OFTEC Competent Person registration

( Extract directly from the OFTEC website )

What is a competent person?

Finding a competent technician to install or service heating equipment used to be a challenge. That changed in 2002 when the British government removed some of the guesswork by introducing the idea of officially recognised 'competent person schemes', for a range of building trades, with the aim of improving standards within the building industry. Heating is one of the trades covered and OFTEC's competent person scheme is a register of installers of oil, solid fuel and renewable heating equipment. We also offer registration for oil and solid fuel servicing and maintenance businesses.

To become OFTEC registered, all technicians must undertake an approved training course and assessment. They are also inspected regularly by OFTEC to ensure their work meets the required standard. Around 8,000 technicians are registered with OFTEC's competent person scheme.

What does it mean?

A heating installer who is a competent person is authorised to self-certify that their work complies with all local building regulations and standards. They can also undertake specific works without needing to submit a building control notice. As a result, local authorities will not need to inspect their work which saves you time and money.

The servicing and maintenance of oil and solid fuel heating equipment does not need to be certified under building regulations, but should still be done by a competent person. OFTEC registered servicing technicians are trained to follow a set of procedures that ensure that all aspects of the heating system are checked and maintained in accordance with industry and manufacturers' approved standards.

The benefits for you

Regardless of whether you are looking for an installer or a servicing technician, selecting an OFTEC registered technician provides peace of mind that you are choosing a skilled and qualified technician, rather than an untrained and potentially incompetent workmen.

Using an installer who is registered with OFTEC can also save time and reduce costs because they self-certify their work, avoiding the need for a building inspection and associated fees. Because their work is covered by a warranty it also means you will avoid any complications in the unlikely event that their work does not comply with the building regulations.

Employing an OFTEC registered technician for the regular servicing and maintenance of oil and solid fuel heating equipment is the best guarantee that your system will run safely and efficiently.

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