Defra Exempt Multi Fuel Stoves
There are a wide range of multi-fuel stoves that are exempt from defra regulations. Defra approved appliances comply with government regulations and are engineered for fuel efficiency with low emissions.
This is especially important if you reside in a smoke control zone. Even if you do not have a smoke control area, the
affordable DEFRA stoves stove is safer for your chimney and neighbours.
Defra Approved
You might have noticed that on our website, several wood burning stoves are described as DEFRA exempted or DEFRA approved. These terms may appear to be an esoteric term to the average homeowner, but they're not.
DEFRA stands for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and they oversee policies and regulations regarding the environment, farming and food. Defra approved stoves have been passed rigorous tests to ensure they abide by the strict regulations of the government regarding the emission of smoke during their operation. The stoves are designed to burn fuels such as coal and wood more efficiently. This means they produce less pollutants.
This is good news for anyone who lives in a Smoke Control Area since the law currently prohibits emissions of smoke within such areas, unless you are using a DEFRA approved stove and a fuel approved by DEFRA. In the past, it was possible to install an non Defra approved wood stove in a Smoke Control Area,
affordable DEFRA stoves as long as you used only authorised fuels. In January 2022, the rules will be altered and stoves that aren't approved aren't allowed to be used unless equipped with a secondary and tertiary system that can reduce the production of particulate matter carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and organic gaseous substances.
Our Defra approved ranges are also equipped with a mechanism that stops you from closing down the top air vent completely. This can cause the fire to ignite and release smoke into your home. The stoves have an adjustable air flow that lets you open the top vent just a little and still maintain a safe, efficient burn.
Another benefit of buying a Defra approved stove is that it is able to be fitted with a 5 inch chimney liner. This is important because the majority of codes for building require chimneys to have a minimum 5-inch diameter.
Smoke Control Areas
If you reside in a smoke control area you'll need a Defra approved stove to legally burn wood in your home. DEFRA has tested these stoves to ensure they meet the strict standards for smoke emissions required in smoke control zones. On the Defra site, you can find a list of areas where a stove that is Defra-approved is required.
Multi Fuel Stoves
A Defra approved stove, also referred to as a
DEFRA stoves installation multi fuel or wood burning stove will have passed a rigorous test that was developed by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The UK government agency responsible to protect our natural environment, promoting the food and agriculture industries and ensuring a flourishing rural economic. The tests that Defra approved stoves must pass are designed so that the appliance emits only minimal amounts of grit and smoke when it is in operation.
Stove Supermarket has a range of Defra Exempt Stoves that are multi-fuel stoves. This means you can burn authorised smokeless wood as well as seasoned fuels. These stoves are also referred to as Defra stoves, Defra approved wooden burners and are abbreviated SE.
The most modern Defra multi-fuel stoves and woodburning stoves come with secondary and tertiary air ventilation systems that ensure the wood is completely burned before it exits the chimney. This is more efficient than leaving a log on the fire for a long period of time. It also reduces the amount of nuisance smoke that is produced.
If you reside or plan to move into a Smoke Control Area then a Defra-exempt stove will be an excellent choice for you. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but it will help to minimise the nuisance smoke that can irritate your neighbors.
You can still use open fires, barbecues, and pizza ovens in your backyard but remember that excessive or toxic smoke could be a nuisance for the law and you could be fined. It is also prohibited to use damp, wet or rotting wood, or other fuels on an open fire or stove within an area designated as a Smoke Control Area.
Burning Other Fuels Other Than Petroleum
Defra Approved stoves are made to burn a wide variety of fuels, including wood. They burn wood with such efficiency that they are in compliance with strict government regulations for emissions when operating in smoke control zones. This means that they can be used legally in any smoke control area in the event that you're burning fuels that are approved, such as logs, pellets and briquettes. Stoves that are Defra Approved are usually identified with the an 'SE' symbol that is a reference to Smoke Exempt.
What is it that makes a Defra approved stove different to standard multifuel stoves is that they have air vents which pre-heat the air prior to it entering the firebox. The pre-heated air helps ensure that all the fuel is ignited and burned, resulting in an efficient combustion process. It also reduces soot build up and prevents the chimney from becoming blocked. The Defra stoves come with internal baffles that help regulate the flames, and maintain a uniform heat distribution.
The use of non-
defra stove-approved stoves in areas that are smoke-free could result in heavy fines from the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). To avoid being accused of trespassing by Defra you should only purchase and use a DEFRA approved stove that has been tested to meet the government's strict criteria.
DEFRA stoves are also known as Clean Burn stoves. They can be used for any type of fuel but they are best suited to wood that is soft and dry. They're built with air vents that are unable to be closed completely so that the stove will always receive oxygen to ensure clean combustion and minimise noxious gases and soot.
This technology is not just compliant with the current standards for air quality, but also with the future Ecodesign requirements that will go in 2022. Many of the Stovax multi-fuel and wood burning stoves we offer will carry this SIA Ecodesign Ready mark which confirms that they meet the new, stricter emission standards. These new standards are part of the government’s continuous efforts to ensure that the air we breathe healthy and clean.
Installation
If you are in a smoke control area then a Defra exempt multi fuel stove will assist you in complying with the rules. This is because these wood burning and multi fuel stoves have been independently tested to ensure they comply with the strict standards of smoke emissions required in a Smoke Control Area. These stoves can be used to burn wood or other approved fuels like coal without worrying about the levels of smoke they generate.
Stoves that are DEFRA approved can reduce smoke levels by using advanced combustion technology that produces less smokiness. They usually employ the second stage of combustion that re-burns some of the waste materials from the first stage, making them less polluting and more efficient. These stoves can reduce not only the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, but also the amount of soot that gets into the chimney and flue.
If you live in a region that is smoke-free it is a good thing to be aware of. You can use a fireplace more often and longer. In addition, you'll save money on your utility bills. Due to the reduced levels of pollution, these types of wood burning and multi fuel stoves are also good for the environment as they can burn a wider variety of materials than other stoves.
A simple kit supplied by the manufacturer can make many stoves DEFRA-exempt.