Just to say that I totally agree with Peter Thom of Green Heat. The heating industry is totally over-regulated by government lackeys and has been for many years. It would appear that if there is a perceived gap in any part of the industry then the government creates a division to clamp itself onto it and creates absolute carnage in that particular area of work.
I am old enough to realise that it is probably the fault of the industry itself as to why we have got ourselves into this position in the first place. When I started in the oil industry in 1958 the domestic heating division, run by She’ll-Mex & BP Ltd. made up all its own rules for tank installations, based upon good practice in the oil industry. It also trained installers in the correct way to install and service oil fired heating installations, in conjunction with various heating equipment manufacturers. Fitters were experienced time-served technicians and, therefore, knew their job before being trained in oil installations. The training was not three days with a piece of paper at the end of it. It was two weeks minimum with a refresher course six to 12 months later.
This was excellent training, but I do believe the oil industry, the gas industry (who were just about finished in the late 50’s), and the solid fuel industry should – at the time – have got together and developed an industry controlling body to cover all technical, theoretical and Building Regulation standards.
Each division would have engineers trained and certificated in all aspects of their work including all standards and guides to good practice before they were allowed to practice their trade. This would include training in customer relationships and respect for other trades. Instead of this, everyone went off in all directions forming their own little enclaves of what they considered the best way to do the job. We now have Gas Safe, Corgi, (who still keep popping up) OFTEC, HETAS, NICEIC etc. etc. all laudable in their own way, but separately not strong enough to fend off interfering government bodies who have now successfully wrapped up everyone in impossible paperwork to the extent that most independent heating companies have dropped out of the system in sheer desperation at the vast amount of unnecessary rules and regulations.
Just a thought!
Clive King, FIDHEE
Oil heating consultant