Defra Approved

DEFRA Approved Stoves are designed to burn specified fuels in Smoke Control Areas, as laid out in the Clean Air Act 1993.

A Smoke Control area, usually populated areas and cities, is a legally defined area where only approved solid fuels or DEFRA exempted appliances (DEFRA Approved Stoves / Smoke Exempt Stoves) can be used within buildings.

DEFRA Approved Stoves draught cannot be closed down fully, thereby preventing black smoke, allowing for a more efficient burning of the fuel and reducing carbon emissions.

ECO Design Ready

All stoves sold in the UK must be Eco Design Ready / Eco models.

Eco Design is a European-wide programme for manufacturers of all kinds to produce products that reduce or remove their impact upon the environment.

Eco Design Ready Stoves are designed to reduce emissions by burning fuel more efficiently and completely. Eco Design Ready Stoves can reduce particulate emissions by 90% compared to an open fire and 80% compared to an old stove.

The emissions limit for Eco Design Stoves is 55% lower than for DEFRA exempt stoves.

Eco Design is a European initiative and clearSkies is a UK initiative.

A Energy Rating

The Energy Rating Label is compulsory on all gas fires and stoves.

The Energy Rating Label Index is a strip of colours from Green to Red, and letters from A-G, indicates how efficient the appliance is.

The greener the label, the more efficient the stove, the lower the emissions, and overall the greener the appliance.

A+ Energy Rating

The Energy Rating Label is compulsory on all gas fires and stoves.

The Energy Rating Label Index is a strip of colours from Green to Red, and letters from A-G, indicates how efficient the appliance is.

The greener the label, the more efficient the stove, the lower the emissions, and overall the greener the appliance.

Multifuel

Multi Fuel Stoves have been designed to offer more flexibility in the types of fuel that can be burned. Multi Fuel Stoves can burn Wood, Smokeless and Coal.

A Multi Fuel Stove typically has a grate and ash pan and requires air to come underneath to keep the fire lit.

Gas

Gas Stoves have been designed as a cleaner, lower maintenance alternative to Wood Burning and Multi Fuel Stoves.

Most Gas Stoves are available in Natural Gas or LPG options and suitable to install into existing Conventional Flue [CF] Chimneys, Balance Flue [BF] or Flueless options.

Gas Stoves are not suitable to burn any other types of fuels.

Electric

Electric Stoves provide an alternative to Wood Burning, Multi Fuel, Gas and Wood Pellet Stoves.

Electric Stoves are equipped with a standard plug fitting making the ‘Plug & Play’ installation simple and hassle free.

Pellet

Wood Pellet Stoves burn compressed timber pellets rather than logs or solid fuel.

Wood Pellets are Eco Friendly and have a higher efficiency [90%] than wood logs and solid fuel. Wood Pellet Stoves are easily installed, controlled and programmable and automated.

Efficiency

All Eco Design Ready Stoves have a minimum efficiency of 75%. Typical stove efficiencies range from 75-80%. This means that 80% of the heat that is being produced from a stove is being used to heat the room.

The higher the efficiency the more heat output, less fuel used, less emissions, money saved on fuel consumption and overall better for the environment.

Clearskies

Clearskies is a UK only initiative, set up by the stove industry to help reduce the environmental impact of Wood Burning Stoves. The goal of clearSkies is to improve air quality and protect public health by reducing emissions and increasing efficiency of wood-burning stoves.

clearSkies stove produces up to 90% less emissions than an open fire and 80% less emissions than the average 10-year-old stove.

clearSkies is a UK initiative and Eco Design is a European initiative.

Flue

Most stoves have a flue outlet diameter of 5” inch [125mm] or 6” inch [150mm].

The Flue is designed to take the fumes out from the appliance and into a chimney or flue system.

External Air

Stoves need an adequate air supply to perform safely and efficiently. This is important in all properties, including new builds, well insulated and air tight properties.

A stove with External Air Supply [Direct Air, Direct Vent, Ducting Kit, Outside Air] takes air directly from outside into the rear or underside of the stove through a spigot, thus eliminating the need for an additional wall vent.

It is essentially a built-in vent that is connected to the outside of the building via a ducting kit.

Warranty

All Stoves and Fire Products come with a Warranty that is specific to each brand and product. These vary 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 Years and even a Lifetime on some products. Warranty duration can vary between each part of a particular product, for example, a stove body could have a 7 year warranty, but the spare parts may have no warranty or a 1 year warranty.

For a Warranty to be valid, your goods must be purchased from and authorised dealer and installed to the local Building Standards and Manufacturers Guidelines. See out Warranty [age for further information.

Lifetime Warranty

A Lifetime Warranty is provided with some stove brand manufacturers to guarantee the stove body only. This can provide years of peace of mind when purchasing your new stove.

The Lifetime Warranty will not include consumable spare parts such as; Glass, Fire Brick, Baffle Plate, Front Bars, Fire Rope, Boilers etc.

Wood Burning

A Wood Burning Stove has been specifically designed to burn only wood.

A typical Wood Burning Stove has no grate or ash pan as wood burns from the top down and does not need air coming from underneath for combustion.

These stoves are not designed to burn multi fuel or smokeless unless an additional grate kit is purchased from the manufacturer.