News & Press Releases

OFTEC offers independent inspections

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:47 GMT

With budgets tights and fuel prices rising, it’s tempting to stretch maintenance periods for heating installations. However, neglecting your system can mean it’s not working efficiently and costing more to run, and increases the risk of an unexpected breakdown. A lack of planned maintenance can also result in dangerous side effects including fuel leaks and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

OFTEC’s consultancy service can provide independent on-site inspections and advice for oil heating customers whose requirements fall outside the range of services normally supplied by heating installation and service companies. Launched a year ago in partnership with Local Authority Building Control, the service has been used by households, landlords and facilities managers in both the public and private sectors.

The service is run by OFTEC’s experienced in-house technical team, which has an unrivalled knowledge of oil heating. Because OFTEC oversees standards across the industry their service is guaranteed to be impartial. An on-site inspection checks compliance with Building Regulations and other industry codes of practice. This can be valuable in a range of situations, such as when reviewing existing installations or helping to resolve disputes between owner and contractor. OFTEC can also help with planning upgrades that are fully compliant with the relevant legislation. Following either an on-site inspection or simple table-top study all clients receive a detailed, illustrated report, tailored to their needs.

Over the past 12 months OFTEC has helped many clients review their existing installations, often detecting potential problems caused by poor system design or maintenance. They have also investigated after problems have already occurred, advising on the cause and checking the condition of other assets, sometimes across a number of sites. Their advice is geared towards helping clients develop effective strategies for the future.

Both end users and facilities managers find that oil heating continues to provide the high levels of reliability they need. Often, upgrading an existing system can dramatically improve its efficiency and at much lower cost than making wholesale changes. OFTEC can provide advice and guidance when planning upgrades and assist in evaluating tenders to ensure the work will achieve the desired return on investment.

For more information on OFTEC Consultancy Services visit the website at www.oftec.org or call 0845 65 85 080.

ENDS

OFTEC launches electronic pocket guide

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:49:21 GMT

An electronic version of the OFTEC pocket guide to oil heating and cooking is now available to download from Amazon, iTunes or WH Smith. The concise guide provides a quick reference tool for technicians, specifiers and building control officers.

The pocket guide is designed to complement the existing suite of OFTEC technical books and contains the most popular topics that crop up on the OFTEC technical helpline. Using simple text, diagrams, tables and flow charts, it and has been designed so that information can easily be shown to customers as supporting evidence for any advice or quotes.

The subject headings are Domestic Oil Storage, Oil Supply Systems up to 45kW Output, Appliances up to 45kW Output, Domestic Heating Systems, Procedures and Useful Information. The download is priced at £7.49 and hard copies of the pocket guide which can be ordered from OFTEC Direct have now been reduced to £4.95

OFTEC positions itself for the future

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:36:55 GMT

OFTEC members recently gathered together for their Annual General Meeting and mini-conference at the Lansdowne Club in London to debate the long term future for their industry. Although oil boiler sales have increased in the first quarter of this year, OFTEC asked what we can do now to ensure that liquid fuels are being used to heat homes in 2030 and beyond.

Speakers at the event included Jon Slowe from the Delta Energy and Environment consultancy in Edinburgh, who considered the options for de-carbonising heat up to 2050. This was based on an authoritative study he had done for the Energy Networks Association in late 2012 which concluded that trying to completely de-carbonise heat by 2050 is expensive and wasteful and that an alternative option of encouraging hybrid heating systems could be a better way forward.

From OFTEC, technical director Paul Rose outlined the possibilities offered for rural homes by hybrid home heating systems - such as combining an oil boiler and an air source heat pump. He described the many advantages that such systems can offer in terms of convenience, carbon savings and ease of installation, particularly to the retrofit market. He also noted that fully integrated systems using multiple energy sources were already available in the gas sector and would probably be commercially available for oil heating in the near future.

At the AGM Martyn Bridges – director of marketing and technical support at Worcester Bosch Group was elected OFTEC Chairman for 2013-15, and Nick Hawkins of Deso Engineering – part of the Kingspan Group – became Vice Chairman. Martyn has worked in the oil heating sector for 35 years and brings a rounded experience of working with oil, renewables and gas in the UK as well as experience of European market sectors. Commenting on his appointment, Martyn said “In my experience, there has been instances where the oil industry has not advanced at the same pace as the gas industry, which I believe now creates an opportunity for me to help to bring certain approaches from the gas sector of the industry to the oil sector.”

With the market for oil boilers predominantly in the replacement sector, OFTEC’s strategy is to retain the present oil-fired boiler market share. Using initiatives such as the Oilsave campaign, OFTEC is encouraging consumers to upgrade their appliances to high efficiency technology, as it estimates that around 75% of the one million oil boilers in the UK are likely to be standard efficiency ones. OFTEC is also lobbying the government to include bio-liquids in the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, which would make it easier for existing oil users to switch to a lower carbon fuel.

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Oil boiler sales increase

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:53:44 GMT

The oil heating sector has reported a significant improvement in sales this year. Sales of oil boilers in the first quarter of 2013 increased by 22% compared with the first three months of last year. Sales at the end of 2012 also showed an improvement on the previous year.

Commenting on the news, OFTEC director general, Jeremy Hawksley said “the sales figures for the first quarter of 2013 have been excellent and follow good results for the final quarter of 2012. Most boiler sales are distress purchases and the healthy results are due partly to the cold weather the UK has experienced this winter. However, it also underlines the public’s continued enthusiasm for oil heating and the fact that upgrading to a modern oil condensing boiler will bring an immediate saving in heating costs. This is by far the simplest and most cost-effective change that existing oil heating users can make”.

OFTEC is promoting the benefits of oil heating to rural households with Oilsave leaflets and flyers. The Oilsave campaign has been developed by OFTEC and FPS to support the oil heating industry and encourage homeowners to improve their heating systems and make other energy efficiency improvements. The flyer offers homeowners a booklet about energy efficiency, which is available free from OFTEC, and encourages them to visit the new Oilsave website. It also recommends they use an OFTEC registered technician for all installation and servicing work.

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OFTEC wins vital victory for oil boilers at the European Commission

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:03:23 GMT

Following a long campaign in Europe, OFTEC has won a significant victory for the oil heating industry. Six years ago the future of the oil fired heating sector looked bleak when the European Commission published the draft Energy-related Products Directive. The proposed directive would have required NOx emissions levels from boilers of below 105 milligrams per kilowatt hour. Had these limits been accepted it would have destroyed the UK and Irish oil heating industry overnight because it would have been impossible to reduce boiler emissions to the level then being proposed.

However, after extensive lobbying by OFTEC and its European industry partner Eurofuel, the recently published directive has set the maximum NOx emission limit at 120 milligrams per kilowatt hours for oil boilers, a figure that manufacturers believe is achievable and are happy to work towards. Commenting on the news, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley said "we have worked tirelessly with our industry partners in Europe to secure this realistic figure for NOx emissions, which is extremely positive for our industry. The new standard for oil boilers has been deferred until 2018 instead of 2016 as previously proposed, which will give manufacturers the necessary lead time to implement any product changes."

The proposed penalty for non-modulating domestic oil fired boilers has also been removed, which was also a significant threat to the oil industry. These positive outcomes are a direct result of the important work that OFTEC does in lobbying for the oil fired sector, both at UK and European level. Without this action it probably would have been unfeasible to manufacture an oil fired boiler after 2015/16.

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New report questions the benefits of rural renewables

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:40:12 GMT

A new report has questioned the suitability of renewable heating for rural homes. The independent research was commissioned by OFTEC and compared biomass, heat pumps and solar thermal technologies in off gas main households that currently use oil. The report exposed some of the downsides of renewables in off-gas areas, including high installation costs and the possibility that the renewable technologies will not produce the expected carbon and fuel cost savings when compared with oil heating.

Commenting on the research, OFTEC’s director general Jeremy Hawksley said “OFTEC supports the UK government’s aspiration to improve home energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. However, the research we commissioned shows the technologies that are likely to be incentivised through the forthcoming domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will not deliver the promised carbon savings in a real life situation, and could end up increasing fuel bills rather than saving householders money.”

The report compared what would happen if an existing oil boiler was replaced by either a biomass boiler, heat pumps or a modern oil condensing boiler.

It found the physical size of a biomass boiler installation was a big disadvantage. Planning permission was a likely requirement and the overall installation cost was very high at around £16,000 plus VAT, compared to just £3,000 for a new oil condensing boiler. It noted that the carbon credentials of biomass have been questioned by environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth, who also identified pollution concerns from particulates caused by burning woody biomass. The Health and Safety Executive has also warned about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from wood pellet stores.

The installation costs for air or ground source heat pump were also found to be high, at around £10,000 and £17,000 respectively. The heat pumps were not a straight swap for the oil boiler due to the lower temperatures they produce. This meant that larger radiators or under floor heating also needed to be installed - at significant additional cost. Space requirements and noise were also identified as concerns. The report highlighted that unless heat pumps operate at their highest efficiency rating, running costs will rise dramatically due to higher electricity consumption, making their high installation costs hard to justify. Using ‘real world’ data*, the report calculated that a ground source heat pump could reduce fuel bills by £113 per year. By contrast an air source heat pump would be £311 more expensive to run each year than an oil condensing boiler.

The report concluded that, for existing oil heating customers, the cost of switching to renewables was hard to justify. Upgrading the existing oil heating system by installing a condensing boiler and improving heating controls is a much cheaper option and could cut fuel bills by around 20%. Customers in England and Wales who replace their existing boiler with a high efficiency oil fired condensing one are eligible for £310 cashback under the Green Deal, and up to £40m of government funding has been set aside to help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes by upgrading insulation, windows and heating systems.

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*Data taken from DECC's detailed analysis from the first phase of the Energy Saving Trust's heat pump trial in 2012.

Oilsave campaign hots up!

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:26:42 GMT

The first phase of a new campaign aimed at oil heating consumers has been rolled out by OFTEC and the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS). The Oilsave initiative will encourage oil users to stick with oil and provide advice on upgrading their systems and improving their energy efficiency. Resources include a new website and a set of consumer leaflets that explain how to save money and examine the pros and cons of different fuels in rural areas.

Commenting on the launch, OFTEC’s marketing manager Malcolm Farrow said ‘oil heating customers now have an excellent new resource to help them improve their energy efficiency and save money. With the Government’s Green Deal and Renewable Heat Incentive promoting the use of renewables, it’s never been more important to get reliable advice – and that’s just what Oilsave provides. Many rural homeowners would be better off upgrading their existing heating system and making other energy efficiency improvements, rather than risking the costly and disruptive switch to renewables.’

As well as helping homeowners, the Oilsave campaign will support installers, servicing technicians and fuel distributors. OFTEC and FPS are providing their registered technicians and members with free marketing materials and asking them to make their customers aware of the Oilsave website. The campaign has the backing some of the biggest names in the heating industry and will be developed further in the months to come.

Further information is available online at www.oilsave.org.uk. Free promotional leaflets can be ordered from OFTEC by emailing the marketing team or call 0845 6585080 for further information.

LABC sign memorandum of understanding with OFTEC

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:27:13 GMT

LABC (Local Authority Building Control) and OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) have signed a MoU that will assist both parties in developing solutions to the installation and Building Regulation compliance of existing and innovative oil fired products for both new and refurbishment work. Refurbishment work, particularly in relation to any future Green Deal improvement works, will place installers in unfamiliar situations where their actions may impact on other regulatory compliance. By creating closer ties both OFTEC and LABC members will benefit by shared practice and specialist knowledge.

Speaking at the signing, LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said “LABC are pleased to support this collaboration with OFTEC that will ensure better installation and compliance with building regulations.”

Paul Rose, OFTEC technical director added, “I am delighted with this agreement. There is a powerful synergy about the expertise LABC and OFTEC offer together and I’m confident that this new collaboration will enhance the service we can offer customers. We look forward to working with LABC to enhance regulatory compliance and safety across the building industry.”

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OFTEC issues advice as snow falls across the UK

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:48:50 GMT

OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating industry, today issued advice to householders on how to keep warm, save money, stay safe and avoid home heating disasters as snow falls and during the current very cold period.

As the weather is set to get progressively colder through the weekend and in the coming days, the trade organisation has issued the following top tips to help householders prevent the potential nightmare of frozen pipes and costly boiler breakdowns.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager, commented: “During this very severe cold weather, it is important for householders to take the necessary measures to stay safe and warm indoors. In the particularly cold weather spell in Winter 2010/11, frozen pipes, boiler and central heating faults accounted for 62% of insurance claims.”

OFTEC’s tips and preventative measures for homeowners include:

Keep your heating on constant - during cold weather it is often more efficient to keep the heating on constantly at a lower temperature, rather than running it at full capacity at intervals throughout the day. This keeps the system at a constant warm temperature and prevents freezing.
If you are going away for the break - leave your heating on for at least an hour a day while you are away from home.
Close doors and curtains - the very simplest measures can lead to major energy savings so remember to close curtains and shut doors to keep heat in the rooms you use most. Where possible, ensure your radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
Insulate your pipes - to prevent a freeze up, install lagging around your home heating and water pipes to insulate them. A professional can fit this for you or keen DIY’ers can purchase lagging from a DIY store.
Check your fuel supply – confirm also that you have oil in the tank as a number of call outs over the festive season are due to the boiler running out of oil.
Watch out for the carbon monoxide – the risk applies whether your burn oil, coal, peat, wood or gas and the best prevention is to have appliances serviced regularly by a qualified technician. A secondary measure is to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm which is sold in many retail outlets and DIY stores from £20.
Be on the look-out for changes to your boiler - a black smoke may indicate a build-up of soot preventing the boiler from burning oil efficiently and yellow or brown staining around the boiler or flue may indicate the presence of carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion and should be checked by an experienced technician.
Central heating controls and thermostat - ensure the central heating controller is switched on and the thermostat is in the correct position
Do not attempt to fix or service the appliance yourself – modern boilers require a trained and professional technician to ensure your system is operating correctly, efficiently, and safely.
Keep the details of a plumbing and heating technician close to hand – a breakdown can be stressful enough without the hassle or lottery of finding a trusted tradesman in the directory. For oil users, choosing a highly skilled OFTEC registered technician is strongly advised and can be found on www.oftec.org
Be savvy – grants of up to £1,000 are currently available in Northern Ireland for those replacing an inefficient boiler for a more energy efficient condensing boiler. In the event of an older boiler breaking down, professionally registered technicians can guide householders through the process of applying for the grant.
Prevention is always best – the overall advice from OFTEC is to have a qualified technician check and service your appliance before the cold weather sets in. A simple check over and service may prevent that disaster!

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Oil is competitive for off grid homes

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:06:58 GMT

With energy prices on the rise, the cost of oil heating has remained competitive for the off grid sector. According to the latest independent figures, the annual cost of heating an average three bedroom home with a condensing oil fired boiler has risen by just over 4% in the past 12 months, compared to an increase of 7% for an LPG condensing boiler.

Customers with an oil boiler can expect to pay around £1355 per annum to heat their homes, compared to £2020 with an LPG condensing boiler, which makes oil about one third cheaper than LPG. Commenting on the figures, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley said ‘oil heating has been around a long time and it’s a very efficient and flexible energy source, giving reliable and controllable heat. The fact you can choose when and where to buy oil from means consumers have complete control over their energy purchases.’

The news coincides with the launch of a new campaign to promote oil to the off grid sector. Oilsave is a partnership between OFTEC and the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers, which sets out the facts about oil heating, renewables and the off grid sector. With the government’s domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheduled for launch this year, Oilsave highlights how consumers can get the best out of their heating in terms of both cost and reducing their carbon emissions.

ENDS

Homeowners warned to be vigilant against oil theft

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:03:29 GMT

Homeowners are being warned to be vigilant after a rise in fuel prices has meant that heating oil may be an attractive target for theft. Many consumers keep their storage tanks topped up during the autumn and winter so the risk of theft is increased. Several recent incidents have seen thieves target quiet, rural communities, siphoning fuel from oil storage tanks outside people’s homes, leaving them with little or no fuel. Most victims have been completely unaware that anything was wrong until their heating stopped working because they had run out of oil.

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) - the body representing the oil heating and cooking industry – urged homeowners to be aware and to take precautions to protect their fuel oil. Jeremy Hawksley from OFTEC said “Usually it’s only when people run out of oil and their heating stops working that theft becomes apparent. Making a regular note of your oil levels and taking simple preventative measures will help to make sure that you are not the victim of oil theft.”

To help protect your fuel supply OFTEC recommends oil heating consumers should:

Check the fuel levels regularly to make sure that none has gone missing.
Lock the tank. Most tanks can be locked at the inspection cover or a lockable filler cap can be retro fitted to existing oil tanks.
Install automatic movement sensor security lighting around the tank.
Consider having an alarm system fitted to the tank which will warn if oil levels drop suddenly. This could also be useful if an oil leak occurs.
Be vigilant following a delivery – some fuel distributors have reported that their delivery vehicles have been followed in the past. Thieves may also return to steal replacement oil following an initial theft.
Plant shrubs or use fence panels to hide the tank, but make sure any screening should be a minimum distance away from the tank so it doesn’t cause a fire hazard.
Report any suspicious activity to the police.

Theft of heating oil tends to be a rural problem. The majority of those homes do not have access to mains gas and rely on alternative forms of heating such as oil. When fuel prices rise heating oil becomes a lucrative commodity for thieves, with both homes and businesses being targeted.

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Government Renewable Heat Incentive will increase carbon emissions in rural areas

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:39:45 GMT

The proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is unlikely to tackle the problem of carbon emissions from rural homes, according to one of the main bodies for the heating industry.

In a written response to the RHI consultation, OFTEC stated that it supported the principle behind the tariff, but was concerned that the practical impact of RHI will be to increase, not decrease, CO2 emissions from rural homes. This is because the incentivised technologies will run on carbon-rich electricity.

In its most significant criticism OFTEC showed that, up to 2020-21, the technologies preferred in the proposals, which include air and ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers, could emit twice as much CO2 as B30K bio-liquid fuel. They would also cost three times more to install than it would cost to convert existing oil heating systems to run on bio-liquid. As proposed, RHI will actually increase CO2 emissions from rural homes compared to doing nothing.
OFTEC noted that the disruption to homes and bureaucratic complexity of the proposals would inhibit also take up, whilst the technologies it favoured were unsuitable for the majority of the UK’s existing housing stock - unless very significant and expensive home alterations also are made.

Commenting on the response, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley said “In its current form, the RHI strategy incentivises renewables such as biomass and air source heat pumps, which can have high carbon savings. However, this is only true if they run efficiently and the electricity they use is sourced from renewable sources. Our response demonstrates that bio-liquids would be more effective at reducing carbon emissions in off-gas areas, and much cheaper and simpler for homeowners to adopt. With the weather growing colder I’m reminded of the harsh winter of 2010/11 when heat pumps performed poorly, causing higher running costs while failing to keep homes warm. By contrast, oil heating is much more compatible with rural homes off the mains gas network.”

In responding to other points in the consultation, OFTEC expressed concern that the tariff for solar thermal may too low to achieve sufficient take-up. OFTEC also noted that for bivalent or hybrid systems only gas and LPG had been proposed as fuel bivalent options. It requested that liquid fuel be included too.

OFTEC also submitted a critique of the UK and global bioenergy resource final report, suggesting that concerns over the availability of sustainable biofuel were unjustified.

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NOTES

The link below shows how CO2 emissions will rise in off gas main areas due to RHI.

The RHI Impact Assessment (IA) estimates 116,000 RHI installations in rural areas (Para 101 – 38% of 380,000). For the purpose of this calculation we have assumed that these will be split between ASHP, Ground Source Heat Pumps and Bio-mass boilers as per Table 4 of the IA, and that all of these will replace existing oil boilers.

Under this assumption total CO2 emission p.a. from ASHP, GSHP and bio-mass boilers would be 1.181 million tonnes of CO2 p.a. If all these boilers were to convert to B30K bio-liquid the total CO2 emissions would be 531,000 tonnes of CO2 p.a. – 650,000 tonnes (or 55%) less than the result with the RHI proposed technologies.

RHI response CO2 Emission Summary

B30K bio-liquid is a blend of waste oil and kerosene. It comprises 30% bio-liquid Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) blended with 70% kerosene. B30k formed part of the original RHI consultation in February 2010. It was excluded from the proposals currently under consultation.

Kane International Ltd Product Safety Recall

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:21:54 GMT

OFTEC has been advised that Kane International Ltd has become aware of a potential issue with the KMCU250/UK charger, which is supplied with the following analyser kits: KANE250, KANE425, KANE450 and KANE455. This only applies to a limited number of chargers within the specific batch number WK 18-12. Chargers from this batch were first shipped after 16 May 2012.

If this affects you, please view this Kane information sheet on how to obtain a replacement charger.

Kane International Ltd can also be contacted on 01707 384832

OFTEC welcomes new carbon monoxide legislation in Northern Ireland but warns it doesn’t go far enough

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:02:13 GMT

OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry in Northern Ireland, today welcomed new carbon monoxide (CO) legislation that comes into effect this week that requires that new properties to be fitted with a CO alarm.

But the industry association warned that it doesn’t go far enough with many householders still at risk from the potentially deadly substance, particularly those with older and poorly maintained heating systems.

From 31 October 2012, Northern Ireland Building Regulations require a carbon monoxide detector or alarm to be fitted where a boiler or solid fuel stove is located.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager said: “While this is certainly a positive step forward in acknowledging the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of fitting a CO alarm in a new property, we believe there is potential for a much greater risk within existing properties which may have old and poorly maintained boilers.”

“We also agree with the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI) that a carbon monoxide alarm is a secondary measure only.   An alarm, while important, can give a false sense of security and the best protection is to have appliances serviced regularly by a qualified technician.”

OFTEC works with a range of industry stakeholders to promote carbon monoxide awareness in Northern Ireland.   A highlight of this year’s campaign is that anyone who uses an appliance that burns any fossil fuel whether it is oil, coal, peat, wood or gas should take appropriate action.

David Blevings added: “Almost 70% of all existing homes in Northern Ireland use heating oil as their primary heating source. These householders should always use an OFTEC Registered Technician when having their appliances serviced. These highly trained technicians use a flue gas analyser to check for carbon monoxide emissions and will perform a combustion test that can lead to improvements in energy efficiency and cost savings on energy bills.”

OFTEC is also calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce a mandatory registration scheme for oil technicians similar to the Gas Safe Register which is in place for natural gas appliances. A mandatory scheme would serve as an additional safety measure for householders, ensuring all technicians, across all fossil fuels, are suitably trained and qualified to detect carbon monoxide and provide competent servicing and installation works.

OFTEC urges review of CO legislation in Ireland as alarms are made compulsory in new Northern Ireland homes

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:01:50 GMT

OFTEC welcomed new carbon monoxide (CO) legislation that comes into effect in Northern Ireland this week that requires that new properties are fitted with a CO alarm.

But the organisation which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry that it doesn’t go far enough and is calling for the Republic of Ireland to go much further in its current review of building regulations.

The legislation in NI requires a CO detector or alarm to be fitted where a boiler or solid fuel stove is located in new properties.    OFTEC is concerned that many householders will still be at risk from the potentially deadly substance; particularly those with older and poorly maintained heating systems.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in Ireland recently launched a consultation on revisions of the Building Regulations which will require the installation of CO alarms in all new dwellings, provide guidance on the type of alarm to be installed and where to locate them.

Damien Keenan from OFTEC Ireland, said: “While Northern Ireland has certainly taken a positive step forward in acknowledging the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of fitting a CO alarm in a new property, we believe there is a much greater risk within existing properties which may have old and poorly maintained boilers.

“OFTEC supported CER in highlighting Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week this year that highlighted that a CO alarm was only one of a number of preventative measures that should be put in place to reduce this risk of CO poisoning. An alarm, while important, can give a false sense of security and the best protection is to have appliances serviced regularly by a qualified technician.”

Damien Keenan added said: “Almost half a million homes in the Republic of Ireland use heating oil as their primary heating source. These householders should always use an OFTEC Registered Technician when having their appliances serviced.    These highly trained technicians use a flue gas analyser to check for carbon monoxide emissions and will perform a combustion test that can lead to improvements in energy efficiency and cost savings on energy bills.”

OFTEC is also calling on Minister Pat Rabbitte to introduce a mandatory registration scheme for oil technicians.    This would serve as an additional safety measure for householders, ensuring all technicians, across all fossil fuels, are suitably trained and qualified to detect carbon monoxide and provide competent servicing and installation works.
The Register of Gas Installers of Ireland (R.G.I.I.) and Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland (RECI) scheme is already in place for gas and electrical technicians.

‘Act now’ to benefit from boiler replacement scheme says Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:16:02 GMT

Strangford MLA Michelle Mcllveen today supported OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry in Northern Ireland, in urging Strangford oil users there to switch on to the potential benefits of the Government’s £12million Boiler Replacement Scheme.

Ms Mcllveen, DUP MLA Strangford said, “Close to 70% of all homes in Northern Ireland use heating oil as their primary heating source and this rises to 82% in predominantly rural areas such as Strangford. The boiler replacement scheme is an excellent initiative with thousands of households set to benefit. In my experience there are many homes in Strangford that are still being heated by older, inefficient boilers and I would urge consumers to act now to reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency.”

David Blevings, Ireland Manager of OFTEC said: “We estimate that over 60% of oil boilers in Northern Ireland are over 15 years old and could benefit from an upgrade to improve efficiency levels. A condensing oil boiler will increase your efficiency level by up to 18% and that can mean an annual saving of up to £300 on your oil bill every year thereafter! Upgrading to a condensing boiler is easy as all your existing pipe-work remains and the new boiler simply slots into the existing space with minimal upheaval and disruption when compared to switching to an alternative fuels source, for example.”

“It’s important to act quickly if you think you might qualify - the scheme operates on a first come, first served basis.”

The amount of grant payable to assist in replacing an inefficient boiler for a more energy efficient condensing boiler will depend on total gross income. For those earning less than £20,000 the grant is £700 to replace the boiler but will rise to £1,000 if controls are also being installed. For those earning over £20,000 but less than £40,000 the grant is £400 for the boiler but will rise to £500 if controls are installed.

David Blevings added: “We welcome the introduction of this scheme and OFTEC are committed to helping householders to reduce energy costs and maximise energy efficiency in their homes. We would also encourage householders to ask a technician to check their appliance to ensure they have a safe, maintained boiler in place to reduce the risk of harmful fumes such as carbon monoxide.”

Applications to the scheme, which is being run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, opened last week - an OFTEC registered technician can guide householders through the process of applying for the grant and getting a new boiler. To find one in your area, log on to www.oftec.org/Technicians/index or contact 0845 658 5080.

Green Deal cashback for oil boilers

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:46:26 GMT

Customers who replace their existing boiler with a high efficiency oil fired condensing one will be eligible for £310 cashback under a new green deal cashback scheme. Up to £40m of government funding has been set aside to help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes by upgrading insulation, windows and heating systems. The more improvements people make the more they can claim, with the cashback available from 28th January 2013 when the Green Deal is made available for households in England and Wales.

To qualify, householders must get a Green Deal assessment and arrange for the work to be done through a Green Deal Providers. Schemes like OFTEC are already offering Green Deal registration for installers to take advantage of the new scheme. Assessments can be done at any time before the scheme opens, so customers will then be ready to apply for their cashback vouchers. Both owner occupiers and landlords are eligible for the scheme, providing they pay part of the installation costs.

Initial cashback rates have been set at £100 for loft insulation, £250 for cavity wall insulation and £390 for flat roof insulation. Other energy improvement measures are also included. Cashback will be available on a first come first serve basis, and once the initial £40m funding has been used the cashback rates are likely to reduce. Up to £125m has been earmarked for the whole scheme.

Find out more on the DECC website.

OFTEC awards success 2012

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:41:04 GMT

Over 170 guests from the oil heating industry celebrated the OFTEC Awards for Excellence at the Central Convention Centre in Manchester. There were eight categories of awards ranging from installer of the year to innovative product of the year. Both installers and manufacturers were recognised for their contributions to the industry. Deadpan humour was provided by Rich Hall, one of the regular guests on BBC’s ‘mock the week’.

In some categories it was hard to choose a winner, with Adam John Smith from Dorset and Graham Taylor from Tunbridge Wells sharing the prize for oil boiler installer of the year. Similarly Grant UK shared the prize for innovative product of the year for their Combisol hot water system with Kingspan Environmental’s FuelServ pay as you go scheme.

Sponsors of the awards included Grant UK, Clarehill, Riello, Worcester Bosch and Trade Direct. The event followed the oil and renewable energy show which took place at the same venue on 17th and 18th October. Visitors to the show were able to see how oil can be integrated with renewables to provide off gas main customers with a cost effective and environmentally friendly way to heat their homes.

OFTEC Award Winners 2012

Service and commissioning technician of the year: Paul Shepherd from Shepherd Combustion Services in Warwickshire.
Trainee of the year: Declan Phelan from Uniheat in the Republic of Ireland.
Oil tank installer of the year: Martin Sly from Martin Sly Plumbing and Heating in Dorset.
Oil boiler installer of the year: Adam John Smith from Total Energy Services in Dorset, and Graham Taylor from WD Taylor Plumbing and Heating in Tunbridge Wells.
Best website: Grant UK
Best technical support: Worcester Bosch
Training centre of the year: Grant UK
Innovative product of the year: Grant UK and Kingspan Environmental

OFTEC Direct Customer Services Update

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:00:58 GMT

We would like to advise OFTEC Direct customers that any orders placed between 13th -19th October will not be dispatched until the 24th October due to staff attending the Oil & Renewable Energy Show, where OFTEC Direct will have a stand.

We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

For advice and information on OFTEC Direct orders, please telephone 0845 65 85 080.

Register with OFTEC to become a Green Deal installer

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:24:25 GMT

OFTEC is encouraging its registered technicians to become Green Deal installers. The Green Deal is a government initiative designed to provide a new way to pay for energy efficiency improvements in Britain’s homes, community spaces and businesses. Instead of an up-front payment, the cost of any work is paid for through a finance plan with an instalment charge added to the customer’s energy bill. Condensing oil boilers are eligible as a Green Deal ‘measure’ and, with significant government funding support, there is an opportunity for OFTEC registered businesses to carry out installation work.

OFTEC is an accredited Green Deal certification body for the installation of condensing oil boilers, heating controls and heating system insulation. To add Green Deal to its scope of registration a business must employ a technician registered for OFT 105E (Installation of combustion appliances and systems) and either OFT 101 (Single Stage Pressure Jet Servicing and Commissioning) or OFT 201 (Multi Stage Pressure Jet Servicing and Commissioning). If a business does not employ a technician with these scopes of registration, it will need to demonstrate during an evaluation how you control the sub-contracting out of this work.

To register, please complete an R567 Green Deal Application Form and submit it, together with the applicable fee, to OFTEC Registration Services. Once we receive your application an OFTEC Inspector will be assigned to carry out an audit of your business, which is a requirement of Green Deal registration. Once verified and accepted you will be issued a Green Deal Registration Certificate and ID Badges and also be put on the Green Deal National Register as an accredited installer for the energy efficient measures applied for.

More information about the Green Deal can be found in the OFTEC Information Sheet 68: Green Deal – An opportunity for your business.

Download R567 Green Deal Application Form

There’s more information about Green Deal on the DECC website.

For more information, please contact OFTEC’s Registration Team.