If you have a DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove, you can burn wood in a Smoke Control Area.
If you have a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove, you can burn wood and suitable authorised smokeless fuel.
What you can burn depends on the type of stove you have. A wood-burning stove is designed for wood. A multi-fuel stove is designed for wood and suitable solid fuels. Always use fuel that your stove is designed to burn.
CURRENT CAMBRIDGE POSITION
Cambridge currently has three Smoke Control Areas. The council is working towards a new citywide Smoke Control Area, but it is not yet in force.
If your home is outside one of the existing areas, you do not need to change how you use your stove yet because of the planned citywide area.
In This Guide
What Does DEFRA Approved Mean?
A DEFRA-approved stove is approved to burn a fuel such as wood in a Smoke Control Area. The official term is an exempt appliance.
For most homeowners, the important part is simple:
- DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove: you can burn wood.
- DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove: you can burn wood and suitable authorised smokeless fuel.
DEFRA approval does not turn a wood-burning stove into a multi-fuel stove. If your stove is designed only for wood, do not burn smokeless coal in it.
Can I Burn Wood in a DEFRA-Approved Stove?
Yes. If your stove is DEFRA approved for wood, you can burn wood in it in a Smoke Control Area.
You do not need to switch to smokeless fuel just because you live in a Smoke Control Area.
If you are not sure whether your stove is DEFRA approved, check the exact make and model.
How to check if your stove is DEFRA approved →
What Can I Burn in a Wood-Burning or Multi-Fuel Stove?
The answer depends on the type of stove.
- Wood-burning stove: burn suitable dry wood. Do not burn smokeless coal in a wood-only stove.
- Multi-fuel stove: burn wood or suitable authorised smokeless fuel.
Even if a smokeless fuel is allowed in a Smoke Control Area, it still needs to be suitable for your stove. Check your manufacturer’s instructions if you are unsure.
See which smokeless fuels can be used in a Smoke Control Area →
How Do I Check If My Stove Is DEFRA Approved?
Find the manufacturer and exact model of your stove, then check it on the official DEFRA list.
Check if your stove is DEFRA approved →
If your exact model is listed, the entry will tell you which fuel it is approved to burn in a Smoke Control Area. Do not assume that every stove made by the same manufacturer has the same approval.
Not sure what you’re looking for? Follow our step-by-step guide to checking your stove →
What Wood Should I Burn in a DEFRA-Approved Stove?
Use dry, suitable firewood. Check your stove instructions for the type of wood it is designed to burn and any moisture requirements.
If you buy firewood, the Ready to Burn logo is a useful way to identify commercially sold wood that meets the scheme’s moisture requirements.
Ready to Burn and DEFRA approval are different things: Ready to Burn relates to the wood; DEFRA approval relates to the stove.
Read our guide to seasoned wood and moisture content →
How Should I Use My Stove in a Smoke Control Area?
Use the stove as the manufacturer intended:
- burn the correct fuel for your stove;
- use dry wood;
- follow the instructions for lighting, refuelling and air controls; and
- do not alter the stove in a way that affects its DEFRA approval.
Some DEFRA-approved stoves have specific conditions attached to their approval, so follow the instructions for your exact model.
How to light a wood burner using the top-down method →
What If I Don’t Currently Live in a Cambridge Smoke Control Area?
If your home is outside Cambridge’s three existing Smoke Control Areas, the planned citywide area is not yet in force.
You do not need to change how you use your stove yet because of the planned citywide area. When the new area comes into force, the Smoke Control Area rules will apply more widely across Cambridge.
See the current Cambridge Smoke Control Area position →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn wood in a DEFRA-approved stove in a Smoke Control Area?
Yes. If your stove is DEFRA approved for wood, you can burn suitable wood in it in a Smoke Control Area.
Can I burn smokeless coal in a DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove?
No, not in a wood-only stove. A wood-burning stove is designed to burn wood, not smokeless coal.
What can I burn in a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove?
You can burn wood and suitable authorised smokeless fuel. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the particular smokeless fuel is suitable for your stove.
Do I have to switch from wood to smokeless fuel in a Smoke Control Area?
No. If your stove is DEFRA approved for wood, you can continue to burn suitable wood.
How do I know if my stove is DEFRA approved?
Find the manufacturer and exact model and check it on the official exempt-appliances list. You can also follow our step-by-step guide to checking your stove →
