Quality Assured Fuel

was 'Solid Biomass Assurance Scheme'

Wood fuel and other biomass fuels show the HETAS seal of quality assurance to give customer confidence that the fuel is safe, efficient and reliable.

 

 

Supported by:

What Is Quality Assured Fuel?   The quality of fuel is a burning issue.   You wouldn't fill a car with petrol that had not been assessed for its quality, so why buy wood fuel that hasn't been checked? Owning a solid fuel appliance is a significant investment in both time and money. Producers can help the safety and efficiency of customer appliances by selling wood fuel that has been assessed by HETAS as meeting a common standard.   What Fuel Do We Cover? Any biomass fuel which has a European Standard can be assessed. The scheme is currently focused on woody based fuel, this includes:     Pellets     Briquettes     Firewood     Wood chip   What Does The Logo Stand For? Good Product - We assess producers against European standards for solid biomass fuel, including the absence of any chemical treatment. We are committed to help ensure that consumers get the safest possible offering.   Good Product Description - Giving customers the choice over which fuel source to choose from is often an issue. Any firewood you see bearing the HETAS mark should tell you the moisture content, length, species of wood, pack size and country of origin. This gives you the opportunity to make an informed choice on what fuel goes into your appliance.   Good Process - Good process is a large part of the HETAS scheme. The drive behind this is to ensure that consumers get products that always meet a quality standard, so you know what to expect. We assess accredited producers processes in order to see whether they can consistently deliver good products. Consistent fuel will help the reliability of your appliance.   What Do We Do?   We help ensure that consumers have access to fuel products that are economical, reliable and safe for their appliances. We work with wood fuel producers big & small in order to ensure that you are getting the best product possible. We are also here to help educate people drying their own wood about the importance of proper seasoning and care in order to get the safe, economical energy source they require.   The past few years has seen a radical increase in the usage of biomass fuels. Widely regarded as carbon-lean, many households are now choosing to reinstate traditional features such as open fires, or are using more efficient stoves and appliances. We want new wood fuel consumers such as these to understand the importance of using good quality produce.   When you are out making your next wood fuel purchase, be sure to look out for the HETAS logo. For logs, this ensures that you get a moisture content of less than 25% (much less horrible tar in your flue and on the windows of your stove). You can also be sure that a HETAS approved wood fuel will help keep your heating appliances working smoothly for a long time to come.     What are The Benefits For Me?     Having the HETAS mark on your product is likely to help maximise the credibility of your offering. We are well established in the industry and the symbolic "three tick" logo is renowned amongst industry peers and consumers alike.     Accrediting your produce could lead to an increase in sales amongst an ever growing group of new biomass fuel system owners.     The wood fuel customer will be assured that they are buying the right product for their installation which will burn both safely and efficiently.     Producers can demonstrate that they have good processes in place to guarantee deliveries of the right product.     Product labelling is consistent across suppliers which enables the consumer to make an informed choice.     Producers can attain positive differentiation for their premium product.     The scheme promotes a good image for wood fuel heating.     With the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) imminently on the horizon and 2020 targets to aim towards, the solid biomass fuel market will be growing with NEW customers. HETAS accreditation is a mark that instantly communicates to customers that you are selling a quality product.     HETAS is constantly promoting accredited suppliers through our website, stove retailers, installers, press releases (with industry publications, blogs and other consumer press) and national seminars and events. For those accredited producers using the Biomass Energy Centre 'Woodfuel Suppliers' listing, you can also use the logo against your name to give you positive differentiation from your competitors.  HETAS are dedicated to spreading the notion of quality wood fuel. Accredited producers can enjoy all of these benefits by partnering with the leading solid fuel body.     Producers FAQ   How Much Is This Likely To Cost Me?   For more information on the cost of being a part of the Quality Assured Fuel scheme, please feel free to download a copy of the information pack, which has a full pricing structure.   The price is made up of the HETAS registration fee and a site audit. The site audit can be done by HETAS or a number of approved partners as listed here. In some areas there are grant aided bodies who can do the site audit for free.   If you have more than one processing site, then you may need to have more than one site inspected, please refer to our policy here  Is there any support available to help me document a good production process?   There is a national spread of support organisations working with HETAS to help producers establish good production processes. HETAS have written a Firewood Quality Manual for firewood producers to use as a ‘ready made’ set of processes that meet the HETAS requirements – click for full details.   How Long Does The Assessment Process Take?   There are three main stages to an application process.   Firstly there is a document assessment   This is followed by a site assessment   Finally, a review board completes the approval process   You can find an application process flow chart below.   I’m a Small Producer, How Does HETAS Certification Help Me?   The HETAS scheme is designed to help small producers and large producers alike. A key benefit of being accredited by HETAS is that smaller companies can compete with their larger counterparts on the grounds of a quality standard.   Being part of the scheme allows you to benefit from our active engagement in the biomass community. We interact with wood fuel consumers in various ways, creating awareness of fuel quality standards and the importance of buying wood with low moisture content. For example, brochures are to be distributed for new fireplace and stove customers highlighting the importance and safety of using properly prepared biomass. This literature contains our logo and a description about the accreditation. Increase in demand for HETAS quality marked wood fuels means an increase in demand for any small manufacturer with accredited status.   I’m a Large Producer, How Does HETAS Certification Help Me?   The HETAS accreditation will help you to boost the customer's perceived value of your product offering. We actively encourage our assured producers to make the most out of their accreditation. Packaging can bare the HETAS scheme logo and we also allow you to fully promote your relationship with HETAS on your website. Here is a great example of this in action. Gaining accreditation is the perfect opportunity to communicate to your customers just how good your fuel is.   I’m Interested, How Do I Proceed With An Application?   A guide to getting your systems in place, ready for audit, can be found here   The application pack can be found here.   Alternatively contact mark.russell@hetas.co.uk (or call 0845 6345626) for a hard copy of the application pack.   Where Can I Use The Logo If I Pass Assessment?   We actively encourage producers to promote their accreditation status where they see fit. Current producers on the Quality Assured Fuel scheme often use the logo against the product itself, in advertising literature and on their corporate web page.   This is the official line on using the HETAS Quality Assured Fuel logo:   1. Certified companies in this scheme are allowed to display the logo on fuel packaging and on their promotional literature.   2. The logo and the certified status must only be used in conjunction with the fuels that have been certified. There must be no inference that non-certified fuels are covered by the assured status.   Further details of selling assured biomass fuels through a third party retailer can be found here.   If I Pass Assessment, What Support Will HETAS Provide For Me?   At HETAS we are here to support your industry. Gaining accreditation does not just mean that you can provide a 3rd party assured product to your customers, but we also take the greatest effort to keep you in the loop with all the latest developments in the wood fuels industry. For example, we will keep you up to date with changes to regulations and European standards as they develop via our monthly newsletter.   In the past, newly accredited suppliers have benefited from exposure through press releases in industry publications and online news blogs. We also advertise our newest approved producer on our HETAS home page and through communication platforms such as twitter.   We also promote the importance of quality wood fuels at exhibitions and conventions, through literature and online. Accredited manufacturers are also included in our HETAS guide.   What Is The Future Of HETAS Accreditation?   The HETAS accreditation for fuel producers is an ever growing initiative. We are targeting wood fuel consumers and educating them on the importance of buying properly prepared produce. The market for biomass fuels is perpetually growing and we hope to support the industry as best we can.   I’m a New Producer, What Credibility Will The HETAS Scheme Provide?   The HETAS accreditation is designed to provide a quality mark to associate with your produce. Being part of the scheme means that consumers can separate between your premium product and lower quality offerings in the market place. Being an accredited supplier will give you a competitive edge from day one!   Would I Pass The Assessment Process?   Why not try a quick quiz to see if you are ready to pass the test?   As part of the assessment, candidates will need to provide evidence of the traceability of the raw materials used for fuel. More information can be found here.   Explain The Application Process.   Interested producers can refer to this flow chart for how the application process works. A pdf of the flow chart can also be downloaded from here.         Testimonials   “We found the assessment process to be quite straightforward. It is early days, but we are already seeing a positive reaction from new and existing customers once they know that all aspects of our wood chip production is independently verified”   Mike Ingoldby - Wood Chip Producer   Bowland Bioenergy   “We have spent the past six years developing a smart approach to log delivery that makes fuel supply easy for the customer… HETAS accreditation confirms that we are supplying quality fuel and that the whole chain of processes that we have established gives us control over that quality.”   Keith Blacker - Firewood Producer   Edistone Ltd   "HETAS is the most creditable and recognisable UK body associated with biomass, solid fuel domestic heating appliances and fuels and they are the first organisation to take the proactive step of establishing a quality benchmark for biomass fuels. Membership of the Solid Biomass Assurance Scheme is likely to become essential if any wood fuel supplier wants to demonstrate that their fuel is of the highest possible standard."   The assessment process was relatively straight-forward with clear guidance from HETAS throughout"   Howard Towns - Wood Chip Producer   English Wood Fuels     Enquiries   For further information, please contact mark.russell@hetas.co.uk.   We can also provide a helpful implementation guide based upon European standards. This will help potential candidates for the HETAS scheme understand some of its requirements.   This guide is available upon request.   Would you make the grade? Why not try this quick quiz to see whether you would be eligible for our fuel quality accreditation.     Technical Information   Changing standards (chip)   The new EN standard for chip has been agreed and published (July 20011). However, most chip customers and producers are happy running with the old standard (G30, G50 ... ).The HETAS scheme will certify producers against both the old ONORM standard and the new EN standards. Please find the chip product definition requirements here.    To access the ONORM specification - details can be found here   For the EN standard, we can send a copyright controlled copy of my 'Implementation guide to applying the CEN biomass standards' to those that request it. Please contact mark.russell@hetas.co.uk for more details.   For those with a set of sieves to test the particle size conformance, there is as 'chip particle size' spreadsheet available. Again, please contact Mark Russell for a copy of this spreadsheet. This will help you use the right sieves for the appropriate standard and give you an easy way of recording your pass results.   To see a picture of how this relates, see page 12 of the presentation here (Note that the specification details here are old and may not be the same as the current version)   In The Press   HETAS is active in promoting the importance of using quality wood fuels and celebrating new relationships with customers through our extensive public relations activity. We educate wood fuel consumers about the importance of using wood and biomass fuels that are fit for their appliances and we are keen to communicate the benefits of using third party accredited products as a means to achieve this.   Here are a just a few examples of how HETAS certified wood fuel producers have benefited from our strong media presence:   Press Coverage   We have been featured in the following industry publications:   Forestry Journal   Fires & Fireplaces   Heating, Plumbing & Ventilation magazine   Consumer Advice Sheets   We are also actively involved with the woodfuel community online, contributing towards industry blogs and supplying information to other biomass fuel organisations.   Biomass Boiler Guide on the Yougen Blog (August 2011)   Our March 2011 news update on the Co2 Sense Blog   Our Stove buyers guide on the Yougen Blog   Our February 2011 news update on the Co2 Sense Blog   Our February 2012 Newsletter   Recent Press Releases   Please feel free to use any current press releases as news material for your website or blog. If you decide to publicise any material please let us know.   Press Release February 2011 - Edistone Ltd & Woodfuel Wales Collaboration   Press Release January 2011 - Bowland Bioenergy   Press Release April 2011 - English Wood Fuels Open letters to the trade   Letter to Installers - April 2011     For press enquiries, please contact Rachel MacSweeney at happy media: rachel@happy-media.co.uk   For more information please contact mark.russell@hetas.co.uk     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------       What Is The Quality Assured Fuel Scheme?     The quality of fuel is a burning issue.   You would not fill a car with petrol that had not been assessed for its quality, so why buy wood fuel that hasn't been checked?     What Fuel Do We Cover?   We are focused on woody based solid biomass fuel, namely pellets, briquettes, firewood & wood chip.     What Does The Logo Stand For?     Good Product - We assess producers against European standards for solid biomass fuels. All accredited fuels must be free from any chemical treatment. We are committed to help ensure that consumers get the best possible offering.     Good Product Description - Giving customers the choice over which fuel source to choose from is often an issue. Any firewood you see bearing the HETAS mark should tell you the moisture content, length, species of wood, pack size and country of origin. This gives you the opportunity to make an informed choice on what fuel goes into your appliance.     Good Process - Good process is a large part of the HETAS scheme. The drive behind this is to ensure that consumers get products that always meet a quality standard, so you know what to expect. We assess accredited producers processes in order to see whether they can consistently deliver good products. Consistent fuel will help the reliability of your appliance.     What Do We Do?     We ensure that consumers have access to fuel products that are economical, reliable and safe for their appliances. We work with wood fuel producers big & small in order to ensure that you are getting the best product possible. We are also here to help educate people drying their own wood about the importance of proper seasoning and care in order to get the safe, economical energy source they require.     The past few years has seen a radical increase in the usage of biomass fuels. Widely regarded as carbon-lean, many households are now choosing to reinstate traditional features such as open fires, or are using more efficient stoves and appliances. We want new wood fuel consumers such as these to understand the importance of using good quality produce.     When you are out making your next wood fuel purchase, be sure to look out for the HETAS logo. For logs, this ensures that you get firewood with a moisture content of less than 25% (much less tar in your flue and on the windows of your stove). You can also be sure that a HETAS approved wood fuel will help keep your heating appliances working smoothly for a long time to come.     The Benefits Of Using HETAS Assured Fuels     Safe Fuel     For firewood producers, our accredited manufacturers use wood that is free of any chemical additives. Consumers can rest assured that the fuel they are using is clean and safe. Importantly, using HETAS approved fuel means receiving firewood that has consistently low moisture content (less than 25%). This means less nasty tar in the flue, which could potentially cause fires and other damage if left untreated.     Reliable Fuel     HETAS approved wood fuels give you a source of energy that you can rely on. We work closely with our accredited suppliers to ensure that products are made consistent standards. For pellet & briquette consumers, we measure the contents of a sample, to ensure that you receive a dependable product that doesn't "crumble away" in the bag. For firewood consumers, we ensure that the quantity of fuel that is advertised is the quantity of fuel that you get.     Economical Fuel     Our good friends at the Biomass Energy Centre have produced this great document about using wood as a fuel. It highlights specifically that low moisture, air dried logs (with a moisture content of less than 25%) will produce roughly twice the kWh of energy that fresh green logs will. All HETAS approved manufacturers have proven that their wood has low moisture content, consistently meeting the quality threshold which is desired by consumers.     Consumer FAQ     Where Can I Find HETAS Assured Fuel?     Take a look at our guide, which includes some of the great producers that have already made the HETAS grade for fuel quality.     Will Buying HETAS Assured Fuel Save Me Money?     If you buy HETAS certified fuel you are guaranteed to receive a product that matches a full set of characteristics. Choosing accredited fuel could save you money in reduced appliance maintenance costs (fewer by-products of wet wood damaging stoves and chimney systems). For firewood consumers, buying accredited fuel is likely to provide you a much greater heat value per set volume than the same volume with unseasoned logs.     Will Buying HETAS Assured Fuel Be Better For The Environment?     Part of our accreditation states that producer must display the origin of the produce at point of sale. This means that consumers are informed of where their wood fuel has come from. We appreciate that many wood fuel customers are conscious of their carbon footprint and we believe that by adding provenance to packaging allows users to make a choice which they feel is best for the environment.       What Does The Brand Stand for?     Buying HETAS certified fuel ensures that you are receiving an assured quality, safe product. The Quality Assured Fuel Schemes helps to ensure that producers use an approved process to aim to keep moisture content below a certain standard. This means the wood you pay for can burn with a greater efficiency and deliver you optimum value.     For wood chip and pellet consumers, HETAS regulates accredited producers to help ensure they have the measures in place to deliver the consistency you require for your appliance.     There Is No Local Quality Assured Fuel Supplier, What Should I Do?     Encourage your local biomass fuel suppliers to sign-up to the HETAS scheme, to help you purchase a quality assured product.   The Biomass Energy Centre web site has a listing of producers which is probably the most useful search tool for wood fuel customers looking for a supplier. It now shows which fuels (firewood, pellets, briquettes or chips) have been third party assured by HETAS by displaying the HETAS logo in the appropriate column.   You can find the directory here.     Product Declaration Requirements     The scheme requires that standard information is declared at all ‘Points of Sale’ (website, in-shop label, telephone enquiry). This enables the customer make an informed choice. The majority of these derive directly from the European standard for product.     Log product definition   Pellet product definition   Chip product definition   Briquette product definition         Find a Stockist     You can find your local HETAS approved wood fuel stockist in the guide.