What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A defra-approved multi-fuel stove is one which has passed the DEFRA stoves ratings and reviews test for smoke. They can also be referred to as SE (smoke exempt) stoves.

The government’s Defra department handles rules and regulations pertaining to the environment, farming and rural issues. The Defra Test guarantees that you can burn wood and approved smokeless fuels, such as Anthracite ovals in a smoke-controlled space without disturbing your neighbours.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves are designed to emit less carbon dioxide, while using fuel efficiently and utilising sustainable materials. Eco-friendly stoves are generally made to burn wood or in combination with other approved fuels. There are a variety of eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves as well as log burners that are available, ranging from modern to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves make use of dung as a sustainable and carbon-negative substitute for wood.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your stove is eco-friendly is ensure that the fuel is properly seasoned, or dried and kiln-fired. This reduces the moisture content of the wood and allows it to burn more efficiently. It is also a good idea to buy DEFRA stoves only wood from sustainable forests. When purchasing wood look for the Woodsure ‘Ready to Burn’ label to verify that it has been properly dried.

The majority of modern stoves comply with strict EU EcoDesign Standards. These standards require stove manufacturers to design wood-burning stoves that are energy efficient and with the environment in mind. Ecodesign stoves should be designed to take into consideration emissions, resource efficiency and the reduction of waste. This makes them some of the greenest and most environmentally friendly stoves on the market.

Another option to make your stove eco-friendly is to replace the grate with a ceramic one. This material is not just visually appealing, but also non-smoking, and helps reduce the amount of sulphur oxide found in the air. Ceramic grates also have a longer span and are easier to clean than steel inserts for grates.

While you can still relax in cozy wood burning stoves or multi fuel stove in a Smoke Control Area it is crucial to use only Defra approved fuels. You could be in breach of the law if you don’t. To avoid this, you should only use Defra approved fuels, like an amorphous smokeless oval, in your stove.

Clean Burning

A Defra approved multi fuel stove is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas if it burns authorised smokeless fuel only. It can be a kind of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite. it must conform to certain rules to meet the criteria for an Defra approved wood burning stove. The stove makers must adhere to the regulations for selling a DEFRA-exempted wood burner. The Stove Yard has a huge choice of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves and wood burning stoves from top brands like Arada, Parkray and Burley.

These Defra-exempt stoves use the latest technology for combustion to reduce emissions and tar accumulation within your chimney or flue system. They utilize the latest secondary and tertiary airflow techniques to ignite particulates and tar gases before they can escape into the atmosphere – this is what makes a Defra approved stove so much less polluting than older wood burning stoves as well as open fires.

The design of the Defra approved stove is unique, most of our range include a hidden mechanism within the stove that allows for a small flow of air to the fire even if the air vents are closed. This is to stop soot and ash being carried up the chimney, which can hinder the stove’s performance and lead to dangerous chimney fires.

The new Defra-approved stoves don’t allow you to completely close the vents to let air in and then sleep on the stove over night, which can send part-burned combustibles to the atmosphere.

A DEFRA-approved cooktop will have a longer burning time compared to older non-Defra stoves. However should you decide to replace your fuel of choice with smokeless coal to sleep the stove over night it would also reduce the burning time as the constant supply of air needed for slumbering will reduce the combustion of smokeless fuel.

Reduced Emissions

If properly used, a stove that is exempt from DEFRA can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles that, if inhaled, can cause numerous health issues, including heart problems and lung diseases.

The high combustion efficiency of a DEFRA approved wood burner minimizes the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the combustion process. This reduces the impact on the environment especially in urban areas where pollution levels are very high.

The effectiveness of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your house. By using a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove in place of a gas boiler, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bill.

If you live in a region where smoke is controlled, it’s crucial that your stove be DEFRA approved (or Smoke Exempt) as this permits you to burn approved DEFRA stoves ratings and reviews fuels like manufactured smokeless ovals, such as Anthracite or Homefire as well as dried wood and other authorised fuels. This lets you enjoy your fireplace without worrying about the nuisance smoke that could disturb your neighbors.

In addition to being DEFRA approved, many stoves are also tested to clearSkies level requirements and can be labelled with the clearSkies label. The clearSkies mark is an independent scheme that requires stove makers to disclose information about their appliances’ efficiency and emissions, allowing consumers to make an informed choice. The information must include a stove’s efficiency rating as well as emissions, as well as its type and size.

However, it’s important to remember that, like Ecodesign the clearSkies guidelines are merely minimum standards, and manufacturers can exceed these. ESSE has designed its latest stoves to be even more efficient and less polluting, generating less particles without impacting the performance or control. This latest innovation utilizes twin catalytic technology that reburns any smoke particles it produces drastically reducing their impact on the atmosphere.

In fact it’s true that if you’re in an smoke controlled zone and use a DEFRA Approved stove with a good quality, kiln dried or seasoned log, you’ll be able to 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 can be up to 24 percent less expensive to heat your home with a the latest DEFRA Approved stove than with conventional gas boilers.

Conforms to Building Regulations

If you live 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 don’t emit smoke when burning approved fuel. They can therefore be used them in areas that have significant amount of buildings. We install and supply DEFRA approved log stoves from the top brands like Mi-fires and Contura.

A DEFRA approved multi fuel stove will allow you to burn wood, peat and other solid fuels in a safe manner. Be aware that some fuels are prohibited for use in Smoke Control Areas, so it’s essential to familiarise yourself with local guidelines and restrictions.

For a multi-fuel stove to perform safely, it’s essential that you have the proper ventilation. This will minimize the formation of carbon monoxide in your home. DEFRA approved stoves have a built-in ventilation system that provides sufficient air to the combustion process. This ensures that your home is always well ventilated, and safe to use.

In addition, DEFRA stoves features 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, so you can utilize them to upgrade your existing fireplace and ensure it meets the latest emission standards.

When choosing a DEFRA approved stove look for the ‘DEFRA symbol on its packaging or in the information provided by the manufacturer online. This information is also available on many reliable retailers’ websites as well as in stores’ displays.

It’s important to hire an experienced professional who is certified if you are planning to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is compliant with the building codes. If you don’t follow the proper installation guidelines, it could lead to an expensive fine or damage to your home. We recommend that you choose a HETAS-approved installer to install your stove, because they are familiar with the guidelines of the manufacturer as well as the building codes.