What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?
A multi-fuel stove that is defra-approved is one which has passed the Defra test for smoke. They are also sometimes called SE (smoke exempt) stoves.
The Defra department of the government is responsible for implementing rules and regulations that deal with rural issues, agriculture and the environment. The Defra Test assures you that you are able to burn wood, approved smokeless fuels like Anthracite Ovals, for instance, in a smoke-free area without causing disturbance to your neighbors.
Eco-Friendly
Eco-friendly stoves are made of sustainable fuels and materials to reduce emissions. Eco-friendly stoves are typically built to burn wood, or a combination of other approved fuels. There are many eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners available, from traditional to modern models. Some eco-friendly stoves even use dung (the excrement of domestic livestock) to provide a highly efficient and carbon neutral alternative to wood.
The most important thing you can do to ensure that your stove is green is to make sure that the fuel is properly seasoned or dried in a kiln. This helps reduce the amount of moisture and allows the wood to burn more efficiently, producing less smoke. It is recommended to purchase only wood harvested from sustainable forests. When purchasing wood look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' label to ensure that it has been dried correctly.
The majority of newer stoves comply with strict EU EcoDesign Standards. These standards require that stove makers create wood-burning stoves that are energy efficient and with environmental protection in the back of their minds. Ecodesign stoves must be designed to take into consideration the environment, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. These are among the most eco-friendly and cleanest stoves on the market today.
Replace the grates on your stove with a ceramic grates. This will make it more environmentally friendly. It is not just attractive, but it is also anti-smoking, and helps reduce the amount of sulphur oxide that is in the air. Ceramic grates also have a longer life span and are easier to clean than steel inserts into grates.
In a Smoke Control Area you are able to use a wood burner or multi-fuel stove, but it is crucial to use only fuels that have been approved by Defra. If you do not have this, you could be in breach of the law and face a fine from the local council. To avoid this, you should only use Defra approved fuels, for example, a manufactured smokeless anthracite oval in your stove.
Clean Burning
Multi fuel stoves approved by Defra can be used only in areas that are smoke-controlled if they burn only authorised smokeless fuel. It could be a form of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite, and it must comply with certain regulations in order to be able to qualify as a Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove manufacturers must also comply with the regulations in order to produce a DEFRA exempt wood burner for sale. Here at The Stove Yard we have a fantastic choice of DEFRA approved wood burning stoves as well as multi fuel stoves from top brands such as Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more.
The Defra-exempt stoves employ the latest technology for combustion to reduce tar emissions and tar accumulation in your chimney or flue system. The stoves employ secondary and tertiary systems that ignite particulates, tar gases and other pollutants before they escape into the air. This is why Defra approved wood burning stoves are much cleaner than open fires and older models of stoves.
The design of a Defra approved stove is also different The majority of our stoves include a hidden mechanism within the stove that allows a small, continuous flow of air to the fire, even when the air vents are shut. This stops ash and soot from being blown up the fireplace, which can cause dangerous chimney fires.
The new Defra-approved stoves won't permit you to completely shut the air vents and slumber the stove for a night, which can send part burned combustibles in the air.
A DEFRA approved stove also has a much longer burn time than non-Defra models, but it's important to note that if you swapped your fuel of choice for smokeless coal, and wanted to slumber your stove overnight then this could reduce the time to burn as the continuous supply of air required to slumber burn would slow the combustion of the smokeless fuel.
Reduced Emissions
When properly used, a DEFRA exempt stove can generate very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles, which can cause a range of health issues, including heart conditions and lung disease, when inhaled.
The high combustion efficiency of a DEFRA approved wood burner decreases the amount of harmful particles and pollution released during the burning process. This reduces the impact on the environment, particularly in urban areas where pollution levels are high.
In addition to cutting harmful emissions In addition, the efficiency of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your home. If you use a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove place of a gas boiler you can reduce your carbon footprint and save the cost of your energy.
If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it's important to ensure that your stove is DEFRA approved or Smoke Exempt since this will permit you to burn approved Defra fuels like manufactured smokeless coal ovals, such as Anthracite and Homefire as well as dried wood and other authorised solid fuels. This allows you to enjoy your fireplace without worrying about the nuisance smoke that could disturb your neighbours.
Many stoves, in addition to being DEFRA approved, are also tested according to clearSkies requirements and are able to be labeled with the clearSkies label. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme that requires stove manufacturers display information on the effectiveness and emissions of their appliances that allow consumers to make an informed decision. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating and emissions, as well as its type and size.
However, it's important to keep in mind that, just as with Ecodesign the clearSkies guidelines are merely minimum standards, and manufacturers can exceed these. ESSE for instance, has engineered its latest stoves to be more efficient and cleaner burning and produce less particulates, without compromising on performance or control. fireplacesandstove utilizes the patented twin catalytic combustion technique that reburns any smoke particles it produces drastically reducing their impact on the atmosphere.
If you live in a smoke-free zone and you use a DEFRA Approved Stove with a high quality, kiln-dried or seasoned log you will get as much heat, or perhaps more, from the same amount dry wood than when it was burned in the non DEFRA Approved Stove. It can be up 24 percent less expensive to heat your home using the latest Defra Approved Stove than gas boiler.
Conforms to Building Regulations
If you live in a Smoke Control Area, it's important to have a DEFRA approved multi-fuel stove. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they don't release any smoke when burning an approved fuel, which means they can be used in areas that are heavily populated by buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a range of DEFRA approved log burners from the top brands including Mi-fires, Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.
A DEFRA approved multi fuel stove will allow you to burn wood, peat and other solid fuels safely. It is essential to be aware that certain types of fuels cannot be used in Smoke Control Areas.
Proper ventilation is essential for safe operation of a multi fuel stove, because it helps to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide that builds up in your home. DEFRA approved stoves come with an inbuilt ventilation system that delivers sufficient air to the combustion process. This ensures your home is always ventilated and safe for use.
In addition, DEFRA approved stoves have a minimum flue size of 550mm2, which means they can be used with a standard twinwall flue system. Our extensive selection of flue liners is compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, so you can use them to upgrade your existing fireplace to ensure it is compliant with the latest emissions requirements.
When selecting a DEFRA approved stove Look for the DEFRA symbol on the packaging or in the information provided by the manufacturer online. Numerous reputable stove retailers will also display this information on their websites as well as on their displays in the store so that you can easily identify which stoves comply with the regulations.
It is essential to employ a certified professional if you plan to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is compliant with building codes. Infractions to the correct instructions for installation could result in an expensive fine or damage to your property. We recommend that you choose a HETAS-approved installer to install your stove, since they are knowledgeable about the guidelines of the manufacturer as well as the building codes.