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What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a zone of smoke control then you must purchase 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 provide the lowest possible emissions. Stoves that are certified as such often feature the 'Defra approved' logo in their name or on their 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 in a smoke-free zone, but that doesn't mean you cannot have an oven, it simply implies that you have to make use of an exempt appliance and only burn authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in terms of the emissions it generates when burning approved materials. This means it can be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry and many of the stoves that are approved have SE after their name which means they are smoke exempt. To be SE approved the stove must meet strict emission criteria. This means you can be sure that you are buying the best wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll usually 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 full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent soot build-up. This is important because it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to fit it with five" chimney liner, which will comply with the UK building regulations. However, non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are proud to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also suitable for use with a smoke control kit for properties 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 area if you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and that they can be used only with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually very small. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of just a few minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous tests and is limited to the amount of smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated, the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it smoulder. This is done by a mechanism in the stove that allows the air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the fire box.

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. These are available in a vast variety of styles and colors. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the upcoming demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are typically located in cities and towns with large populations and you can look up the official website of your local authority to see if your area is classed as such. It is crucial to buy a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you could be fined PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke exempt wood stove, is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or bear 'SE' after its name which means it is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas when burning approved fuels which is in this case wood.

A lot of older wood stoves release lots of particulate matter into the atmosphere that can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is important to purchase new wood stoves that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a smoke control area you must get it recertified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, however it is required by law. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stoves that are not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines related to the clean air.

Modern stoves can be modified to become Defra approved with a kit or an adjustment that the installer provides. This is because the main difference between the DEFRA approved stove and one which aren't, is the combustion air management system that regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. Modifications are usually made to the base or the underside of a stove's firebox.

Some manufacturers 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 wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. click here -approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air in the course of the test procedure.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit smoke unless their wood burners and 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 in order to prove that they can efficiently burn fuels that are approved within a Smoke Control Zone. They do this by using the latest technology for combustion that continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, to ensure that even if the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free area and require a new wood burning fireplace. We have a wide range of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional models, modern and inset from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good news is that there is no visual difference between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. 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 as well as on gas models they might have a slightly smaller flue outlet.


A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is less expensive than a 6" (150mm). This is beneficial when putting a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.

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