What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A Shop Defra Stoves: Quality and Eco-friendly Fireplaces approved multi fuel stove is one that has been passed the Defra smoke tests. They are also known as SE (smoke-exempt) stoves.

The government's Defra department is responsible for implementing rules and regulations related to the environment, farming and rural issues. The Defra test ensures you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite in a smoke-free area without causing any disturbance to your neighbors by emitting nuisance smoke.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves emit a minimum amount of carbon dioxide, by making use of fuel efficiently and using sustainable materials. Eco-friendly stoves are usually designed to burn wood, or in combination with other approved fuels. There are numerous eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners to choose from, ranging from traditional to modern models. Some eco-friendly stoves even use dung (the excrement of domestic livestock) to provide a highly efficient and carbon negative alternative to wood.

The most crucial aspect in ensuring that your stove is eco-friendly is to make sure that the fuel used is properly seasoned or kiln dried. This helps reduce the moisture content and allows the wood to burn more efficiently, producing less smoke. It is recommended to purchase only wood procured from sustainable forests. Look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' logo when purchasing wood to ensure that it has been dried at an appropriate temperature.

Most newer stoves are made to meet strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require that stove manufacturers design wood burning stoves that are energy efficient and with environmental protection in mind. Ecodesign stoves must consider emissions, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. These are some of the cleanest and eco-friendly stoves that are available.

Replace the grate on your stove with a ceramic grate. This will make it more environmentally friendly. This material is not just attractive, but it is also anti-smoking and reduces the amount of sulphur oxide found in the air. Ceramic grate liners also have a longer life span and are easier to clean than steel grate inserts.

While you may still take pleasure in the comfort of cozy wood burning stoves or multi fuel stove in a Smoke Control Area It is vital to only use Defra approved fuels. If you do not then, you could be in breach of the law and could face getting a fine from your local council. To avoid this, you should only use Defra approved fuels, like anthracite that is manufactured smokeless in your stove.

Clean Burning

A Defra approved multi fuel stove is able to be used in smoke-controlled areas, provided it burns smokeless fuels only. It could be a smokeless log, anthracite or naturally occurring or manufactured product. Stove makers must also follow the rules in order to make a DEFRA exempt wood burner available for sale. The Stove Yard has a huge range of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves as well as wood burning stoves from top brands like Arada, Parkray and Burley.

These kinds of Defra exempt stoves feature the most advanced combustion technology, designed to reduce emissions and tar build up in your chimney and flue system. They utilize the latest secondary and tertiary airflow systems that ignite tar gases and particulates before they can escape into the atmosphere. This is what makes an Defra approved stove much more eco-friendly than the older generation wood burning stoves as well as open fires.

The design of a Defra approved stove is different too, most of our range will have a hidden mechanism inside the stove that allows a small continuous flow of air through to the fire even when the air vents are shut. This prevents soot and ash being pushed up the fireplace, which could cause dangerous chimney fires.

This is a crucial feature for anyone living in a smoke-free zone The new Defra approved stoves don't allow you to shut the air vents completely and allow you to sleep your stove all night that could release combustibles that have been partially burned into the air.

A DEFRA-approved cooktop will have a longer burning time than older stoves that aren't DEFRA-approved. However it is possible to switch your approved fuel with smokeless coal in order to slumber the stove overnight, this would also shorten the burning time as the constant air supply required for slumbering will reduce the combustion of smokeless fuel.

Emissions Reductions

When properly used the DEFRA exempt stove can generate very low levels of emission. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles, which can cause a range of health issues such as heart diseases and lung disease, when inhaled.

The high efficiency of combustion offered by a DEFRA-approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released by the process of burning. This significantly lowers the environmental impact especially in urban areas where pollution levels are very high.

As well as cutting harmful emissions, the efficiency of a stove decreases the cost of heating your home. By using a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove place of a gas boiler, you can reduce your carbon footprint while saving the cost of your energy.

If you live in a smoke controlled zone, it's essential to make sure that your stove is DEFRA approved or Smoke Exempt because this permits you to burn Defra Approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coal ovals, such as Anthracite and Homefire and dried wood and other approved solid fuels. This lets you relax in your fireplace and not worry about a nuisance smoke affecting your neighbours.

In addition to being DEFRA Approved Many stoves are tested to meet the requirements of clearSkies and can be labelled with the clearSkies mark. The clearSkies mark is an independent scheme that requires stove makers to provide information on their appliances efficiency and emissions, allowing consumers to make an informed choice. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating, emissions, and the type and size.

However, it's important to remember that, just as with Ecodesign the clearSkies regulations are merely minimum standards, and manufacturers are able to exceed them. ESSE has designed its latest stoves to make them even more efficient and clean, producing less dust without any compromise in performance or control. This latest innovation utilizes Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology, a patent-pending technology that burns all smoke particles which reduces their impact on the environment.

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 the same amount of wood burned in an non DEFRA Approved Stove. In fact, it can be up to 24 percent less expensive to heat your home with a new DEFRA Approved stove than conventional gas boilers.

Conforms to Building Regulations

If you live in an area under smoke control, it's essential to select a multi-fuel stove that has been approved by DEFRA. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they don't produce any smoke when burning approved fuel, which means they can be used in areas that are usually well-populated with 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 peat, wood, and other solid fuels with a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. It is important to be aware that some fuels are not permitted in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local guidelines and restrictions.

To ensure that a multi-fuel stove can perform safely, it's important that you have the right ventilation. This will help reduce the accumulation of carbon monoxide within your home. DEFRA approved multi fuel stoves have a built-in venting system that automatically delivers enough air to the combustion process, ensuring that your home will be well ventilated and safe to use.

DEFRA approved stoves also have a minimum size of 550mm2, meaning they can be used in combination with a standard dualwall flue system. Our wide range of flue liners are compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, which means you can utilize them to improve your fireplace and ensure that it is in line with the latest emission standards.

Look for the DEFRA approved clean Burning stoves symbol on the stove's packaging or online. This information is also available on numerous reputable retailers' websites and in stores' displays.

It is important to work with an expert who is certified when 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 the issuance of a fine and damage to your property. We suggest using a HETAS approved installer to complete your stove installation, because they will be well-versed in the guidelines of the manufacturer and building regulations.