Fitting a woodburner - OFTEC vs HETAS

[Kochkor]

I had a quote today about fitting a wood burner. The price was competitive but the technician was OFTEC registered rather than HETAS. What is the difference?

Isn't Oftec for oil-fired appliances, And Hetas for solid-fuel? They're both just trade associations.

Our log burner was installed by a hetas registered guy who can then provide a certificate saying all the legal things have been complied with. This is really only important if you sell the house, or if your house has a fire caused by the burner and the insurance might not pay out if they think it was done dodgily.

I would check with installer on this.

You need hetas. It needs to be commissioned and registered with building regs.

Oftec is for oil fired, and a wood burner is not oil fired. Hetas is for solid fuel, which is what a wood burner is.

So In summary the facthe is oftec registered is irrelevant, that's only for when he fits oil appliances, ie a boiler or cooker. It's not remotely relevant to installing a wood burner. Use a hetas registered person.

I'd also add that hetas were very helpful when mine was installed. After installation they let their registration lapse, and I didn't get my certificate of compliance, hetas effectively insures you and as they were registered at the time of my fitting, they spoke to them, opened up the registration for them to register my installation, notified building regs and sent me the certificate of compliance.

I'd strongly advise you don't fuck about and get it installed by a registered fitter. It's not something you want to mess with.

Thank you everyone - that confirms what I thought.

Hiya, you've probably already sorted this, but Oftec do solid fuel and renewables registration too. Obviously not all technicians may be qualified for both, but it's easy enough to check and if they are, they can commission and do all the 'legal bits' in exactly the same way whether they are Hetas or Oftec. My friend has a new build and is on oil but also has a wood burner and had the same guy install both (and he now services them every year too)

Hi
Yes OFTEC registered solid fuel installers are equally qualified to fit and sign off your wood/multifuel stoves as we are members of the CPS (Competent Persons Scheme)
It's a myth that "Only Hetas fitter are allowed to fit stoves"

Please do not be bullied into using an HETAS registered fitter. The person who installs your wood burner must be “competent” to do the job, this DOES NOT mean HETAS registered. OFTEC engineers that have completed training can “notify” the install hence complying with building regs which is the main point here. Unfortunately HETAS spend a lot of time and money advertising that you must be registered with them and this is INCORRECT

Think it has been well covered but either is fine. Both are recognised as competent and can complete certification. What I would worry more about is their experience as opposed to which they are registered under.
It’s one thing getting the qualification and totally another in having good experience. Also look at aftercare services. It’s recommended just like your boiler to have your stove serviced annually.

That’s good advice☝🏼 To be hetas registered you just go on a course ( classroom based). Any competent person can install one and use building control to sign it off , but not all areas will do it . It’s best to find out beforehand if your does.