About HETAS

Working together for a cleaner, safer environment.

Who we are

As a not-for-profit organisation, we pride ourselves on investing surplus funds into business areas that directly contribute to safely reducing particulate and carbon emissions for the benefit of the people and the environment.

Achieved by working with government, industry experts and innovators providing expert advice, training and clear evidence-based information.

We will mobilise change to increase the use of cleaner fuels and more efficient appliances to improve air quality and public health, utilising our role as a trusted expert advisor to government to help improve associated legislation.

We will set the benchmark for best practice in our industry through the provision of the competent person scheme and industry-leading training to increase the safe and environmentally responsible use of biomass and other solid fuels, appliances and associated technologies.

What we do

  • Providing robust evidence to influence national/EU standards for appliances, fuels and installation
  • Listing appliances and fuels that meet the standards
  • Registering properly trained, competent installers, service engineers, chimney sweeps and retailers, who meet the appropriate standards
  • Approving training centres for all who work in the sector
  • Providing up-to-date advice to businesses, consumers and regulators
  • Researching options for improved service throughout the sector and
  • Engaging with national and local government to help minimise any adverse impact of the sector as a whole on wider society.

Meet the team

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

The people who work at HETAS share the vision and values of our business and community. Here you can meet the HETAS leadership team.

HETAS Careers

Join our team and help shape the future of HETAS and our wholly owned subsidiary Woodsure. We’re currently looking for creative minds to join the growing HETAS family. View our career opportunities and see what our staff have to say about us on Glassdoor.

What we offer

Retailers

HETAS Approved Retailers give you confidence in getting a suitable, efficient and safe wood burning or biomass appliance for your home. All approved retailers contain at least one HETAS trained showroom staff member, meaning quality advice can be given to the end-user that meets a good standard of service.

Installers

HETAS is the only competent person scheme specialising in the installation of solid fuel and biomass appliances. The HETAS ‘Find Installer’ search makes it easy to find your nearest HETAS Installer of solid fuel, wood and biomass appliances.

Chimney Sweeps

A good chimney is essential to the continuing efficient and safe operation of all solid fuel burning heating and cooking appliances. HETAS recommends that chimney sweeping is best carried out by a HETAS Approved Sweep at least once a year, depending upon the appliance and fuel being used.

Servicing

Servicing your stove is critically important if you want to keep it operating efficiently and safely. HETAS servicing technicians can give your stove the expert attention it needs to ensure it can perform safely and efficiently. Our search allows you to filter for servicing for stoves, stoves with boilers and biomass systems.

Biomass Maintenance

HETAS has launched a new registration scheme for engineers to demonstrate competency in the servicing and maintenance of domestic and commercial biomass appliances.

Products

HETAS has introduced the new Cleaner Choice Product Approval Scheme focused on raising industry standards and driving consumers towards the cleanest burning biomass and solid fuel appliances proven to go above and beyond in minimising harmful particle emissions, reducing the impact of their use on air quality and the environment.

Training

HETAS is the leading training provider for solid fuel, wood and biomass offering a range of comprehensive courses specifically designed for installers, retailers, specifiers, Local Authorities, Building Control Officers and those involved in the wood fuel supply chain.

Fuels

HETAS run the Approved Solid Fuel scheme for mineral based fuels. This covers Manufactured Smokeless Fuels and Natural Smokeless Fuels. HETAS also administers the Ready to Burn certification scheme for manufactured solid fuels.

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HETAS Governance

HETAS Limited (known as HETAS). The acronym stands for Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme. The Company is a legal entity and operates as a company limited by guarantee; not having any share capital.
 
Our purpose is: Working together for a cleaner and safer environment.

To achieve this we commit to the following objectives and providing a service to the industry:

As a certification body, we are responsible for all of its certification activities. An agreement between HETAS and its clients takes in to account the responsibilities of each of the certification schemes.

As an industry lead expert, we work closely with government, appliance and chimney manufacturers, installers, fuel producers, distributors and all manner of associated parties from across the biomass sector with the goals of advancing training, raising awareness and improved end-user safety in this exciting, emerging, renewable arena.

As a not for profit organisation the Company is governed by an industry body of Members (previously called “the Council”).  These Members offer general direction and guidance from an independent industry perspective for the on-going activities offered by HETAS. They also have a say in any surplus funds offered to pursue the purpose of HETAS.

Impartiality Committee

An Impartiality Committee is established in order that HETAS has a management commitment to operate openly, objectively and impartially in accordance with the Product Certification Standard BS EN ISO 17065:2012, whilst operating as a certification body for assessing companies to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme product and installer standards, and MHCLG’s competent person authorisation criteria for registrants’ self-certifying work under the Building Regulations.

The Impartiality Committee membership is made up of representatives from relevant stakeholders, with a committee elected Chairperson independent of HETAS. The structure of the committee will have a balance of interest where no one group predominates.

The presence of objectivity is understood to mean that conflicts of interest do not exist, or are resolved so as not to adversely influence the activities of the body. Anyone wishing to raise an objection around the objectivity of the certification process can in the first instance contact the elected Chairperson via the HETAS quality representative.

HETAS Technical Committee

The HETAS Technical Committee: In achieving our objectives we bring together representatives of key stakeholder groups to help voice the views of the industry and to help HETAS maintain a strong safety and technical focus.

HETAS commits to support this committee where views and actions align with the overall objectives of HETAS and support HETAS registrants for the installation of solid fuel burning appliances and associated equipment or services. The output from this committee provides the industry with an opportunity to influence and review industry standards and regulation at a British and European level.

Stakeholders wishing to be considered to join the HETAS Technical Committee can express their interest to the HETAS Technical team.

Complaints about HETAS Staff or Policies/Processes

If your complaint relates to a Registered Business or installation, or you are unhappy with a complaint outcome, please contact the HETAS Compliance Team in the first instance; they will be happy to discuss your concerns and aim for resolution.

There may be times when people or organisations feel dissatisfied with the service provided by HETAS or a member of our staff.

Should this matter arise, we would ask that complaints are made in writing and sent via email or post, addressed to the relevant department.

Latest News

UKAS 2024 audit success

UKAS undertook their annual audit of HETAS on 7-8 March 2024 and we are pleased to announce that we have passed this year’s audit.

Recent UK air quality findings

To support you and remain transparent, we have created this article to summarise recent air quality findings, provide context where necessary, and look towards the future.

Chesneys have made the Cleaner Choice

With nearly 40 years of experience in the industry behind them, Chesneys are committing to making the Cleaner Choice.

Defra’s emissions of air pollutants publication 2024

Defra has published its latest data on emissions of air pollutants in the UK, with the publication containing statistics on annual emissions for the period 1970 to 2022. The annual publication provides estimates of UK emissions of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and sulphur dioxide. These statistics are used to monitor progress against the UK’s emission reduction commitments (ERC) for air pollutants. 

The role of HETAS in ‘Progress in improving the natural environment in England 2022/23’

The Office for Environmental Protection recently published their progress report of government’s stated ambitions and goals for the environment, relating to the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.

HETAS Ltd

HETAS, Severn House, Unit 5 Newtown Trading Estate, Green Lane, Tewkesbury, GL20 8HD