What is a Defra Approved Stove?
A Defra Approved stove (also known as SE) is a wood-burning or multi fuel stove that is suitable for use in smoke control areas. Defra approval logos are often present on these stoves, or they are labelled accordingly in their specifications.
These kinds of stoves are more beneficial for the environment and they’ll stop the neighbors from being irritated with smoke. They are also subjected rigorous testing.
What is a DEFRA approved stove?
It is important to think about the type of fuel you will choose when choosing the wood-burning stove or multi-fuel stove for your home. This is true especially if you live within a smoke-controlled area, as it can affect the types of fuels that you can burn in your stove. Wood stoves are able to burn different kinds of fuels. However should you reside in a smoke-controlled area you’ll need a DEFRA-approved stove that is specifically designed to burn authorised fuels without smoke.
A DEFRA approved wood burning stove or multi-fuel stove is one that has been rigorously tested to ensure that emissions are decreased. This is achieved by ensuring that the stove is equipped with secondary combustion, which means that waste gasses are re-burned within the stove in order to lower the amount of emissions.
DEFRA approved stoves can provide cost savings in addition to lessening the production of smoke. They are designed to efficiently burn wood and provide greater efficiency. This makes them a fantastic choice for anyone looking to heat their home using renewable energy that is also environmentally sustainable and a cost-effective way to heat your home.
There are different styles of DEFRA approved stoves available, from traditional to contemporary. This lets homeowners pick the stove that best fits the decor of their homes and can be installed into existing fireplaces. They can be incorporated into various chimney liners, flue systems, and are compatible with either gas or natural supply.
The benefits of choosing a DEFRA approved stove is not limited to those living in smoke controlled areas Anyone will benefit from the higher efficiency and low levels of emissions that these stoves create. The purchase of a DEFRA approved wood stove can help improve the quality of air in your home, and help to create a more sustainable future, as wood stoves absorb carbon dioxide from the air that is then released when they are used to provide warmth.
What Fuels Can Be Burned in a DEFRA-Approved Stove
A DEFRA approved wood-burning stove (also known as a Defra smoke exempt appliance) is a stove that has passed Defra’s stringent tests to limit the amount of smoke. If you live in the UK city or town that is classified as a “smoke control zone” it is a requirement to only use the stove that is Defra-approved. Otherwise you could be penalized for breaking the law. Even if you don’t reside in a smoke control area or a smoke-control zone, a stove that is Defra approved is still a great idea to keep your chimney and flue clean for longer.
Stove manufacturers such as Arada, Burley Parkray & Stovax are working hard to develop clean burn technology. This has led to the development of stoves that are Defra-approved, that not only reduce pollutant emissions in the air, but also reduce the amount of smoke generated when burning. Defra approved stoves now include secondary and tertiary systems of combustion to further reduce emissions and make use of fuel more efficiently and make for a much more eco-friendly and neighbour friendly way to heat your home.
It’s important to note that although a Defra approved stove can burn manufactured solid fuels such as household coal, Coal fires High Petroleum-based fuel and Petrol Coke and wood, you must be cautious about the type of firewood you use. It is not legal to use damp or wet wood in a stove that is DEFRA-approved. This could result in excessive smoke that could upset your neighbors and create a fire risk within your home.
When you purchase wood for burning in your Defra approved stove, we recommend that you purchase only dry, properly seasoned logs and splits. We also recommend that you only buy firewood with the ‘Ready To Burn’ logo. This confirms that the timber has been treated with low moisture content to prevent excessive smoke production.
The majority of Defra approved wood burning stoves don’t offer the option to burn smokeless coke. However, there are some excellent classic models that look stunning with or without a mantle or surround. A DEFRA-approved stove lets you to install a 5″ (125mm), twin wall stainless steel chimney liner that is flexible. This is a cheaper option to the standard 6″ 150mm, and is especially useful if your current chimney stack is curved in awkward ways.
Can I use an unapproved stove in a smoke-control area?
You’re likely to find DEFRA compliant stoves-approved models when searching for a wood-burning fireplace. This is the term used by industry professionals that refers to a stove being exempt from areas of smoke control when it is burned with approved fuels like seasoned logs, anthracite or other mineral solid fuels (DEFRA approved).
It’s important to know that non-Defra stoves can still be installed within smoke controlled areas, but they must only be used to burn approved fuels such as anthracite. If you make use of them to burn various wood types or other solid fuels that can ignite, they could emit excessive smoke and result in the issue of a fire-related violation.
Stoves that are Defra Approved often have the Defra logo on their product descriptions. Manufacturers may also refer to them as SE (smoke-exempt) or as DEFRA stoves.
To be approved by Defra the stove must meet strict performance and emission requirements set forth by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. They have been subjected to rigorous tests to ensure low emissions and high efficiency. The purchase of the Defra approved multi fuel stove or wood-burning stove can help to reduce your carbon footprint while keeping your home warm at the same while.
Another benefit of a DEFRA Approved Stove is that they are usually fitted with a 5-inch chimney liner. This is a huge benefit since it allows you to save money on installation and also meet the building regulations.
If you’re not aware of the regulations governing the burning of wood in areas that are smoke-controlled it can be a challenge to select the right DEFRA-approved wood burner for your home. It is essential to select the stove that has been tested and meets the UK government’s standards. This will provide you with the most enjoyable burning experience.
You should also make sure that you burn only wood that is seasoned in your stove. This wood has a moisture that is less than 20% to prevent excessive smoke from accumulating when it is burned. It is available in many local shops and through programs like Woodsure Ready to Burn.
What is an DEFRA Exempt Stove?
There are a variety of factors to consider when you are considering buying a wood-burning stove. There are numerous things to consider before making a final decision. If you live in a smoke-controlled area and want to buy DEFRA stoves a DEFRA-exempt stove, it is one of the most crucial features to look for. This is because a DEFRA compliant stoves approved stove has been independently tested and has been proven to be able of burning wood in a smoke controlled area.
These stoves are specially designed to reduce particle emissions from the combustion process, which means that less pollution is being created in the air. DEFRA approved appliances are better for the environment and your chimney system as they prevent part-burned materials from entering and causing blockages.
A stove that is exempt from Defra will have the logo ‘DEFRA-approved’ on the side or in the specification. The logo is easily recognizable and is a quality mark that is frequently used by stove makers. Many of the wood-burning stoves that we sell bear the DEFRA mark on them and we also have several multi-fuel models which are DEFRA approved.
Alongside in addition to DEFRA stoves comparison approval, you must always make sure that your selected wood burner or multi-fuel stove is equipped with a 5″ chimney liner. This is because non-DEFRA stoves need the use of a larger chimney than DEFRA approved models and can cause the chimney to get blocked if you are not careful.
If you’re unsure whether or not you live in a Smoke Controlled area or what the rules are regarding which kinds of fuels you can burn, please contact us, and we’ll be more than happy to help. If you prefer, you can go to your local council website to learn more about the regulations in your local area.