Defra Exempt Multi Fuel Stoves
There are a range of multi-fuel stoves exempt from the defra regulations. Defra approved stoves comply with government regulations and are engineered for efficient combustion and low emissions.
This is especially important if you live in a smoke control area. Even if you aren't, a Defra Stove is more beneficial for your chimney and your neighbours.
Defra Approved
You may have noticed on our website, a variety of wood-burning stoves are described as DEFRA exempted or DEFRA approved. These terms may seem like words to the typical homeowner, but they're not.
DEFRA is the acronym for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and they oversee policies and regulations concerning the environment, farming and food. Defra approved products have gone through rigorous testing to ensure they meet the strict guidelines set by the government regarding smoke emissions during operation. The stoves are designed to burn fuels like coal and wood more efficiently. This means they produce fewer pollutants.
This is good news for those living in a Smoke Control Area because the law currently prohibits emissions of smoke within these areas, unless you are using an DEFRA approved stove and a fuel that is authorised. In the past, it was 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, from January 2022, the law is changing and stoves that are not approved are not allowed to be used unless they've been equipped with secondary or tertiary combustion system that will drastically reduce the production of particulate matter and NOx, carbon dioxide and organic gaseous compounds.
Our Defra approved ranges are equipped with a mechanism to prevent you from closing the top air vent completely. This can cause the fire to ignite and release smoke into your home. The stoves have an adjustable air supply that allows you to open the top vent just a bit and still keep a safe, efficient burning.
A stove that is approved by Defra can be fitted with a 5 inch chimney liner. This is crucial since there are a variety of construction regulations that require you must have an elongated chimney with at least 5 inches of diameter.
Smoke Control Areas
If you live in a smoke-control zone you'll need a DEFRA-approved stove to burn wood legally within your home. The stoves have been tested by DEFRA to ensure that they meet the strict smoke emissions standards required in smoke control areas. On the Defra website, you can find a list of areas where a stove that is Defra-approved is required.
Multifuel stoves and stoves exempt from Defra
A Defra approved wood stove, also called a DEFRA Multi Wood Burning Stove that has been through a rigorous test developed by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. The UK government body is responsible for protecting our natural environment, promoting the agriculture and food industries and ensuring a vibrant rural economy. The tests that Defra Approved stoves must pass are designed to ensure that the appliance only produces very little smoke and grit when it is in use.
A lot of the Defra Exempt stoves we stock at Stove Supermarket are also multi fuel stoves that allow you to use authorised smokeless fuels as well as seasoned wood. These stoves are also known as Defra stoves, Defra approved wooden burners and are abbreviated SE.
Unlike older stoves, which are generally not suitable for use in Smoke Control Areas, the latest Defra woodburning and multi-fuel stoves come with secondary and tertiary air systems to ensure that the wood is fully burned before it exits the chimney. This is a better method than leaving a log on the fire for a long period of time. It can also reduce the amount of smoke that could be produced.
If you reside in an area that is a Smoke Control Area, or in the process of moving to one, then a Defra exempt stove is the best choice for your home. Not only is it more environmentally friendly but it will help to minimise the nuisance smoke that can irritate your neighbours.
You can still use an open flame, barbecues and a pizza oven in your garden. However excessive or toxic smoke could be considered a nuisance and you could be fined. In a Smoke Control Area it is not permitted to use open flames or stoves for burning damp, rotten, or wet wood or any other fuels.
Burning Other Fuels Other Than Petroleum
Defra Approved stoves are made to burn a variety of fuels including wood. They burn wood so efficiently that they are in compliance with strict government regulations for emissions when operating in smoke zones for control. You can use them in any smoke-control zone, as long as they are burning approved fuels like logs, briquettes and pellets. Stoves that have been approved by Defra will often be denoted with an 'SE' logo that stands for Smoke Exempt.
A stove that is Defra-approved differs from a typical multifuel stove in that it has secondary air vents which pre-heat air before it enters into the firebox. This pre-heated air helps to ensure that all the fuel is ignited and burned, resulting in more efficient combustion. This also prevents the build-up of soot and blockages in the chimney. Defra stoves are equipped with internal baffles that help control the flames, and maintain an even heat distribution.
Defra could impose severe penalties on anyone who uses a non-Defra approved appliance in smoke-controlled areas. To avoid the risk of being accused of trespassing by Defra you should only purchase and make use of a DEFRA approved stove that has been tested to meet the government's strict criteria.
DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves can also be called Clean Burn stoves. They can be used for all kinds 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 get oxygen to help ensure clean combustion and minimise the risk of noxious gases and soot.
This technology is not only compatible with the current standards for air quality of the government, but also with future Ecodesign requirements that will be in place in 2022. Stovax stoves that burn wood and multifuel will be branded with the SIA Ecodesign Ready label, which confirms they meet the new stricter emission standards. These new standards are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to keep the air we breathe healthy and clean.
Installation
If you reside in a smoke-free zone then a Defra exempt multi fuel stove can aid you in observing the regulations. This is because these wood burning and multi fuel stoves have been independently tested to ensure they comply with the strict smoke emissions standards that are required in a Smoke Control Area. These appliances can burn wood, or other fuels like coal without concern about the level of smoke they emit.
Stoves that are DEFRA approved are able to reduce smoke levels by using advanced combustion technology that creates less smokiness. These stoves use an additional stage of combustion, which recycles 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 that gets into the chimney and flue.
This is great news for those who reside in a smoke-free zone as it means you can have a genuine fire more often and longer, with the added benefit of having lower utility bills. These wood burning and multi-fuel stoves are beneficial to the environment because they emit less pollution. They can also be utilized to burn more materials than other stoves.
The majority of stoves can be converted to DEFRA exempt using an easy manufacturer-supplied kit. This changes the air vents on the stove to stop them from closing at night. This is referred to as slumbering and it allows part-burned combustibles and flammables to escape into the atmosphere rather than being pushed up the chimney where they can block 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 a HETAS registered installer or a Building Control officer install your DEFRA approved appliance to get the most out of it. This will give you peace of mind that your installation has been completed to the correct specifications and in line with the most current regulations. Additionally, it will also help protect your warranty as the installer can self-certify their work.