Installation, Commissioning and Servicing of Solid Fuel Burning Appliances OFT15-108 (Dry or Wet)
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General Information
Course Structure and Learning Outcomes
Solid fuel heating such as open fires, room heaters and stoves is in demand with homeowners. Their popularity has provided welcome business for solid fuel technicians and most now want to demonstrate their competence and professionalism to customers and show they work in compliance with building regulations. New and replacement solid fuel combustion appliances must be installed in accordance with regional building regulations and manufacturers installation instructions. If they are not installed and maintained correctly they can present a dangerous risk to life and property. Badly installed or maintained appliances can cause fire, explosions or carbon monoxide (CO) spillage.
LCL Awards offers the following assessment for solid fuel appliances:
OFT15-108(D) Installation, commissioning and servicing of solid fuel burning appliances (dry space heating).
OFT15-108(W) As above but with space heating and hot water heating.
Each assessment covers the install, commission and service solid fuel fired stoves, room heaters and associated equipment and systems in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, industry practices and standards, and legislative requirements. Once the installer has achieved the competence certificate they can contact OFTEC to join their work notification scheme to certify the solid fuel installation has been carried out in accordance with building regulations.
- Know the health and safety risks and safe systems of work associated with solid fuel appliance installation work
- Know the solid fuel legislation that applies to work in dwellings
- Know and be able to identify solid mineral fuels and the factors affecting fuel selection
- Know the basic operating principles of solid fuel appliances
- Know the factors which affect the selection of solid fuel appliances and be able to identify appliances and determine minimum operating efficiencies
- Know the combustion process and the principles of safe combustion of solid fuels
- Know the ventilation requirements and be able to select and install ventilation for solid fuel appliances in dwellings
- Know the standards and be able to check the suitability of chimneys and flue systems
- Know and be able to test chimneys and flue systems for suitability or fault diagnosis
- Know the requirements and be able to check the suitability of hearths and fire surrounds
- Know how to identify and be able to correctly respond to unsafe solid fuel situations
- Know the installation requirements and be able to install solid mineral fuel appliances
- Know the commissioning requirements of solid mineral fuel appliances
- Know how to appropriately handover an installed solid mineral fuel appliance
Prerequisites and Assessment
OFT15-108D
Demonstrable, appropriate previous work experience in the construction industry;
or - OFTEC technician with scope of work categories 101,102 or 105E
or - Registered Gas Safe operative
or - Registered RGII operative
or - Registered member of GOMCS, APICS, NACS, NIACS, CSAI or NACE or - Registered member of HETAS
or - evidence of formal qualifications: City & Guilds 6129/6035 and 6089, or QCF 6189
or - N/SVQ Level 2/3 in plumbing or equivalent earlier certification that provides evidence of competence
or - HETAS H003 Dry Appliance Installer course
or - Recognised Solid Biomass course
or - APHC Installation of Solid Fuel Appliances and Heating Systems Fed By Solid Fuel in Domestic Appliances course
OFT15-108W
Compulsory: OFTEC OFT15-108D and
N/SVQ Level 2/3 in plumbing or equivalent earlier certification that provides evidence of competence
or - evidence of OFTEC 101, 102 or 105E
or - evidence of formal qualifications: City & Guilds 6035 and 6089, or QCF 6189
or - HETAS H004 Wet Appliance Installer course
or - Recognised Solid Biomass course
or - APHC Installation of Solid Fuel Appliances and Heating Systems Fed By Solid Fuel in Domestic Appliances course
Related Qualifications and Resources
Additional Learner and Centre Information
What Careers Can This Course Lead To?
This course supports careers in the installation and servicing of solid fuel appliances, including:
- Solid fuel appliance installer
- Maintenance technician for solid fuel heating systems
- Heating engineer working with multi-fuel or biomass appliances
It also helps installers demonstrate competence for joining the OFTEC registration scheme for solid fuel installations.
What Progression Opportunities Will Be Available To Me After I've Completed This Course?
After completing the course, you may wish to progress to related areas such as:
- OFTEC qualifications for pressure jet or vaporising appliances
- Broader domestic or commercial heating system certifications
- Further training in biomass or renewable heating technologies
Progression routes will depend on your career goals and existing qualifications.
What is Involved in Delivering This Course?
Centres delivering the OFT15-108 Solid Fuel Appliance Installation (Wet or Dry) course must be approved by LCL Awards and have teachers and assessors with relevant industry experience and appropriate assessing experience and or qualifications.
Learner assessment involves a combination of multiple-choice questions, short written responses, scenario-based exercises, and observed practical tasks.
Centres must adhere to the requirements of the LCL Awards' Approved Centre Quality Management System and the Centre Agreement in delivering the certification’s examinations and assessments.
Centres delivering the course must ensure teachers and assessors have relevant solid fuel industry experience, alongside appropriate teaching and assessing competence.
Course delivery and assessment typically takes 2–4 days guided learning and assessment time. Learning should combine theoretical instruction with practical workshop practice.
Learner assessment must be conducted independently of the teaching programme, following the same requirements as if it was being conducted as a BS EN ISO 17024 assessment.
The course covers both dry and wet solid fuel appliance systems.
Teaching should include demonstrations and supervised practice on the installation, commissioning, and servicing of a range of solid fuel appliances, including stoves, room heaters, and boiler-connected systems.
Assessment is conducted by a combination of written and practical tasks.
Learners must demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of solid fuel safety, appliance installation requirements, chimney and flue suitability, and commissioning procedures.
Practical assessment must simulate workplace conditions and include observation, questioning, and documentation review.
Centres must provide workshop facilities that include working models of solid fuel appliances, chimneys, flue systems, and ventilation components.