HETAS Committee & Standards Work

In an ever-changing industry of legislation and regulatory requirements, HETAS remains at the forefront of solid fuel appliance and related technology standards development, to effectively promote and ensure continued improvement of the safe and efficient installation of solid fuel appliances, ancillary equipment and their maintenance.

Achieving Objectives

HETAS achieves these objectives through the leading, supporting and attendance at a wide range of industry technical and regulatory committees. Through these meetings industry shares information and drives discussions and actions in key areas of safety and technology. Current subjects include fuel quality, appliance test methodology, air quality and installation best practices, to name a few.

Most of our industry organisations work in close partnership and key players put a lot of time and effort in to working together e.g. for chimney safety HETAS would work with organisations like the BFCMA, Chimney Sweeps’ Associations (APICS, Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and National Association of Chimney Sweeps), Woodsure; and seeking technical back-up from the UK Test Labs like Kiwa, BSRIA and BBA. The committee structure includes work on dry and wet appliances, biomass boilers and heating systems so we also work with key industry organisations like HHIC, the Hot Water Association as well as manufacturer associations.

A particular area of importance where these technical activities are addressed further is through HETAS’s involvement within the BSI committee standards arena, whose responsibility it is to relay the UK’s agreed response to issues raised and actions required, and input these into CEN, and the relevant technical committee making decisions at a European level.

Committee Work

HETAS currently hold the Chairmanship of the national UK mirror committee for solid fuel RHE/28, which encompasses members from all areas of the industry, from manufacturers and installers to test laboratories and government representatives, who work through the development of appliance, installation and relevant code of practice requirements for the UK solid fuel industry. RHE/28 works closely with CEN TC295: the European committee looking after appliance standards to ensure future requirements meet the European legislation and future EU commission requirements.

Work items through these committees are an important step in ensuring future appliance manufacture and installation standards are robust, whilst at the same time promoting a safe and efficient environment for installers, retailers and most importantly the consumer. HETAS works hard to make these standards manageable and relevant to registered businesses.

Technical Committee

In support of this, HETAS also operates the HETAS Technical Committee, a forum to promote the safe design, installation and use of solid fuel and biomass appliances by way of;

• Providing technical expertise to Government consultations
• Ensuring the revision and creation of British and European Standards are made in a safe and usable manner
• Work to reduce or remove future threats to the industry from unworkable regulations
• Actively fight to stop the sale of illegal products
• Work to ensure European Directives can be implemented without damaging UK industry
• Provide HETAS with knowledge of industry issues, to allow HETAS to best target its resources when influencing government.

Matters of action within the HTC include research projects and some testing work which explore and provide evidence to back-up any suggested amendments or improvements on safety within national legislation and the Building Regulations, as well as development of alternative installation practice approaches in the absence of any such requirements for new and innovative products not yet covered by statutory guidelines.

More information on HETAS and its related activities can be found on the HETAS website at www.hetas.co.uk