Defra Exempt Multi Fuel Stoves
There is a great range of defra-exempt multi fuel stoves that will fit in with any home. Defra approved appliances comply with government regulations and are designed to maximize efficient combustion and low emissions.
This is especially important especially if you live in a smoke-control zone. However, even if you don’t have a smoke control area, it is still advisable to have a Defra stove is better 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 DEFRA exempt or DEFRA approved. To the average home owner, these terms could appear to be jargon that they don’t need to be aware of, but this isn’t the truth.
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 products have been subjected to rigorous testing to ensure that they adhere to the government’s strict guidelines for smoke emissions when operating. These stoves are additionally designed to burn authorized fuels like wood and coal more efficiently, which means that they produce less pollutants.
This is good news for anyone who lives in a Smoke Control Area as the law currently bans the release of smoke within these areas unless you use a DEFRA approved stove and an authorised fuel. In the past it was possible to install an non 5kw defra multifuel stove approved wood stove in a Smoke Control Area, as long you used only approved fuels. However, from January 2022, the law is changing and any non-approved stoves are not permitted to be installed unless they’ve been equipped with secondary or tertiary combustion system that can dramatically reduce their production of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, NOx and organic gaseous compounds.
Our Defra approved ranges are equipped with a mechanism that prevents you from closing the top DEFRA stoves air vent completely. This could result in the fire smouldering and emitting smoke into your home. Instead, these stoves feature an adjustable air feed which lets you open the top vent just a bit and still maintain a safe and efficient burn.
A stove that is approved by Defra can be equipped with a 5-inch chimney liner. This is important since there are a variety of construction regulations that require you need an unlined chimney that has at least 5 inches of diameter.
Smoke Control Areas
If you live in a zone of smoke control you’ll need a DEFRA-approved stove to burn wood legally in your home. DEFRA has examined these stoves to make sure they meet the strict standards for smoke emissions required in smoke control zones. You can see the list of areas for which you require a Defra approved stove on the Defra website.
Multi Fuel Stoves
A Defra approved wood stove, also known as a DEFRA Multi Wood Burning Stove that has been through a rigorous test developed by the Department for Environment, Farming and Buy DEFRA Stoves Rural Affairs. The UK government agency is responsible to protect our natural environment, supporting the food and farming industries, and maintaining a thriving rural economic. The tests Defra approved stoves must pass are designed so that the appliance produces only small amounts of grit or smoke when it is in operation.
A lot of the Defra Exempt stoves we stock at Stove Supermarket are multi fuel stoves which allow you to use authorised smokeless fuels and seasoned wood. They will often be referred to as Defra stoves or Defra approved woodburners. They are often abbreviated to SE.
In contrast to older stoves that are generally not suitable 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 fully burned before it exits the chimney. This is a cleaner method than simply leaving a fire in the stove to burn for long periods and reduces the amount of smoke that is generated.
If you are in a Smoke Control Area, or in the process of moving to one, a Defra exempt stove is the best choice for your home. It’s not just more eco-friendly, but it also helps to reduce the amount of smoke that can cause a disturbance to your neighbors.
You are still able to use an open fire, barbecues or pizza ovens in your garden. However, excessive or toxic smoke could be considered a nuisance and you could be penalized. In the Smoke Control Area, you are not permitted to use open flames or stoves for burning damp, rotten, or wet wood or other fuels.
Burning Other Fuels
Defra Approved Stoves are made to burn a variety of fuels, including wood. They burn wood so efficiently that they comply with the strict regulations of the government regarding emissions during operation in smoke control zones. This means that you can use them legally in any smoke control area provided you’re burning fuels that are approved, such as logs, pellets and brquettes. Stoves that have been approved by Defra are usually identified with the an ‘SE’ symbol that signifies Smoke Exempt.
A stove that is Defra-approved differs from a conventional multifuel stove because it has secondary air vents that pre-heat air before it enters into the firebox. This pre-heated, heated air ensures that the fuel is ignited in order to produce a cleaner combustion. This also prevents the accumulation of soot and clogs in the chimney. Defra stoves have internal baffles that help control the flames and ensure an even heat distribution.
Defra could impose severe penalties on anyone who uses an appliance that is not approved by DEFRA in areas with smoke control. If you wish to avoid being accused of being prosecuted by Defra ensure that you make use of a DEFRA-approved cooking appliance that has been tested according to the government’s guidelines.
Buy DEFRA Stoves stoves are also referred to as Clean Burn stoves. They can be used for all kinds of fuel but they are best suited to wood that is dry and soft. They are designed with air vents that can’t be closed completely, so the stove will always receive oxygen to help ensure the clean combustion process and reduce the risk of noxious gases and soot.
This technology is not just compatible with the current air quality standards of the government as well as with the future Ecodesign standards that will come implemented in 2022. Stovax wood-burning and multifuel stoves will be branded with the SIA Ecodesign Ready label, which confirms they meet the new emission standards that are more stringent. These new standards are being introduced as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the air in the country is healthy and clean.
Installation
If you reside in a Smoke Control Zone and you are in a Smoke Control Area, a Defra exempt multi stove can help you comply with the regulations. These wood-burning and multi fuel stoves have been tested by independent experts in order to ensure that they meet the strict standards of smoke emission required in a Smoke control zone. They can be used to burn wood or other authorised fuels like coal without concern about the amount of smoke they produce.
Stoves that are DEFRA approved can reduce smoke levels through advanced combustion technology that creates less smokiness. These stoves use a second stage of combustion that re-burns waste products from the first stage. This makes them cleaner and more efficient. These stoves can reduce not only the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, but also the amount of soot in the chimney and flue.
This is great news especially if you reside in a smoke-free area since it means you can have a genuine fire more often and for longer with the added benefit of lower utility bills. As a result of the reduced levels of pollution, these types of wood burning and multi fuel stoves are also good for the environment as they are able to burn a wider range of materials than other stoves.
A simple kit offered by the manufacturer can make many stoves DEFRA-exempt. This kit alters the air vents on the stove so that they are not closed at night. This is known as slumbering, and allows part-burned combustibles to be released into the air instead of going up the chimney where they can cause obstruction to the flue. DEFRA approved stoves don’t slumber, and are more sustainable for the environment. They also block chimneys less often.
It is recommended that an HETAS registered installer or Building Control officer install your DEFRA approved appliance to get the best out of it. You will have peace of assurance that the installation was done in accordance to the correct specifications and is in compliance with the latest regulations. Additionally, Buy defra stoves it will also ensure your warranty since the installer will be able to self-certify their work.