OFTEC
Using a technician or installer who is registered with OFTEC can reduce costs because they can self-certify their work and so avoid building inspection fees.
Heating with Oil
Domestic oil heating will heat your home and provide your hot water. Today’s oil-fired boilers are designed to be efficient and long-lasting and they may be fitted in different situations to suit your home and lifestyle. The result is flexible heating control.
Oil-fired systems can do more than domestic heating – they also suit larger spaces like offices and factories where other energy sources are impractical or expensive. Your system may run on bio-liquids – recycled cooking oil or oil processed from plant sources – instead of fossil fuel.
What makes oil good for heating?
- ‘On demand’ heating and hot water – as much as you want whenever you want.
- Heating with oil is generally cheaper than using electricity, LPG, bottled Propane gas or solid fuel.
- Fuelling the boiler is automatic – no loading the appliance as with solid fuels.
- You can combine oil heating systems with alternative energy sources to reduce heating bills.
- Save money by shopping around for the best oil prices – changing supplier is simple.
- It’s kinder to the environment than some fuels that have higher CO2 emissions.
What is the competent persons scheme?
The British Government introduced competent person schemes in 2002 and OFTEC was the first organisation to pilot the scheme. OFTEC manages the training, assessment and registration of technicians working in the oil heating and cooking sector.
To become OFTEC registered, technicians are independently assessed every 5 years. There are about 10,000 persons registered under this scheme. Under the competent persons scheme, any technician who is registered with OFTEC is considered a ‘competent person’.
What does it mean?
A competent person is authorised to self-certify that their work complies with all local building regulations and standards, and can undertake specific works without needing to submit a building control notice. Local authorities will not need to inspect the work and inspection fees will therefore not apply.
The benefits for you
Using a technician or installer who is registered with OFTEC can reduce costs because they can self-certify their work and so avoid building inspection fees.
The scheme is designed to promote training and competence within the industry, and will allow you to identify ‘cowboys’, untrained, or incompetent workmen.
Competent persons must be properly trained and are inspected by OFTEC to ensure that their work is of a recognised standard. When you use an OFTEC registered technician, you ensure that the works comply with building regulations.
