The Department of Social Development has pledged £12m to fund a boiler replacement scheme in Northern Ireland over the next three years.

OFTEC works closely with local authorities and Trading Standards to clamp down on rogue traders, and safeguard the reputation of legitimate businesses

Jacqueline Crawford OFTEC has become one of the first certification bodies to gain approval from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for its competent persons’ scheme. In addition, the organisation has been accredited to provide a registration scheme for Green Deal installers.

Comparative heating costs for an average three-bedroom home With oil prices dipping to a low of 52.5p per litre this summer, independent figures show how the price of oil has become more competitive over the last four years. According to the Sutherland tables, the price gap between oil and mains gas has narrowed from 48% in the first quarter of 2008 to 37% in 2012.

The SCT-1 safety control tester adopted by leading boiler manufacturers Keprotec has developed the SCT-1 – Safety Control Tester – capable of testing all fire valves currently on the UK market. The tester has also been adopted by leading boiler manufacturers for testing boiler stats and duo stats, found on hot water cylinders.

A new training centre in north Staffordshire – recently opened by Boilerserve – now offers all OFTEC assessment and training.  “With over 40 years experience in the domestic, commercial and industrial heating sector, we’re able to offer additional training in commercial heating, burners and controls,” says Ron Flint of Boilerserve.

Installers based in Northern England, seeking training on Grant products, no longer need to travel to Devizes, Wiltshire, for dedicated courses. Grant’s official training partner – GTEC Training, located in Hawes, North Yorkshire – has recently opened a new residential renewable technology training centre, where practical and theory courses, including Logic Certification, MCS Made Easy, and OFTEC training and assessment are run.  From the new centre, Grant will also offer its new G-One installation courses on Grant Aerona air source heat pumps, Vortex oil-fired boilers, and Spira wood pellet (biomass) boilers.  See pages xx and xx.