How to Gain a HETAS Certificate

HETAS is an acronym for Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme, which is a UK organisation that promotes safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible use of biomass and other solid fuels.

HETAS provides certification for heating appliances and the appropriate fuel.

HETAS-registered installers are required to undertake industry recognised training as one of many prerequisites needed before joining the HETAS Competent Person Scheme (CPS). A registered installer on the HETAS CPS Scheme is able to self-certify installations they have completed demonstrating conformity with building regulations.

HETAS-registered manufacturers can receive approval for biomass and solid fuel appliances through a third-party programme, allowing customers and traders to pick HETAS-authorised appliances.

A HETAS Certificate of Compliance is issued by registered installers to confirm that a new solid fuel appliance installation meets current building regulations. If you need chimney sweeps, retailers, or fuel providers, go with a HETAS-certified company for complete peace of mind.

But what else does a HETAS certificate involve? Here in this article, we will go through what a HETAS certificate is, when it is required, the cost of a HETAS certificate, who can obtain one and where to find a HETAS-registered installer.

So, if you are looking to move property and are missing or in need of a HETAS certificate, then this article will tell you everything you need to know.

What Is a HETAS Certificate?

Although many people are aware they need a HETAS certificate for their home or business building, not many are sure what a HETAS certificate is. Therefore, here you will learn all about what a HETAS certificate is and what it includes with it.

HETAS is a Competent Person Scheme provider for approving biomass and solid fuel household heating appliances, fuels, and services, as well as the registration of qualified installers and service providers.

It is a specialist body within England and Wales that runs a recognised scheme for reviewing biomass and solid fuel heating units, fuels, and services. Installers and service companies must also be registered under the CPS if they wish to self-certificate.

Self-Certification

An installer registered with HETAS as a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) within England and Wales can self-certify their work, eliminating the need for Building Notice applications.

Customers in England and Wales who use a HETAS-certified installer will get a HETAS Certificate of Compliance (Building Regulation Compliance Certificate) which is usually issued from the installer within 2 weeks upon completion of the installation work.

This is critical for establishing that the installation was completed by a qualified installer for a HETAS-registered company and meets the relevant Building Regulations.

The certificate's information is intended to record your installation and to notify your Local Authority Building Control Department (LABC) of the work that was completed in England and Wales to make it official.

This 'self-certification' by competent certified installers replaces a Local Authority Building Notice, which can cost you a lot of money depending on where you live and the expense of the work you're doing.

Servicing Requirements and Safety Records

A servicing and safety record sheet is handed to you as the homeowner following a service by a HETAS Approved Servicing Technician. This document indicates whether any corrective work is required, as well as what tests were performed during the service.

When transferring, it's a good idea to leave a copy of your most recent Servicing Record with the new owners so they can validate the previous service and learn more about the appliance. This will also help future service personnel by giving them a history of how the item was serviced in the past.

HETAS charges a small cost for this service. However, it is significantly less than the fees incurred if you apply for a Building Notice through the local authority. The information may be needed to verify household insurance and will be requested by solicitors throughout the sale of a home.

Failure to notify the Local Authority can result in enforcement action being taken against the Householders and/or the installation, with unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison possible.

The above regulations apply in England and Wales. In Scotland, you need a building warrant from your council's building standards department before work starts, and a completion certificate afterwards. Starting warrantable work without one is an offence. In Northern Ireland, you must seek approval from your district council's building control service before work starts. Regardless of location, you should always have proof that the work was signed off.

Only the HETAS-registered installer who completed the work must complete and sign the HETAS Certificate of Compliance.

Installers must notify the work online through HETAS' Technical Hub, then HETAS sends records to the relevant local authorities every Tuesday. Certificates of Compliance are posted to householders within 2 weeks.

The legal deadline for the certificate to reach the homeowner and the notice to reach building control is 30 days from completion of the work.

Benefits of Using a HETAS-Registered Installer

Customers who use a HETAS-registered installer:

• Can be confident that their installer has been trained and assessed to carry out compliant work.
• Will save time and money by ensuring your appliance works safely and efficiently.
• Will receive a certificate of compliance for the installation.
• Will have the option to choose from a range of installations covered by the scheme, including biomass boiler systems, dry appliances, appliances with boilers, hot water and heating systems, as well as chimney relining.

Installing a Solid Fuel or Wood-Burning Appliance

There are only 2 legal ways to install a domestic solid fuel or wood-burning appliance in your home. The first is to hire an installer who can self-certify that the work they conduct conforms with relevant building requirements. To be able to self-certify, the installer must be a member of a competent person scheme for solid fuel (APHC, BESCA, HETAS, NAPIT, NICEIC, or OFTEC). The other route is to notify your local authority's building control department before work starts and pay for the work to be inspected and signed off.

HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme) is the only competent person scheme specialising in solid fuel and biomass.

Installers who are HETAS registered have access to technical handbooks, guidance and updates, and equipment. Therefore, you won't need the council to sign off on the work if you choose a HETAS-qualified installation. So, it will make your life a lot easier.

If you've recently purchased a home with a wood burner or multi-fuel device and want to make sure it's safe, this is something you should do as it will give you full peace of mind and prove that appliances in your home are safe.

About HETAS

HETAS is a non-profit organisation that invests in businesses that help people and the environment by safely decreasing particle and carbon emissions. The only specialised organisation that approves biomass and solid fuel heating appliances, fuels, and services is HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme).

Competent retailers, installers, service engineers, and chimney sweeps have to be registered to self-certify their work.

HETAS works to promote and oversee continual progress in the safe installation and use of solid fuel appliances, systems, chimneys, and flues, as well as their maintenance. As a result, HETAS would like to hear about any non-compliant work done by a non-registered HETAS or registered HETAS engineer.

HETAS works with government, industry professionals and innovators to provide guidance, training and clear evidence-based information. To enhance air quality and public health, the goal is to expand the use of cleaner fuels and more efficient appliances.

HETAS Insurance

HETAS works with Rhino Trade Insurance to offer cover including public liability, professional indemnity, legal expenses, tools in transit, personal accident, and income protection. Registrants must carry a minimum of £2 million public liability insurance relating to the work they are registered for.

It is a specialist in the insurance needs of:

• Contractors who work with solid fuels.
• Installers of heating, plumbing, and natural gas.
• Contractors who work with biomass (including Service and Maintenance of Biomass appliances).
• Chimney sweeps.

When Is a HETAS Certificate Required?

As the only competent person scheme specialising in solid fuel and biomass, HETAS publishes lists of approved appliances, fuels, and equipment to assist consumers, installers, retailers, designers, and specifiers in selecting an installation and system that meets their needs while adhering to building regulations and safety standards.

While displaying a HETAS certificate isn't a legal requirement, having one may be necessary in certain circumstances. We'll go over when a HETAS certificate is required and what happens if you don't have one on hand when it comes to it.

Most solid fuel and wood biomass appliance and system installations are subject to Building Regulations and are required by law to be reported to the local authority in your region.

Installers who are HETAS registered can self-certify their work, avoiding the requirement for time-consuming and expensive Building Notice applications to the local Building Control Department.

HETAS responsibilities include product approval for boilers, cookers, open fires, stoves, and room heaters. Factory-made chimneys, carbon monoxide detectors, and alarms appropriate for use with solid fuel are also listed in its Official Guide.

Certificates should be fixed inside the building using a notice plate for jobs including fitting or extending a hearth, fireplace, flue, or chimney. The installer will decide where this will be located (for example beside the meter).

Building Regulations impose standards on solid fuel and wood biomass appliances and systems. This means that any installations in a given region must be reported to the local government by law.

Where a hearth, fireplace, flue, or chimney is provided as part of the work, important information about how to apply and operate these features should be put in the building permanently.

The installer can meet this requirement by providing a Notice (or Data) plate. You should also receive an operation handbook for the newly installed equipment.

Moving Home

If you're moving house, it's always a good idea to know exactly what papers you'll need as part of the process, the most important of which is a HETAS certificate.

The certificate verifies that the installation meets the relevant Building Regulations, and it is used to notify your Local Authority Building Control Department (LABC) of the work done in England and Wales.

Buyers' solicitors ask for a HETAS certificate during the sale of a property, and HETAS says it can also be required to validate home insurance.

If an installer is HETAS-registered, they can issue a compliance certificate to their clients without having to submit time-consuming Building Notice applications to the local Building Control Department.

This increases work productivity, increases client trust, and demonstrates the value of a HETAS-certified company.

To see if your appliance is HETAS approved, you can go on the website of HETAS, and the HETAS product search will assist you in locating the appliance that is best suited to your needs.

Approved wood and multifuel stoves, cookers, biomass systems, and chimney goods are included in the online search. HETAS is an independent UK body recognised by the government for the testing and approval of solid fuel and biomass appliances, as well as supporting equipment and services, to help maintain these requirements.

How Much Does a HETAS Certificate Cost?

Unless you're already a certified installer, having someone from Building Control inspect the installation can cost up to £300. However, there's no assurance the work will be approved and if not, it may cost more to have any issues resolved.

The HETAS website provides guidance on what should be done to meet the requirement for each of the elements. This includes the fireplace, the flue, and the ventilation.

Customers should choose a HETAS-registered installer because this can be a time-consuming and costly process.

If you have an installation in your home, then you will need a HETAS certificate. Your installation will be completed according to the manufacturer's instructions and in accordance with UK Building Regulations by a HETAS installer. Following the installation, you will obtain a certificate stating that the equipment was installed in accordance with the legislation.

The cost of having a registered installer inspect and provide a HETAS certificate is typically between £120 and £300, albeit with some regional variations. This is a separate cost to the installation of the actual appliance, which can potentially cost between £1,500 and £3,500 depending on the item and type of property.

Even if you installed the stove yourself, you'd need a HETAS inspection from a qualified tradesperson to request a certificate proving that it was installed correctly to have the complete coverage of the appliance.

Should you require a copy of an existing HETAS certification of conformity, then this is available via HETAS' certificate search for a fee of £36 (free if the original never arrived and it has been 2 months or less since the installation).

It does, however, verify household insurance and is required by solicitors when selling a home.

Understanding the costs and how to gain a HETAS certificate will help make sure you are not overpaying, and that missing paperwork does not affect your home insurance or the sale of your property later on.

How to Get a HETAS Certificate

• Train — HETAS awards competencies on a review of the training and qualifications completed, and confirms which ones during the application.
• Apply — You'll need to apply with supporting documents to avoid delay (a passport-style photo, at least £2 million public liability cover, a personalised risk assessment, complaints procedure, customer contract, website and social media details).
• Award — Competencies are awarded per category, so you will only be registered for the types of work applied for.
• Stay Assessed — You'll be routinely assessed to stay part of the scheme.

Who Can Obtain a HETAS Certificate?

In this section of the article, we will go through who can obtain a HETAS certificate and the process of getting a HETAS certificate.

A HETAS Certificate of Compliance can only be issued by a HETAS-registered installer who performs qualifying work under the scheme.

To obtain copies of HETAS certifications of conformity, conduct an internet search. Certificates are £36, and after you pay, you'll receive an email containing your certificate and an invoice.

The certificate's information is intended to record your installation and to notify your Local Authority Building Control Department (LABC) of the work that was completed in England and Wales.

Only the HETAS-registered installer who did the work must complete and sign the HETAS Certificate of Compliance (Building Regulation Compliance Certificate).

HETAS Certificate of Compliance

Customers that use a HETAS-qualified installer in England and Wales will get a HETAS Certificate of Compliance. This shows that the work they've done conforms with the appropriate Building Regulations.

The HETAS certificate is crucial since it may be necessary to confirm home insurance and to sell a home. It's available in both physical and digital versions.

After the customer receives the completed and signed HETAS Certificate of Compliance from the registered installer, it will be forwarded to HETAS. Within 30 days of the job's completion, the organisation will notify the appropriate local authority.

Who Can Produce Certificates?

A HETAS Certificate of Compliance can only be issued by the HETAS-registered installer who carried out the work. It covers the competencies that installer is registered for. HETAS receives the notification and passes the record to the local authority.

Where to Find a HETAS-Registered Installer?

A HETAS installer is qualified to self-certify their work and can supply local authorities with all the relevant information. But where can you find one? Here we will show you how to find a HETAS-registered installer and how to know if they are registered to HETAS.

HETAS-registered traders must be trained and can certify their own work by producing a HETAS certificate that demonstrates compliance with building regulations.

Customers and traders can choose HETAS-authorised appliances since HETAS-registered manufacturers can get clearance for biomass and solid fuel appliances through a third-party programme.

Go to the HETAS website to discover a registered installer, and the HETAS 'Identify Installer' search makes it simple to find a HETAS Installer of solid fuel, wood, and biomass appliances near you.

Consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and the Channel Islands will see results from this search. In Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, HETAS has recently implemented installer registration programmes.

All you have to do is simply enter your postcode and select the type of installer you require. Whether you require a dry stove, a boiler stove, or some flue and chimney work, HETAS has multiple installers that can help you in your home.

With the increased need for alternative energy solutions, solid fuel and biomass appliances are becoming even more popular. Installation and service must be done by a professionally qualified and registered competent person to ensure that appliances operate safely and efficiently.

Ensure that your installer is HETAS registered and always request identification. Your HETAS installer should be able to produce a HETAS ID card with their HETAS registration competencies shown on the reverse.

Installers may possess a variety of HETAS qualifications. Be sure the installer you hire is registered for the work you want to be done.

Installers who are registered can self-certify that their work complies with building requirements with the help of the Competent Person Scheme. They get free Technical Handbooks, assistance, and updates, as well as low-cost insurance, equipment, and Prompt Payer membership.

HETAS Competent Person Scheme (CPS)

The HETAS Competent Person Scheme (CPS) aims to ensure that users of solid fuel, wood, and solid biomass burning equipment, as well as any plumbing and heating works, have work and installations carried out/supervised by a competent installer working for a Registered Business and that the work is done safely and to a high standard of workmanship.

The plan includes monitoring the work of registered installers to verify that high standards are met.

You should use a HETAS-registered installer since all registered installers have been trained and assessed as competent, so you can put your trust in them.

HETAS is also the only competent person scheme that focuses on solid fuels and wood biomass, as well as covering the full range of installation work that an installer might be involved with, such as dry appliances, appliances with boilers, solid mineral, wood and wood biomass, chimney relining, and hot water and heating systems.

HETAS provides registrants with technical and regulatory support, as well as lists of approved appliances, fuels, and equipment, to assist you, the consumer, as well as the installers, designers, and specifiers, in selecting an installation that meets your needs while adhering to Building Regulations and safety standards.

It provides you with a list of installers, chimney sweeps, flue specialists, and maintenance firms so you can keep your system running well in the future.

Self-certification of installation work by a HETAS-qualified installer or engineer allows you to avoid and bypass the necessity for Building Notice applications to the local Building Control Department. These Building Notice applications are time-consuming and expensive.

When you hire a HETAS-registered installer, you will receive a Compliance Certificate, and a copy will be sent to HETAS. HETAS will then forward the notification to the local government for a little fee.

This procedure is straightforward and effective, and it just costs a few pounds compared to arranging a local government building notice.

Conclusion

• HETAS certificates verify that your installation meets Building Regulations, making your life easier.
• In England and Wales, the certificate records your installation and notifies the Local Authority Building Control (LABC).
• HETAS approves biomass and solid fuel heating equipment, and all relevant professionals must be registered.
• You will likely need a HETAS certificate in various situations, such as selling your home.
• Lack of proof of compliance can negatively affect property sales and insurance.
• Building Regulations cover solid fuel, wood, and biomass installations and related systems.
• HETAS-registered installers can self-certify their work, avoiding local authority Building Notices.
• Hiring a HETAS-registered installer ensures correct and safe installation.
• Malfunctioning heating equipment poses risks like carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Without a HETAS certificate, insurance may be denied, complicating property transactions and risking health.
• For safety or compliance concerns, get a HETAS certificate from a certified installer.