What is a DEFRA Approved Wood Burning Stove?
If you live in an area that is smoke-controlled, you will need to make use of a wood-burning stove that has been approved by DEFRA. These stoves allow legal use of authorised fuels without breaking the law or causing upset to your neighbours.
The most recent Defra approved stoves provide the most recent technology for clean burning, employing secondary and tertiary combustion systems to reduce emissions. They can also be used with a variety of smokeless fuels.
Defra Approved
The term “Defra-approved” stove may sound complicated, but it is simply an open-fired stove that has been exempted from UK smoke control zones. To achieve Defra approval, a stove has to undergo rigorous testing. If it passes it will be awarded the official title DEFRA Smoke Exempt appliance.
Stoves that are Defra approved can only burn authorised fuels and of course wood – and they have to do it efficiently and with very little smoke. This is because these stoves can achieve the very latest combustion technology that prevents any part-burned combustibles from going up the chimney and thus into the air. This is good for the environment and also means that these types of stoves are less likely to block chimneys.
We stock a variety of multi-fuel stoves that are both modern and traditional. This includes the stunning Portway Arundel XL, which has a large, panoramic glass panel that lets you to enjoy the mesmerising allure of a crackling fire while also enjoying a full view of the flames and glow.
It has an A energy rating as well as the ability to burn logs overnight and a steel body for excellent heat retention, as well as being Defra approved and priced at PS1,499. The Bohemia X60 Cube Multifuel stove is a different alternative to consider. This multifuel DEFRA approved sustainable stoves stove comes with a power output of between 3 and 9kW and an impressive A + efficiency in heating which makes it a great option for those who live in smoke controlled areas.
The ESSE Vista is a great choice for those who want something more traditional. A DEFRA recommended stoves approved stove with plenty of quality and style, it offers an overnight log burning capacity and a great A+ energy rating, in addition to being able to be used in a DEFRA smoke control zone due to the patented twin catalytic technology. This is a high-quality stove that also meets the new Eco Design 2022 regulation.
Eco Design Ready
Eco Design regulations are a key element of the UK government’s clean air strategy. These regulations were enacted to reduce harmful emissions from wood-burning stoves throughout the UK. It is now illegal to manufacture an entirely new wood burning stove that doesn’t meet the Ecodesign regulations. Stoves already in the supply chain can continue to be sold, but in 2022 all new installations will have to be Eco Design compliant.
As an Stove Industry Alliance member, we stock a variety of Eco Design approved wood-burning stoves. These stoves have been tested independently to ensure that they emit less levels of particulates than open-fires. SIA Eco Design stoves also produce 80% less CO2 emissions than an open fire.
The testing process involves the measurement of particulate matter (PM), organic gaseous compounds (OGC) and carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). You can be certain that an approved SIA Eco Design stove has been designed to reduce the production of these harmful chemical.
Eco Design Ready stoves must meet lower emission levels in all tests. They must also be more efficient in their fuel usage and produce less harmful by-products. Our Eco Design approved wood burning stoves are equipped with advanced combustion techniques, such as secondary air supply and catalytic convertors that aid in limiting the production of harmful emissions during operation.
Not only are Eco Design approved stoves better for the environment, but they’re also more cost-effective to run. This is because Eco Design stoves consume less fuel to produce the same amount of heat. You’ll save money on your energy bills. In addition to this, a wood burning stove is a great way to be more self-sufficient in heating your home. By using wood to power your stove, you will be able to avoid the rising cost of natural gas and electricity.
Exempt
The stoves that are exempted from Defra have been tested and inspected to ensure they can be used legally in Smoke Control Areas. This means that you can burn wood or authorised fuels (including many types of smokeless fuel) within them without violating the law and committing huge fines.
These stoves are designed to produce the smallest amount of air needed for a clear and efficient burn. They produce less smoke than older open fires or wood burning stoves. They are also energy efficient and DEFRA approved Low emission stoves can offer a cost-effective solution to heat your home.
They are not just a great option for those who live in Smoke Control Areas but they can also be a great alternative to fossil fuels in general. They are usually less expensive than gas or electric fires and, if you use local wood, they are also carbon-neutral.
It is important to remember that if you are in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then only dry, seasoned wood can be burned in your DEFRA exempt stove. The burning of damp or wet logs can lead to excessive smoke which is illegal and could result in an imposed fine.
You can contact your local authority to find out whether you’re in a zone of smoke control. These are typically large towns and cities where smoke pollution is a major issue for residents.
The DEFRA approved wood-burning stoves we sell are all Eco Design Ready and have been independently tested to ensure that they are in compliance with EU-wide standards. They include minimum efficiencies as well as NOX and OGV ceilings as well as emission limits. The new EU Ecodesign regulations 2022 will make these requirements more stringent. Contact your stove’s manufacturer if contemplating buying a stove to ensure that it will comply.
Stove manufacturers are constantly improving their products by adding secondary and tertiary combustion systems being used to lower the emissions of their stoves even further. DEFRA stoves are now more economical and environmentally friendly due to the introduction of modern technologies.
Smoke Control Area
A DEFRA approved wood stove, also called a Defra exemption stove is a multi-fuel stove that burns wood. It has met the stringent UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs guidelines on smoke emissions. The stove can only emit an amount of smoke during normal operation. Look for the DEFRA logo or label on a stove or its packaging to identify it. Many reputable stove retailers display the fact that the stove is DEFRA-approved in their websites and their store showrooms.
If you live in an area that is subject to smoke control or smoke detection, you must use a DEFRA-approved burner or log stove. These areas are designated by local authorities and are generally urban areas with a high density. The goal of the Smoke Control Area regulations is to ensure that air quality is maintained at healthy standards by restricting the amount of particulate matter that is released into the air by combustion in residential homes. You could face fines for using an non DEFRA stove within the Smoke Control Area.
DEFRA approved low emission stoves approved stoves not only comply with the regulations of the government, but also provide additional advantages. They offer a high degree of efficiency which will result in lower energy consumption and a smaller carbon footprint. In addition they have advanced features that make them safer than traditional open fires. These include automatic ignition systems, thermocouple sensor and automatic venting.
Stove manufacturers have also created secondary and tertiary combustion technologies to further reduce the amount of carbon emissions from their stoves. This is not only beneficial for the environment, but will also save you the cost of heating. If you’re purchasing a new stove for a Smoke Control Area, be sure to use only dry and properly seasoned firewood.
In addition to potential legal consequences, failure to adhere to wood stove safety and emission guidelines can also jeopardize your home insurance coverage. In order to obtain insurance coverage for fires the majority of insurers require that homeowners comply with the rules and regulations. Moreover, if you’re found to be violating these standards during an investigation or inspection, your insurer may refuse to pay for any fire-related damage caused by your stove that is not in compliance.
