When choosing a wood burning or multi-fuel stove, you’ll often come across terms like Ecodesign and DEFRA Exempt. But what do they really mean – and why do they matter? We’ve put together this article to help you understand what they are, and why they are relevant to you when you choose your new stove or fire.
Table of Contents:
In many urban areas across England, smoke control zones are in place to improve air quality and reduce the pollution from smoke.
Smoke Control Areas (also known as Smoke Control Zones) were introduced in the mid-20th century to reduce pollution in towns and cities. If you live in one of these areas, you must follow specific regulations on what fuels you can burn. You can find out if you live in a Smoke Control Area by contacting your local council.
In these areas, burning wood is only permitted if the stove or fire you’re using has been approved by DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). These appliances are known as DEFRA-exempt, or sometimes you’ll come across DEFRA-approved.
While DEFRA exemption ensures your stove is legally approved for use in smoke control areas, Ecodesign refers to a broader performance energy efficiency performance standard for all energy-using products, including stoves and fires sold in the UK and Europe.
Introduced in 2022 for solid fuel stoves and fires, Ecodesign is aimed at improving air quality by setting strict limits on emissions and minimum requirements for efficiency. Since then, manufacturers have only been able to sell Ecodesign compliant appliances by law.
At Stovax, we’ve been at the forefront of this cleaner heating revolution. It’s easy to identify a compliant stove or fire. Firstly, all our products are Ecodesign approved, and secondly, they all bear the Ecodesign Plus label, demonstrating that they meet these ultra-low emission targets.
These two features overlap, and ideally you’ll want a product that offers both:
In short, DEFRA exemption is about where you can legally use your stove, while Ecodesign is about how efficiently your stove performs.
The vast majority of our stoves are both DEFRA Exempt and Ecodesign compliant, so you don’t have to choose. In fact, with our forward-thinking approach to product development, along with our goals that align with improving air quality, we are of the view that a stove or fire should really feature both!
By choosing a wood burner with both technology features, you are making a smart, futureproof choice – ensuring your appliance not only meets current regulations but supports cleaner air for years to come, all without compromising on performance or style.
Our advanced Ecodesign Plus stoves represent the future of wood burning. Supporting the Government’s Clean Air Strategy, they burn so cleanly that they not only meet, but often exceed 2022 air quality targets. These appliances feature high-efficiency combustion systems that reduce emissions to an absolute minimum. In fact, they can use up to 70% less logs than an open fire and 20% less than a standard stove, while still producing magnificent rolling flames and ample warmth. All models are energy rated to European labelling standards, with most achieving A or A+ energy class ratings, and the vast majority all DEFRA Exempt.
In fact, Defra’s Emissions of air pollutants in the UK – Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) report confirms a continued reduction in emissions from domestic combustion. Between 2020 and 2023, PM2.5 and PM10 emissions from domestic combustion dropped by 17%, with 7% decrease recorded when comparing 2022 and 2023 alone. Since 1990, levels have fallen by an impressive 72%. [source]
This achievement is thanks in no small part to the ongoing efforts of retailers, backed by manufacturer efforts to bring new, appropriate products to market and educational materials to consumers. Andy Hill, Chair of the Stove Industry Association (SIA), says that this ‘significant reduction in emissions from domestic combustion can be attributed to several factors, including the adoption of modern stove appliances and the use of better-quality fuel, and increased consumer awareness and education.’
As a leading UK manufacturer of wood burning and multi-fuel stoves, we have been creating DEFRA-exempt and Ecodesign stoves and fires for many years. We are proud to offer a huge range of options, giving you the peace of mind that your appliance is legally compliant in regulated zones.
Whether you’re heating a country home or a city terrace, choosing a stove that is both DEFRA Exempt and Ecodesign compliant is the smart, futureproof choice – you will be supporting cleaner air and reducing your fuel usage – without compromising on warmth or flame visuals.
Explore our wide range of clean burning stoves and fires and speak to your local retailer to find the right model for your home.
Posted by Annabelle Carvell on May 9, 2025
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