HETAS recommends solid fuel training to meet a rising demand for appliance installations.
Leading biomass and fuel heating organisation, HETAS, is reporting an increasing demand for solid fuel appliance installations, such as wood-burning stoves. Web traffic to its site peaked in the last three months with over 1.3 million pageviews, likely due to soaring costs of traditional energy sources during the colder months. Demand has reached such a point that some approved chimney sweeps and installers are having to confirm bookings well into 2023 in order to keep up with the number of enquiries.
With the customer base booming, it believes now is the time to get trained and registered for the installation of stoves and add another string to your bow.
Training & Certification
The industry body offers a comprehensive range of training courses and certification schemes and is a Competent Person Scheme that specialises in the installation of solid fuel, wood and biomass technologies.
HETAS’ installer course is available as two variations: H003, a full scope; or H003DS, a defined scope variation. Both options offer extensive content, covering fuel selection, preparation, seasoning and storage, industry rules and regulations, and service and maintenance of dry solid fuel appliances as well as how to respond to unsafe situations.
The comprehensive range of training schemes facilitated through HETAS helps installers advance their qualifications and registration. Both the H003 and H003DS allow installers to progress to wet installer, system chimney and dry pellet stove training, with the full scope route also offering progression to biomass training.
Training centres
HETAS training is provided throughout England, Scotland and Wales, through its network of 14 approved training centres that are attended by over 2,500 candidates every year.
Upon successful completion, installers will be sent a Statement of Results and then contacted about next steps to registration. Registrants are then required to complete sufficient refresher training every five years in order to remain on the Competent Person Scheme.
Head of Training at HETAS, Carrie Artus, commented: “The HETAS training team is proud to offer robust training modules written and delivered by time-served industry experts. Each module teaches elements of installation best practices, in accordance with Building Regulations, British Standards, methods and practices which have undergone stringent testing.
“During the energy crisis, we have seen an increase in tradespeople looking to cross-skill. HETAS recognises registered gas and oil installers with appropriate qualifications as a pathway into solid fuel training and subsequent registration with HETAS.”
