Installation, Commissioning and Servicing of Solid Fuel Burning Appliances OFT15-108 (Dry or Wet)

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

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

• Through practical and written assessment

• Domestic/Light Commercial Commissioning and Servicing - Pressure Jet Appliances (OFT10-101)
• Domestic Commissioning and Servicing - Vaporising Appliances (OFT10-102)

• Oftec Solid Fuel Registration