Flue season – a consideration of solid fuel appliance queries
Addressing some of the recent queries around flues for solid fuel appliances
Technicians face exciting opportunities from the Scottish Government
It will now be simpler and more affordable for people in Scotland to install climate-friendly measures in their homes.
The HVO demonstration project – three years in and looking good!
Update on the HVO demonstrator project testing the use of HVO as an effective biofuel to replace kerosene
Heat pump training grant welcomed by oil heating trade body as key to skill diversification
OFTEC says grant scheme compliments its investment in diverse installer skills.
Technicians reduce local pollution risk
You may have seen an article in the Summer 2021 edition where we introduced an exciting trial we have been involved in across Hampshire and West Sussex with the Environment Agency (EA) and Portsmouth Water. This campaign has been working with OFTEC registered technicians to urge householders to check and replace failing tanks. Messaging targeted customers’ motivations of continued warmth, security of supply, and avoiding the risk of potentially large financial losses, rather than previous messages which appealed to a need to protect the environment. As an incentive, Portsmouth Water subsidises a free inspection and 50% grant towards replacement works in priority locations. The trial element of the campaign has now ended, but many of the most successful tactics are now being taken up longer term by Portsmouth Water. What did they do? They identified over 500 households most likely to be on domestic heating oil using www.nongasmap.org.uk. All these properties were in ‘source protection zones’ situated over valuable naturally occurring groundwater abstracted for drinking water. The trial compared two approaches for engaging customers. They split the 500 households into two equal groups; one received a yearly mailshot with a cover letter and leaflet. The other group received the same leaflet, plus face-to-face advice through their OFTEC registered technician as part of their annual boiler service. Articles were also run in the parish magazines of both groups. Both tactics urged householders to contact Portsmouth Water for a free inspection and/or 50% off a replacement tank should the inspection recommend it. What were the results? Face-to-face contact from technicians was the most successful intervention. Customer response rate to the campaign was three times higher when technicians took the householder through the campaign messages; 9% (25 households) compared with only 2.4% (6 households) receiving the mailshot only. And of those customer enquiries, 92% (23 households) receiving the technician visit went on to have a free inspection, compared with 83% (5 households) receiving the mailshot only. 17 households replaced their tanks due to a technician visit, and only four due to the mailshot. Put that together with enquiries resulting from parish council magazines and word of mouth and that resulted in an impressive 25 tanks, at least 25,000 litres less oil, less likely to pollute the local water environment because of this trial. It’s simple to get involved Portsmouth Water is still recruiting! Portsmouth Water has decided to continue with the most successful tactics longer term. So far, they have recruited 11 technicians through the OFTEC newsletter and this magazine. But they need more to meet customer demand. It’s simple to get involved. If you work in Hampshire and West Sussex, contact Beth Fairley on 07872 108992 or Bethany.Fairley@portsmouthwater.co.uk. It’s an easy way of reaching new customers. You can find out more at www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/about-us/water-quality/heating-oil/. You will be asked to complete a simple registration and contract. Then, when on routine inspections, simply tell the customer about the scheme and hand them the leaflet. Give Beth at Portsmouth Water a ring to check eligibility. Once that’s confirmed, the customer chooses their technician (generally the original technician but they can choose any technician on the scheme). Once the works are complete, you simply invoice the customer and Portsmouth Water for the respective contributions, and Portsmouth Water pays within the 30 days agreed. G. RIXON LTD., a small family run business, is already signed up to the campaign: “The scheme has been a mutually beneficial arrangement and we have been able to include numerous existing customers within the scheme which has significantly increased our sales.” Urge your customers to check their oil tanks What if you don’t work in the campaign area? If you work elsewhere in the country, please urge your customers to check their oil tanks for leaks to protect the environment and their pocket. Simon Deacon, catchment and environment manager at Portsmouth Water is part of the campaign: “I would encourage all technicians, wherever they work, to visit our campaign website. Even though the campaign materials are for Hampshire and West Sussex many of the messages are universal.” Dawn O’Neill, Environment Agency groundwater technical specialist, also part of the trial, adds: “Oil pollution is one of the most common incidents I deal with. Please encourage your customers to take these 3 easy steps: OFTEC, the Environment Agency and Portsmouth Water would like to thank all the technicians for their involvement in this trial.
OFTEC launches discounted heat pump training following £9.2m BEIS funding
Installers in England can access heat pump training at a discounted rate of up to 70%.
OFTEC BEIS funding success to boost training for heat pump installers
OFTEC received BEIS funding to expand energy efficiency to boost number of heat pump installers.
Heat loss calculations
A recent survey showed 50% of OFTEC registered technicians were not aware of the recent changes made in England to Approved Document Part L (ADL).
Delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions – an inspector’s viewpoint
Consistency of quality is key for the future of the heating industry if we are to meet our net zero ambitions, which will require a set of standards to ensure. Enter OFTEC’s inspection services manager, John Vinter, as he discusses how we can reach our goals while retaining essential standards.
Minimum non-domestic appliance efficiencies – England
The importance of identifying the correct appliance efficiencies
Solid fuel hearths – boundary issues
The purpose of a hearth is to provide a safe area around a combustion appliance to prevent the appliance setting fire to building fabric, furnishings and limit risk to persons in close proximity This area of a hearth’s surface separates and protects floor and room contents from radiated heat and falling embers. Regional building regulations guidance state that the edges of this surface should be visually apparent to provide a warning to the building occupants not to place combustible material on the hearth. This should also discourage combustible floor coverings from being installed too close to an appliance. In what ways can the edges be marked? The most common way to mark the boundary is a change of height, such as raised or lowered area of the hearth. However, this is not always practical. BS 8303 discusses the following alternative approaches: “As an alternative, the hearth and its boundary can be identified by using a different material or colour to the non-combustible flooring in the room where the appliance is located. In such a case the hearth is normally set into the floor or forms a part of a solid floor. This approach can be used for an appliance in a fireplace recess or free-standing. Alternatively, a fender, fireguard or non-combustible upstand securely fixed to the floor below by, for example, screws can be used to mark the boundary of the hearth”. OFTEC wishes to remind solid-fuel registered technicians that even in cases where the floor of a room is totally non-combustible (such as fully tiled), it will still be necessary to implement one of the methods of marking the edge of a safe zone above. Installing an appliance as shown in the picture above is not acceptable.
OFTEC launches heat pump training course and technology neutral vision
OFTEC has announced the launch of a heat pump course developed by industry experts, which will help installers equip themselves with futureproof skills.
Stream video to OFTEC’s technical team using ResponsEye
Wouldn’t it be easier to show OFTEC’s technical team what you’re seeing, rather than trying to explain it on the phone?
Interactive training
Cardiff-based YTIC offers monthly OFTEC Oil courses 101, 105e and 600a, as well as OFTEC Solid Fuel (D/S/W) every other month.
Building regulations: what the L changes in June?
What heating engineers need to know about important new changes to building regulations