What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A defra approved multi fuel stove is one that has passed the Defra smoke tests. These stoves are often referred to as SE (smoke-exempt) stoves.

The Defra department of the government is responsible for the rules and regulations related to agriculture, rural issues and the environment. The Defra Test ensures that you can burn wood, approved smokeless fuels like Anthracite Ovals, for instance, in a smoke-controlled area without disturbing your neighbours.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves emit a minimum amount of carbon dioxide, by using fuel efficiently and utilising sustainable materials. Eco-friendly stoves are typically made to burn wood or in combination with other approved fuels. There are a variety of eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners to choose from, ranging from modern to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves make use of dung as a sustainable and carbon-negative alternative to wood.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your stove is eco-friendly is to ensure that the fuel is properly seasoned, or dried and kiln-fired. This reduces the amount of moisture and allows the wood to burn more efficiently, generating less smoke. It is also a good idea to buy only wood sourced from sustainable forests. Look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' logo when buying wood to guarantee that it has been dried to an appropriate level.

Most modern stoves are designed to meet strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require stove makers to develop wood burning stoves with energy efficiency and the environment in mind. Manufacturers must account for emissions as well as resource efficiency and waste reduction when designing Ecodesign stoves. These are some of the most eco-friendly and clean stoves on the market today.

Replace the grate on your stove with a ceramic grates. This will make it more eco-friendly. https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/categories/defra-stoves is not just aesthetically pleasing and attractive, but it also comes with the benefit of being non-smoking and helping reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. Ceramic grates are easy to clean and last longer than steel inserts for grates.

In a Smoke Control Area you can still enjoy the wood burner or multi-fuel stove, but it is important to only use approved fuels by Defra. If you do not, it is possible that you could be in breach of the law and risk a fine from the local council. It is recommended to only use approved fuels by Defra, such as a manufactured anthracite round, in your stove.

Clean Burning

Multi fuel stoves that have been approved by Defra can only be used in areas with smoke control if they burn only authorised smokeless fuel. It could be a form of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite and it must adhere to certain rules to be able to qualify as a Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove manufacturers must follow the rules in order to make an DEFRA exempt wood burner available for sale. The Stove Yard has a great selection of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves as well as wood burning stoves by leading brands such as Arada, Parkray and Burley.

These kinds of Defra exempt stoves come with the most modern combustion technology that is designed to reduce the amount of emissions and tar build-up up in your chimney and flue system. The stoves utilize secondary and tertiary systems that ignite particulates, tar gasses and other pollutants before they go into the air. This is why Defra approved wood burning stoves are so much healthier than open fires as well as older generation stoves.

The design of a Defra approved stove is unique Most of our range will have a hidden mechanism within the stove that allows a small continuous circulation of air into the fire, even when the air vents are closed. This prevents soot and ash being pushed into the fireplace, which could cause dangerous chimney fires.

The new Defra-approved stoves don't allow you to completely close the vents for air and sleep the stove overnight, which can send part burned combustibles in the atmosphere.

A DEFRA-approved stove can have a longer burning duration compared to stoves that are not DEFRA-approved. However it is possible to replace your fuel of choice with smokeless coal in order to sleep the stove over night and reduce the time of the burning time due to the constant supply of air needed for slumbering would curtail the combustion of smokeless fuel.

Reduced Emissions

When used correctly, a DEFRA-exempt stove can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles which, when inhaled, could cause numerous health problems, including heart diseases and lung illnesses.

The high efficiency of combustion provided by a DEFRA-approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the process of burning. This reduces the impact of the process of burning on the environment.

The efficiency of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your house. By using a DEFRA-approved wood burner in place of a gas boiler, you can reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your energy bills.

If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's essential that your stove is DEFRA Approved (or Smoke Exempt) since this permits you to burn Defra Approved fuels like manufactured smokeless ovals, such as Anthracite or Homefire as well as dried wood and other authorised fuels. This lets you relax in your fireplace and not worry about nuisance smoke disturbing your neighbours.

Many stoves that are DEFRA-approved, are tested in accordance with clearSkies standards and can be labelled using the clearSkies label. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme that requires stove manufacturers display information on the effectiveness and emissions of their appliances to help consumers make an informed decision. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating as well as emissions, along with its type and size.

It is important to remember that, as with Ecodesign, clearSkies regulations represent minimum standards. Manufacturers can go above and above these. ESSE, for example has developed its new stoves to be more efficient and less polluting with less particles, without compromising on performance or control. This latest development uses Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology, a patent-pending technology that recycles all smoke particles and reduces their impact on the atmosphere.

In fact when you're in a smoke-free zone and you use a DEFRA Approved stove with a high-quality, kiln dried or seasoned log, you'll generate as much, or more heat from the same amount of dry wood as you would if you were burning it on a non-DEFRA Approved stove. In fact, it could be up to 24 percent less expensive to heat your home with the latest Defra Approved stove than with a traditional gas boiler.

Compliant with Building Regulations

If you reside in a Smoke Control Area, it's important to have a DEFRA approved multi fuel stove. These stoves have been tested to ensure that they do not emit smoke when burning approved fuel. You can therefore use them in areas that have significant amount of buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a variety of DEFRA approved log burners from the top brands, including Mi-fires Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.

You can also safely burn wood, peat and other solid fuels using a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. It is important to be aware that certain fuels cannot be used in Smoke Control Areas.

Proper ventilation is essential for safe operation of multi fuel stoves, as this will help to reduce carbon monoxide accumulation within your home. DEFRA approved stoves come with an inbuilt ventilation system that delivers enough air to the combustion process. This ensures your home is always ventilated, and safe to use.

Additionally, DEFRA approved stoves have a minimum flue size of 550mm2, which means they can be used with a standard twinwall flue system. Our vast selection of flue liners is compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, meaning you can improve your fireplace and ensure it meets the latest emissions requirements.

When choosing the DEFRA approved stove Look for the DEFRA symbol on its packaging or in the information provided by the manufacturer online. A lot of reputable stove retailers also include this information on their websites and in-store displays so that you can easily determine which stoves are in compliance with the requirements.

It is important to work with an expert who is certified when you are planning to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is compliant with building codes. If you don't adhere to the proper instructions for installation this could result in an expensive fine or damage to your home. We recommend using an HETAS certified installer to carry out the stove installation, since they will be familiar with the manufacturer's guidelines and building regulations.