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Why Defra Approved Stove List Is A Lot More Dangerous Than You Believed
What is recommended DEFRA stoves Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with this certification typically have the logo 'Defra-approved' in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove but this isn't the case. In reality, a majority of cities and large towns are located in an area that is smoke-free, but this doesn't mean you cannot use stoves, it just means that you must make use of an exempt device and only burn authorised fuels (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 standards in relation to the emissions that it produces when burning authorised fuels and therefore it can be legally used in the Smoke Control Area.

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

If you search for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has done things like ensuring that 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 stop the build-up of soot. This is important because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove is not able to escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

At Stovax we are pleased to offer a range of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with future air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used combination with a smoke control system for homes located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be put in inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with a solid fuel, that is wood, preferably well-seasoned. They are tested by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive amounts of smoke and can be used with approved' fuels (coal only).


The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't can be very minimal. Modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified by an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted in a matter of minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo very rigorous tests and has to be limited in the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove will have to be capable of limiting the combustion air supply so that it does not exhaust itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoulder. This is accomplished through an opening mechanism that lets a small amount air into the firebox when it's burning. It is typically hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the top manufacturers in the world such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in an enormous range of styles and finishes. You can also select from a vast variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are located predominantly in large towns and cities. You can check the website of your local authority to see whether you reside in one of these. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. If you use coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke-free wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have the word "SE" after its name, which means it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels, in this case wood.

The older wood stoves produce huge amounts of particulate matter. These can cause or worsen respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart problems. This is why it is crucial to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 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 smoke control area, you will need to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It is expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Additionally, homeowners who sell their home with an uncertified wood stove may be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

Most modern stoves can be altered to become Defra approved using an adjustment kit or a kit provided by the installer. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system, which controls the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it is in normal operation. Modifications are usually applied 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 not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the rigorous Defra tests can be very costly in order to recover some of this expense they'll sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the testing process.

Gas Approved

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, leading to large amounts of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing in order to prove that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly 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 standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking for an all-new wood burning stove and live in a Smoke Control Area then we would recommend to look into the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found at The Stove Yard. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not much of a distinction in appearance between a Defra approved woodburning stove and one which isn't, but the Defra approved models have various features that are designed to ensure that they burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate and air vents, and on the gas versions they might also have a different sized flue outlet.

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

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