13 Things About Defra Approved Woodburner You May Not Have Known Choosing a Defra Approved Woodburner

Defra-approved stoves are becoming increasingly popular. They can aid you in avoiding a significant fine if you live in a smoke-free zone and provide other benefits too.

Most Defra approved woodburner will have an altered top air control that stops you closing it completely down, which would shut off the oxygen supply to the fire. This prevents the fuel from smouldering or generating smoke.

What is a DEFRA approved stove?

It is crucial to select a stove that is DEFRA-approved before purchasing a multifuel or woodburning stove. This means that the stove has passed the rigorous tests designed by DEFRA. These tests are developed in order to ensure that the stove is compliant with the laws governing smoke emission. DEFRA approved stoves emit less smoke than woodburning stoves and multifuel stoves, which is the reason they are permitted to be utilized in Smoke Control Areas.

A Defra approved Stove is also referred to as a "Smoke Exempt" Stove. In many cases the models are marked with a 'SE' that stands for Smoke Exempt. This means that the stove has passed a test that has been designed by the UK government's DEFRA and the test measures emissions levels as well as the amount of smoke produced during normal operation. Defra exempt stoves are able to be used in a Smoke Control Area, and they can be equipped with the chimney lining of 5 inches for wood burning (provided the manufacturer doesn't demand larger diameter) provided that this is in accordance with Building Regulations.

Even if you do not reside in a Smoke Control Area, choosing a Defra-approved stove is a wise choice. They are more environmentally friendly and neighbor friendly. They have been shown to emit less carbon dioxide which could cause nuisance smoke in the air and your chimney and flue system will stay more clean as they are only compatible with dry seasoned firewood that hasn't been split or cut recently.

Bowland Stoves offers a range of Defra-approved stoves available in a variety of designs. They are ideal for those who want to heat their homes in an environmentally sustainable manner. We also have a selection of models that are dual fuel, which means you can use them to heat your home as well as producing domestic hot water at the same time.

If you reside in a town or city classified as a smoke-control zone in which case you will need to use a Defra approved stove or a smoke exempt stove to comply with laws and avoid paying hefty penalties. These stoves are adapted to meet ultra-low emissions standards that are set by the UK government. Recommended Reading include a second phase of combustion which ensures that waste products in the forms of gases are burned to increase efficiency.

Stoves that are Defra-approved are Eco-friendly

When you select a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove you are selecting an eco-friendly and efficient source of heat. This is because the second phase of combustion re-burns the flue gases resulting in minimal emission. DEFRA approved stoves are also cost effective because they make use of fuel more efficiently, reducing the cost of energy in the long term. They are available in a range of styles that fit any home aesthetic from classic to contemporary.

Smoke Control Areas in the UK are another great location to buy Defra-approved stoves. These are typically large cities and towns where smoke emissions are a major issue. By having a DEFRA approved stove in your home, you can legally burn wood or other prohibited fuels without having to pay fines.

The best stoves that are DEFRA-approved come with a range of eco-friendly features to further reduce their impact on the environment. A majority of our stoves, for instance they are SIA Ecodesign-compliant and have an advanced cleanburn system that maximises the efficiency of combustion while decreasing emissions. They also have an airwash system to keep the glass clean so that you can enjoy a clear view of your fire, and they're multi-fuel which means you can burn a broad variety of fuels.

Another way that a DEFRA approved stove is environmentally friendly is that they are constructed to provide the minimum amount of oxygen needed for the wood to be able to burn effectively. This ensures that the wood won't ignite, or release excessive smoke. This is essential in Smoke Control Zones since it could result in fines.

Aside from the benefits of using a wood burning stove in a Smoke Control Area, DEFRA approved stoves are better for the environment and more importantly for your health. This is because a large portion of the pollution from solid fuels, such as wood, is ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which can get into the lung. This can trigger a range of harmful side effects, including asthma symptoms and a feeling of being sick.

Stoves Approved by Defra Are Neighbour Friendly

A DEFRA approved stove is essential for those who live in a smoke control area since it permits you to burn wood as well as a variety of other approved smokeless fuels. They can pass rigorous emissions tests which limit the amount of fumes they release when they are operating normally. If you are using an non-approved stove in a smoke-controlled area you could be in violation of the law. You could also be facing an enormous fine.


A Defra-approved stove is also more sustainable and friendly to the environment. They don't produce nuisance smoke, and if properly maintained, they will run efficiently for a long time, meaning that your chimney and flue system will be cleaner for longer.

Manufacturers are constantly improving their clean-burning technology and new stoves include a variety of innovative features to help them become more eco-friendly. These include advanced secondary and third-generation combustion systems, which help to ensure that all gasses that are combustible are used up. This results in a more efficient burn that reduces emissions as well as waste products.

A DEFRA-approved stove will also have a high rate of combustion, which means less fuel is wasted and more energy is utilized. This makes them more efficient than older models and can result in savings for homeowners.

Defra approved stoves are more environmentally responsible than traditional open fires or log burners. They emit much less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, which can contribute to the UK's climate-change targets. In fact burning DEFRA approved stoves, homeowners can cut their CO2 emissions by nearly five percent.

As well as being more efficient, a DEFRA approved stove can often be able to reach extremely low levels of emissions which are even better than the ones required for Ecodesign. In 2022 new stoves will be required to comply with the Ecodesign regulations, which establish minimum efficiency levels, and introduce NOX and OGV ceilings (not currently in place) and emission limits for all wood-burning appliances, which will be stricter than the DEFRA Exempt ceiling currently applies.

Smoke Exemption for Stoves Approved by the Defra

If you reside in a Smoke Controlled area or plan to move into one, you must to make sure that your new wood burner is Defra exempt. The law prohibits the release of smoke from a wood burner unless it is burning an approved fuel. If you are using an unapproved fuel in a Smoke Controlled Zone that is a Smoke Controlled Area, you could be punished to the tune of PS1000.

A Defra exempt stove is a wood burning multi-fuel stove that has been tested and cleared the Defra (Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) regulations. Defra, the UK government department that is responsible for all regulations and policies related to food, rural issues and the environment.

Stove manufacturers make DEFRA approved and non-DEFRA stoves. The difference is that a DEFRA approved stove has been modified to prevent the air vents from shutting down. This prevents a stove from sleeping which is the term used to describe the process of opening up air intakes at night to allow fuel to burn slowly. This opens the combustibles that are partially burned to be sent out into the air as black smoke.

Many people are confused about whether a non DEFRA approved stove is allowed to be installed in a space which is smoke-free. It is legal to use it however, only if you burn the list of Defra approved fuels. This list is available on the government website. Unfortunately, wood is not included on this list therefore if you wish to be capable of burning wood in your new stove you must purchase a DEFRA approved stove.

A DEFRA exempted stove is also more efficient than models that are not DEFRA approved. DEFRA approved stoves are built to burn more fuel. This will enable you to get more heat out of your logs as well as other types of wood.

It is important to remember that even if a DEFRA approved stove is better than non-DEFRA models however, it still needs to be properly maintained to keep it running efficiently. This includes cleaning the flue, firebox and checking that the chimney is free of obstructions.