The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has announced that biomass registration (OFT505) is now available to all installers, completing its range of competent person and microgeneration certification scheme registration services.
Existing technicians, as well as those new to OFTEC, can now sign up not only from OFTEC’s traditional oil registration services, but also solid fuel, Part P Electrical and the three most popular renewable heating options: heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass.
Like OFTEC’s other renewable scopes, biomass registration enables technicians to self-certify installations in accordance with building regulations in England, Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and also includes the option to add MCS registration. Self-certification is not available to technicians in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Scotland.
Welcoming the announcement, OFTEC’s Registration Director, Adrian Lightwood says, “Adding biomass to our registration portfolio completes our range of off grid products and consolidates OFTEC’s position as one of the leading competent person scheme providers within the heating industry.
“Further extending the range of specialist support we provide means technicians can now benefit from a complete solid fuel registration service covering both traditional and renewable options.
“It’s also worth noting that technicians looking to expand their businesses and register across multiple heating technologies can obtain very significant savings and the administration process is also greatly reduced which is a big plus.”
Technicians considering biomass registration will need to hold an independent qualification mapped to the relevant Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) units or the new Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) units introduced in September 2015. Alternatively, applications can be made via the ‘experienced worker route’ for those with demonstrable experience and manufacturers’ training.
Benefits of registration include the use of OFTEC’s new range of logos, which cover all heating technologies offered and provide customers with assurance of a professional service; access to free technical advice; discounts at OFTEC’s online shop and free listings on OFTEC’s online consumer search.
