireplaces and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future air quality standards at heart. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are suitable for use with smoke control kits for properties located in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety 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, which is also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with solid fuel, which means wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and can only be used with approved fuels. The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one typically is very small. With a kit from the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be easily converted to DEFRA certified in a matter of only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce. To ensure that these restrictions are not violated during testing, the stove needs to be able to limit the combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't exhaust itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoke. This is accomplished by a mechanism inside the stove that allows a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the firebox. Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the best manufacturers in the country such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the future demands for air quality. Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large towns and cities. You can check the website of your local authority to see if you live in one of these. If you live in a zone that is smoke-free, it is essential to purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or any other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300. Approved for Wood A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a smoke exempt 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 the word “SE” after its name, meaning it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels only, in this case wood. The older wood stoves can release lots of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it's crucial to purchase new wood stoves that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for an “EPA 2020 Certified” label, which means that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are now in place. If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a zone of smoke control, you will need to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It can be costly and time consuming, but it is legally required. Additionally homeowners who sell their home with an uncertified wood stove could be subject to clean air tax credits and fines. The majority of modern stoves can be altered to become Defra approved with a kit or an adjustment that the installer provides. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that passes through the stove operating normally. The modification will usually be located on the bottom 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 that is not. The reason for this is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non approved version for a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air in the course of the test procedure. Approved for Gas Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they liked which led to large amounts of smoke emissions and health problems. To combat 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 Defra-approved to allow burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite. Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to prove that they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox, to ensure that even if the stove is being used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it can still meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas. The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke control zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional modern, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA. The good news is that there isn't any noticeable difference in appearance between a Defra approved wood-burning stove and one that isn't, but the Defra approved models have various features that are designed to ensure that they burn cleaner. They will usually have an aesthetically different grate and air vents as well as on gas models they might have a slightly larger flue outlet. A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have a 5” flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless twin wall flexible liner that is less expensive than a 6” (150mm). This is useful when installing an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.