10 Healthy Defra Approved Stove List Habits What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in an area where smoking is controlled, it's essential to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves 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 and this is not true. In 5kw multi fuel stoves defra approved , most cities and large towns are located in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you cannot use 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 wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. This means it can be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves that have been approved have SE after their names which means they are smoke free. To be able to be SE approved, it must satisfy strict requirements in relation to emissions, so you can be assured that if you choose an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and best burning wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt or that has SE after its name You will see that the manufacturer might have taken steps to ensure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent accumulation of soot. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

Another benefit of the Defra approved stove is that it typically permits you to use it with a 5" chimney liner, which will comply with the UK building regulations, whereas stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with future air quality standards in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves are also able to be used in conjunction with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove that you can put in a smoke-control area when you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood, preferably well seasoned). The government tests them to ensure they don't produce excessive smoke and can be used only with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't typically is very small. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified in a matter of only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept the stove has to be able limit its combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen which can cause it smoulder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it is burning. It is typically hidden in the stove or under the base of its firebox.

Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a wide 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 cities and towns. You can check the website of your local authority to determine whether you reside in one of these. It is important to purchase a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will have the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' in the title meaning it is only permitted to be used in smoke-controlled areas when you burn approved fuels. In this instance wood.

A lot of older wood stoves release large amounts of particles into the air that can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. It is therefore important to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you live in a zone of smoke control, you will need to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. In addition homeowners who sell a house with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits and fines.

Modern stoves can be upgraded to become Defra approved by an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer provides. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system that regulates the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it is operating normally. Modifications are usually made to the base or side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the rigorous Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA-approved model will have been through the modification to the combustion air in the course of the test process.

Gas Approved

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

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone rigorous tests to prove that they can burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Area. They do this by using the latest technology for combustion that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox so that even if the stove is used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.


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 recommend to look into the range of Defra approved stoves which can be found here at The Stove Yard. We have a wide range of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional models, modern and inset that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good part is that there's much of a difference in appearance between a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, but the Defra approved models have a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They typically have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents as well as on gas models they may have a slightly different size 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 less expensive than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install a Defra-approved wood burning stove in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.