Defra Exempt Multi Fuel Stoves
There’s a wide selection of defra exempt multi-fuel stoves that will fit in with any home. Defra approved stoves meet the regulations of the government and are designed to efficiently burn fuel with low emissions.
This is particularly important especially if you reside in a smoke control area. However, even if you do not, it is still advisable to have a Defra stove is more beneficial for your chimney as well as your neighbors.
Defra Approved
You may have noticed across our website that a few of our wood burning stoves are categorized as being DEFRA exempt or DEFRA approved. These terms might seem like words to the average homeowner, but they are not.
DEFRA is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. They are accountable for the policies and regulations related to food, agriculture, and the environment. Defra approved stoves have passed a rigorous test to ensure they abide by the government’s strict rules for smoke emission levels during operation. These stoves are designed to burn fuels such as coal and wood more efficiently. This means they generate fewer pollutants.
This is a good thing for anyone who lives in a Smoke Control Area because the law currently prohibits emissions of smoke in these areas unless using a DEFRA approved stove and a fuel approved by DEFRA. In the past, it has been possible to install a non-Defra-approved stove in a Smoke Control Area as long as you used only approved fuels such as wood. However, as of January 2022, the rules are changing and stoves that aren’t approved are not allowed to be used unless they have been fitted with a secondary or tertiary combustion system that will drastically reduce the production of particulate matter and NOx, carbon dioxide and organic gaseous compounds.
Our buy DEFRA stoves approved ranges are also equipped with a mechanism that prevents you from closing the top air vent completely. This could result in the fire to ignite and release smoke into your home. Instead, these stoves come with an adjustable air supply that will allow you to open the top vent slightly and still keep a safe and efficient burn.
A stove that is approved by Defra can be fitted with a 5 inch chimney liner. This is crucial because many codes for building require chimneys to have a minimum of 5 inches diameter.
Smoke Control Areas
If you live in a smoke-free zone you’ll need a Defra approved stove if you wish to legally burn wood in your home. DEFRA has examined these stoves to make sure they meet Shop the Best Selection of Stoves Online strict standards for smoke emissions required in smoke zones for control. On the Defra site, you will find a list of places that require a Defra-approved stove.
Multi Stoves Fuel
A Defra approved stove, also referred to as a DEFRA multi wood or fuel stove has passed a rigorous test that was developed by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The UK government agency responsible for protecting our natural environment, supporting the food and farming industries, and ensuring a vibrant rural economic. The tests that Defra approved stoves must pass are designed to ensure that the appliance only produces low levels of smoke and grit while it is in use.
A lot of the Defra Exempt stoves we stock at Stove Supermarket are also multi fuel stoves that will allow you to burn authorised smokeless fuels as well as seasoned wood. These stoves are also referred to as Defra stoves, Defra approved wooden burners and are abbreviated SE.
Contrary to older stoves, which are often unsuitable for use in Smoke Control Areas, the latest Defra multi fuel and woodburning stoves come with secondary and tertiary air systems in order to ensure that the wood is completely burned prior to it leaving the chimney. This is a cleaner process than just leaving a fire on the stove to burn for long periods of time and it reduces the amount of smoke that could be emitted.
If you are living or planning to move into an area that is a Smoke Control Area then a Defra-exempt stove will be an excellent choice for you. It is not only more sustainable however, it also helps to reduce the nuisance smoke which can upset your neighbors.
You can still use open fires, barbecues and pizza ovens in your garden but be aware that smoke that is toxic or excessive could be a nuisance for the law and you could be fined. You are also not allowed to burn wet, damp or rotting wood, or other fuels in an open flame or stove in an area designated as a Smoke Control Area.
Burning Other Fuels Besides Cars
Defra Approved Stoves are made to burn different types of fuels including wood. They burn wood with such efficiency that they meet the strict government regulations for emissions when operating in smoke control zones. This means that they can be used legally in any smoke control area as long as you’re burning authorised fuels such as logs, pellets and Briquettes. Stoves that are Defra Approved will usually be identified by the an ‘SE’ logo that is a reference to Smoke Exempt.
A Defra-approved stove is different from a conventional multifuel stove because it has secondary air vents which pre-heat air prior to entering the firebox. This pre-heated air helps to ensure that all the fuel is ignited and burned, resulting in a cleaner combustion process. This also helps prevent the accumulation of soot and blockages in the chimney. The Defra stoves come with internal baffles which help to regulate the flames and ensure a uniform heat distribution.
Defra could impose heavy penalties for anyone who is using an appliance that is not approved by DEFRA in areas with smoke control. To avoid the risk of being charged by Defra you should only purchase and make use of a DEFRA approved stove that has been tested to the government’s strict criteria.
DEFRA stoves are also known as Clean Burn stoves. They can be used for most types of fuel, however, they are most effective with wood that is soft and dry. They’re designed with air vents that can’t be closed completely, so the stove will always get oxygen to support the clean combustion process and reduce the risk of the risk of noxious gases and soot.
This technology is not just compliant with the current standards for air quality of the government, but also with future Ecodesign standards that will come in place in 2022. Stovax wood-burning stoves and multifuel stoves will be branded with the SIA Ecodesign Ready label, which means they are compliant with the new emission standards that are more stringent. These new standards are part of the government’s continuous efforts to keep the air in the country clean and healthy.
Installation
If you reside in a Smoke Control Area, a Defra-exempt multifuel stove can assist you in complying with the regulations. This is because these wood burning and multi fuel stoves have been independently tested to ensure that they meet the strict smoke emissions standards that are required in a Smoke Control Area. These appliances can be used to burn wood or other approved fuels, such as coal, without concern about the amount of smoke they produce.
Stoves that have been DEFRA approved can lower the amount of smoke produced by advanced combustion techniques that produce less smokiness. These stoves typically use an additional stage of combustion, which re-burns some of the waste materials from the first stage, making them even less polluting and more efficient. They reduce not just the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, but also the amount of soot in the chimney and flue.
If you live in a region that is smoke-controlled this is an important idea to be aware of. You can use a fireplace more often and longer. Additionally, you’ll save money on your energy bills. Due to the less pollution, these kinds of wood burning and multi fuel stoves are beneficial to the environment since they are able to burn a wider variety of materials than other stoves.
A simple kit provided by the manufacturer can make a majority of stoves DEFRA-exempt. This alters the air vents on the stove, preventing them from closing at night. This is known as slumbering and it allows for part-burned combustibles that could otherwise block the flue to be released into atmosphere. DEFRA approved stoves don’t sleep and are, therefore, more eco-friendly and are less likely to block the chimney.
To get the most out of your DEFRA approved stove it is recommended you have it professionally installed by an HETAS Registered Installer or an official from the Building Control Office. This will ensure that your installation has been completed according to the correct specifications and in line with the most current regulations. It also helps protect your warranty as the installer can self-certify their work.
