Solid Fuel (Initial)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Solid Fuel Prerequisites

  Category 1 (Renewal Only)

  Applicants in this category are regarded as experienced Solid Fuel technicians holding one of the following - they will need to provide an original certificate as evidence to the Assessment Centre prior to taking OFTEC assessments: 

  • OFTEC      
    • OFT15-108D (category 1 status for OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S) 
    • OFT15-108W (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S) 
    • OFT18-108S (category 1 status for OFT18-108S only) 
  • HETAS 
    • H003 AND H006 (category 1 status for OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S) 
    • H004 AND H006 (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S)
    • H005 (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S) 
    • H009 (category 1 status for OFT18-108S only) 
  • BPEC        
    • Solid Fuel Installer (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S)
  • CITY & GUILDS    
    • Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating (6189) - must include Solid Fuel pathway (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S)
    • Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (9189-03) - must include Solid Fuel pathway (category 1 status for OFT15-108W, OFT15-108D and OFT18-108S)

  
  

  Category 2 (Heating Engineer - Other Fuel)

  Applicants in this category are regarded as holding a nationally recognised qualification in a trade associated with Solid Fuel work; candidates must provide relevant qualifications to support entry:
  

  • Dry
    • OFTEC technician with scope of work categories 101,102 or 105E
      • or - Registered Gas Safe or RGII operative
      • or - Registered member of GOMCS, APICS, NACS, NIACS, CSAI, ICS, CSA or NACE
      • or - evidence of formal qualifications: City & Guilds 6129/6035 and 6089, or QCF 6189;
      • or - (United Kingdom) N/SVQ Level 2/3 in plumbing or equivalent earlier certification that provides evidence of competence
      • or - (Republic of Ireland) FETAC Level 5 in plumbing
      • or - HETAS H003 Dry Appliance Installer course
      • or - BPEC Solid Fuel Installer or Solid Biomass course
      • or - APHC Installation of Solid Fuel Appliances and Heating Systems Fed by Solid Fuel in Domestic Appliances course
      • or have relevant qualifications, skills and experience gained from working in a related trade such as Plumbing / Heating / Ventilation / Refrigeration / Air-Conditioning / Gas Fitting or servicing. Applicants must provide evidence of this related experience to the Assessment Centre. The evidence must consist of, as a minimum, the following:
        • Name and address of the business(s) providing the related experience.
        • The types of related work undertaken (minimum 4/5 jobs).
  • Wet
  • Compulsory: OFTEC OFT15-108D AND
  • (United Kingdom) - N/SVQ Level 2/3 in plumbing or equivalent earlier certification that provides evidence of competence
  • (Republic of Ireland) - FETAC Level 6 in plumbing
  • or - evidence of OFTEC 101 or 105E;
  • or - evidence of formal qualifications: City & Guilds 6035 and 6089, or QCF 6189;
  • or - HETAS H004 Wet Appliance Installer course
  • or - BPEC Solid Biomass course
  • or - Gas Safe Registered Operative holding a current CENWAT category
  • or - RGII Registered Operative holding a current GID category

  All Category 2 candidates must also undertake training at an OFTEC approved training centre. The training must consist of training utilising the current OFTEC Technical Book. The possession of the OFTEC Technical Book prior to training and subsequent assessment is mandatory.

  
  

  Category 3 (New to Industry - Dry Only)

  Applicants in this category are regarded as new to the Solid Fuel industry, and do not hold any national qualifications in a related field nor have any related work experience. Application conditions for this category require that the Category 3 applicant must obtain experience with a business which is willing to provide an auditable extended Solid Fuel training programme incorporating both On and Off the Job components with organisational support prior to the applicant taking OFTEC training and assessment. Evidence of the contents of the programme detailing the Off the Job training and On the Job experience must be presented to the Assessment Centre as above. 4 to 5 jobs are required as a minimum for your portfolio.