North England and Scotland Biomass Installers receive Accreditation
North England and Scotland Biomass Installers receive Accreditation
Steve Reilly, Director of SMS Technology Limited in Hamilton, has this week successfully qualified as a HETAS approved biomass installer. HETAS, the Heating Equipment Testing & Approvals Scheme, are ‘the official body recognised by the UK Government to approve Bio-mass & Solid Fuel Domestic Heating Appliances, Fuels & Services including the registration of competent installers’.
Steve is one of the first to receive this certificate for the H005BR and H005 Biomass Installer Course in the area, and it is as a result of completing an intensive five day specialist residential course.
With the huge growth in the renewable energy sector more home owners and businesses are installing Biomass Boilers and therefore there is much more demand for specialist fitters. However, finding qualified trades’ people in this relatively new trade is difficult. Having been in the industry for over 40 years Steve has seen a considerable growth of the renewable energy sector and completed this course to gain the recognised qualifications, to install, commission and maintain both residential and commercial biomass boilers.
The specialist course he attended at Schiedel Chimney Systems HETAS accredited Training Centre Washington in Tyne and Wear has been specifically designed to meet the huge upsurge in biomass installation enquiries. The facilities have been fitted out with ETA Biomass equipment and provide the perfect resources for the courses which include a mix of theoretical and practical assessment.
Steve has seen the industry go a full 360 degrees, from coal, to oil, to gas and now back to solid fuel in the way of biomass. While he has plenty of experience he realises the importance of bringing his skills up to date in an evolving market;
“Having been in the industry and seen the technologies move full circle it was time to expand his knowledge of the new developments in biomass technology and catch up on the theoretical side of biomass boiler installation and become an accredited installer. The theoretical side of the course was excellent and allowed me to grasp new regulations and standards that are associated with this relatively new technology”.
Currently, as a result of completing the course he is involved in fitting a 150kw boiler for Hamilton and Kinneil Estates.
HETAS is the official body recognised by the UK Government to approve Biomass & Solid Fuel Heating Appliances, Fuels & Services; this includes the registration of competent installers. Through this registration both domestic and industrial users can be confident in the technicians they employ.
David Wright from Schiedel commented;
“The H005BR and H005 Biomass Installer Course is a very intensive programme and one for which I would like to congratulate Steve on receiving his certificate of accreditation. It is hugely important for anyone considering fitting a Biomass Boiler of any type, that they employ a qualified installer. So we have specifically launched these Biomass Courses to meet the needs of this growing sector of the market. Steve is one of only a handful of people in the area that we understand has completed this HETAS approved accreditation”.
The specialist biomass boiler courses offered at Schiedel Chimney Systems Washington include;
- An introductory half day feeder course
- Biomass Building Regulations and Standards Course (H005BR)
- Biomass Installer Course (assessed and certified) (H005)
For more information on the centre and the courses on offer, visit www.schiedel.co.uk to download the course prospectus.
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Media Contact: Barbara Huddart
01668 283 044
Editors Notes:
HETAS, the Heating Equipment Testing & Approvals Scheme, are ‘the official body recognised by the UK Government to approve Bio-mass & Solid Fuel Domestic Heating Appliances, Fuels & Services including the registration of competent installers’.
