The Good And Bad About Defra Approved Multi Fuel
What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove? A multi-fuel stove that has been approved by defra is one which has passed the Defra test for smoke. They are also known as SE (smoke-exempt) stoves. The government's Defra department oversees rules and regulations related to the environment, agriculture and rural issues. The Defra Test ensures that you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels such as Anthracite ovals in a smoke-free area without disturbing neighbors. Eco-Friendly Eco-friendly stoves are designed to produce minimal emissions, using fuel efficiently and utilising sustainable materials. Eco-friendly stoves are generally designed to burn wood, or a combination with other approved fuels. There are numerous eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners available, from modern to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves even make use of dung (the excreta of domesticated livestock) to provide a highly efficient and carbon neutral alternative to wood. The most important aspect to making sure your stove is eco-friendly is ensuring that the fuel you are using is properly seasoned or kiln dried. This helps reduce the moisture content and lets the wood burn more efficiently, generating less smoke. It is also a good idea 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 modern stoves are compliant with the strict EU EcoDesign Standards. Read the Full Article require stove makers to design wood burning stoves that are energy efficient and with the environment in mind. Manufacturers must account for emissions, resource efficiency, and waste reduction when designing Ecodesign stoves. They are among the most eco-friendly and clean stoves on the market. Another option to make your stove eco-friendly is to replace the grates with ceramic. Ceramic is not just visually appealing but also has the added benefit of not being a smoker and helping reduce sulphur dioxide in the air. Ceramic grate liners also have a longer span and are easier to clean than steel inserts for grates. In a Smoke Control Area you are able to use the wood burner or multi-fuel stove. However, it is essential to only use fuels approved by Defra. If you don't have this, you could be in breach of the law and face a fine from the local council. It is recommended to only use approved fuels by Defra like anthracite manufactured round 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 can be a kind of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite, and it must comply with specific regulations to meet the criteria for an Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove makers must also comply with the regulations in order to create a DEFRA exempt wood burner available for sale. Here at The Stove Yard we have a fantastic choice of DEFRA approved wood burning stoves as well as multi fuel stoves made by top brands such as Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more. These Defra-exempt stoves use the latest technology for combustion to reduce emissions and tar accumulation within your chimney or flue system. The stoves use secondary and tertiary systems to ignite particulates, tar gases and other pollutants before they go into the air. This is why Defra approved wood burning stoves are much healthier than open fires as well as older generation stoves. The design of a Defra approved stove is different too Most of our range has an internal mechanism hidden within the stove that allows a small continuous flow of air through to the fire even when the air vents are closed. This is to prevent the soot and ash from being released up the chimney that can hinder the stove's performance and result in dangerous chimney fires. This is an essential feature for those who live in a smoke-free zone, the new Defra approved stoves don't allow you to close off the air vents completely and allow you to sleep your stove all night which could release part-burned combustibles into the atmosphere. A DEFRA approved stove also has an extended burn time than other models, but it's important to note that if you swapped your authorised fuel for smokeless coal and wanted to rest your stove over night it would reduce the time to burn as the continuous supply of air required for slumber burning would curb the combustion of the smokeless fuel. Reduced Emissions If properly used, a DEFRA-exempt stove can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are typically PM2.5 particles that, if inhaled, could cause a variety of health problems, including heart diseases and lung diseases. The high efficiency of combustion offered by a DEFRA-approved wood burner reduces the amount harmful particles and pollutants released during the process of burning. This reduces the impact of the burning process on the environment. The efficiency of a stove could reduce the cost of heating your house. Making use of an DEFRA approved wood-burning stove instead of gas boilers that are conventional can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills. If you live in a region where smoke is controlled, it's crucial that your stove be DEFRA approved (or Smoke Exempt) as it allows you to burn approved Defra fuels, such as manufactured smokeless ovals like Anthracite or Homefire as well dried wood and other approved fuels. This will let you relax in the fireplace, without having to worry about whether the smoke could disturb your neighbors. In addition to being approved by DEFRA and DEFRA Approved, a lot of stoves are tested to clearSkies level requirements and can be marked with the mark clearSkies. The clearSkies mark is an independent scheme that requires stove makers to display information about their appliances efficiency and emissions allowing consumers to make an informed decision. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating, emissions, as well as type and size. It is important to remember that, like with Ecodesign, clearSkies regulations represent minimum standards. Manufacturers may go above and beyond these. ESSE for instance has designed its latest stoves to be even more efficient and cleaner burning and produce less particulates, without compromising on performance or control. This latest innovation utilizes patented Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology that burns all smoke particles and reduces their impact on the environment. In fact, if you're in a smoke-free zone and are using a DEFRA Approved stove with a high-quality, kiln dried or seasoned log, you'll get as much, or more heat from the same amount of dry wood as you would if you were burning it in a non-DEFRA approved stove. In fact, it could be up to 24 per cent cheaper to heat your home with a new DEFRA Approved stove than with the traditional gas boiler. In compliance with Building Regulations If you reside 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 produce any smoke when burning approved fuel, which means they can be used in areas that are typically well-populated with buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a variety of DEFRA approved log burners from top brands including Mi-fires, Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more. A DEFRA approved multi fuel stove will also allow you to burn peat, wood and other solid fuels safely. You should be aware that certain fuels are restricted for use in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local guidelines and restrictions. Proper ventilation is vital for safe operation of a multi fuel stove, since it will help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide that builds up in your home. DEFRA approved multi fuel stoves have an inbuilt venting system that can automatically supply sufficient air to the combustion process, so your home will be well ventilated and safe to use. DEFRA approved stoves also have a minimum dimension of 550mm2, meaning they can be used conjunction with a standard dualwall flue system. Our range of flue liners is compatible with DEFRA approved stoves. You can make your fireplace meet the latest emission standards by using our wide range. Look for the DEFRA symbol on the stove's packaging, or online. Many reputable stove retailers will also include this information on their websites and on their displays in the store to help you identify which stoves comply with the requirements. It's important to hire an experienced professional who is certified if you intend to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is compliant with the building codes. If you don't adhere to the proper instructions for installation and procedures, you could face an expensive fine or damage to your home. We recommend using a HETAS approved installer to carry out your stove installation, as they are well-versed in the guidelines of the manufacturer and building regulations.