Choosing a Defra Approved Woodburner
Defra-approved cooktops are becoming increasingly popular. You will not have to pay a huge fine if you reside in a smoke-control zone. They also have additional advantages.
The majority of Defra approved woodburners will come with a modified top air control that stops you closing it all the way down which would cut off the oxygen supply to the fire. This stops the fuel from smouldering or generating smoke.
What is a DEFRA Approved Stove?
It is important that you choose a stove that has been DEFRA-approved when buying a woodburning stove or multifuel stove. This means that the stove has passed rigorous tests formulated by DEFRA. These tests are designed to ensure that an appliance is compliant with laws regarding smoke emissions. 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 known as a Smoke Exempt Stove. In a lot of instances, these models will be marked with the letter ‘SE’, which means Smoke Exempt. This means that the stove has passed the test developed by DEFRA the UK government. The test is designed to measure emissions levels and the amount of smoke that is produced during normal operation. Defra exempt stoves are able to be used in a Smoke Control Area, and they can be fitted with a 5 inch chimney lining for DEFRA Recommended Stoves wood burning (provided the manufacturer doesn’t demand having a larger diameter) if this is in compliance with Building Regulations.
Even if you do not live in a Smoke-Control Area, choosing a Defra-approved stove is a great option. They are more eco friendly and neighbor friendly. They have been shown to produce fewer emissions which can lead to nuisance smoke in the air and your chimney and flue system will be cleaner for longer as they are only compatible with dry seasoned firewood that hasn’t been cut or split in recent times.
At Bowland Stoves we offer a large selection of Defra approved stoves in a variety designs and are perfect for those who want to heat their homes in an environmentally responsible manner. We also stock a number of stoves that are dual fuel, which means you can use them to heat your home while producing domestic hot water simultaneously.
If you reside in a town or a city classified as a smoke control area in which case you will need to use a Defra approved stove or a smoke exempt stove to comply with the laws and avoid heavy penalties. The stoves are modified to meet ultra-low emissions standards set by the UK government. They usually feature a second stage of combustion that ensures that waste products in the form of gas are re-burned for even greater efficiency.
Stoves Approved by Defra Are Eco-friendly
By choosing a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove you are selecting an environmentally friendly and efficient heat source. This is due to the second phase of combustion that is re-burning flue gases and produces a low amount of carbon dioxide. DEFRA approved stoves also reduce energy costs because they burn fuel more effectively. They also come in various styles to suit any home aesthetic, from traditional to contemporary.
Smoke Control Areas in the UK are another great location to purchase Defra-approved stoves. These are typically big cities and towns where smoke emissions are a major issue. You can use wood and other fuels that aren’t allowed in your home without fearing fines if you use an approved DEFRA stove.
The top stoves that are DEFRA-approved come with a variety of eco-friendly features that further reduce their environmental impact. Many of our stoves for example, are SIA Ecodesign-compliant and come with a sophisticated cleanburn system that maximises combustion efficiency while decreasing emissions. They also come with an airwash system that keeps the glass clean so you can have a clear view of your fireplace, and they’re multi-fuel, so you can burn a wide range of fuels.
Another way that a DEFRA Recommended stoves approved stove is environmentally friendly is that they are designed to provide the minimum amount of oxygen to allow the wood to burn correctly. This means that the wood will not ignite or release excessive smoke, which is important in Smoke Control Area since this could lead to fines.
In addition to the advantages of using a wood burning stove in a Smoke Control Area, DEFRA approved stoves are better for the environment, and most importantly, for your health. This is because part of the pollution from solid fuels, including wood is ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can get into the lung. It can cause a variety of negative consequences, such as asthma symptoms and the feeling of being sick.
Stoves that are Defra approved are Neighbour Friendly
A DEFRA approved stove is essential when you live in a smoke control area as it will allow you to burn wood and other approved smokeless fuels. They can pass rigorous emissions tests which restrict the amount of fumes they release when they are operating normally. If you install an non-approved stove in a smoke-controlled area you could be in violation of the law. You could also be subject to a substantial fine.
A Defra approved stove is much more environmentally and neighbour friendly. They do not produce any unpleasant smoke, and when properly maintained, they will last for a long time. This will keep your chimney and flue hygienic for longer.
Manufacturers are constantly developing their clean-burning technologies, and new stoves come with various innovative features to improve their eco-friendly qualities. They include advanced third-generation and secondary combustion systems, which help to ensure all combustible gasses are used up. This results in more efficient combustion that reduces emissions and waste products.
A DEFRA-approved cooktop will also have a higher rate of burning, which means less fuel is wasted and more utilized. This makes them more efficient than earlier models and results in savings for homeowners.
Defra-approved stoves are more environmentally green than open fires and DEFRA Recommended Stoves log burners. They emit less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, and thus aid in the UK’s climate change targets. By burning DEFRA-approved stoves homeowners can reduce their CO2 emissions up to a fifth.
In addition to being more efficient as well as more efficient, it is also more efficient. A DEFRA approved stove can often be able to reach emission levels that are extremely low that are higher than those required by Ecodesign. In 2022, all new stoves will have to comply with Ecodesign regulations that set minimum efficiency levels and introduce ceilings for OGV and NOX (not currently in place) as well as emissions limits for all woodburning devices. These limits will be much stricter then the DEFRA stoves advantages exemption ceiling currently in place.
Smoke Exemption for Stoves Approved by the Defra
If you live in an Smoke Controlled area or plan to move into one, you must to ensure that your new wood burner is Defra exempt. The law forbids the emission of smoke from a wood burner unless it is burning a certified fuel. The use of a fuel that is not approved in a Smoke Controlled zone could result in fines up to PS1000.
A Defra exempt stove is a multi-fuel wood stove that has complied with the Defra regulations (Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). Defra is the UK government department that handles all policies and regulations relating to rural issues, the environment and food.
Stove manufacturers make DEFRA approved and non-DEFRA stoves. The DEFRA stoves have been modified to ensure that the air vents can’t be closed. This prevents the stove from’slumbering’ which is when stoves reopen their air vents at night to allow the fuel to to burn slowly. This reopening causes the combustibles that have been partially burned to be blown out into the room as black smoke.
Many people are in confusion about whether a non DEFRA approved stove is allowed to be installed in an area that is smoke controlled. The answer is yes however, you can only legally use it to burn the list of Defra approved smokeless fuels which is listed on the official website of the government here. Unfortunately, wood is not included on this list so if you’d like to be capable of burning wood in your new stove you need to get yourself an DEFRA approved stove.
A DEFRA exempted stove can be more efficient than stoves that aren’t DEFRA approved. DEFRA approved models are designed to use more fuel. This allows you to extract more heat from your logs and other types of wood.
Although a stove that is DEFRA-approved is superior to non-DEFRA models in terms of efficiency, it requires proper maintenance in order to ensure it continues function efficiently. This includes cleaning the flue, cleaning the firebox and ensuring that the chimney is free of obstructions.