Tag: Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps

Events and Exhibitions

Posted on by Alun

Installer 2018Events and Exhibitions

With the heating season still in full swing, we wanted to let you know about the events and exhibitions where you can catch up with the HETAS team over the next few months and throughout 2018. Read more.

The HETAS team has a busy couple of months coming up with events and exhibitions around the country. Make sure you take some time out of your busy schedule to meet the HETAS team and see what else is on offer at some of the industry events in 2018.

Chimney Sweep Exhibitions

First up in 2018 we have the two chimney sweep exhibitons. At the start of March (Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd) we will be joining the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps at the Oxford Belfry for their annual exhibition. The exhibition itself takes place in the College Suite and will be open during the following times:

  • Friday 2nd March 9:30 am – 4.30pm
  • Saturday 3rd March 9:00am  – 3.00pm

Following the exhibition the Guild will have their Annual General Meeting. Please note attendance to the AGM is only available for Guild members.

Find out more on the Guild website.

Following shortly after we head over to the Crowne Plaza in Stratford-upon-Avon for the National Association of Chimney Sweeps Exhibition. Being held on the 13th and 14th April this event will be open to industry and members of the public from 9.30am – 4.00pm on both the Friday and the Saturday.

For hotel room reservations, please ring the hotel directly on 01789 279911 and quote “The National Association of Chimney Sweeps” for the preferential rates.

For more information on the NACS Exhibition click here.

Installer 2018

Bringing together over 3,500 visitors and more than 100 brands, Installer2018 will once again deliver the UK’s plumbing and heating professionals with an event focused totally on them and their businesses – providing solutions to everyday issues that affect the industry.

Taking place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Installer 2018 runs from the 8th to the 10th May. The doors open at 10am each day.

Allowing installers to get hands-on with the products they use on a daily basis is at the heart of Installer2018, which has lots of show features designed with heating and plumbing engineers in mind:

  • HELPDESK – Boilers & Smart Controls
  • Demonstration Zones
  • Live discussion groups involving industry experts
  • Live skill challenges
  • Show-only offers on products
  • A VIP evening

For more information and to sing up for your free tickets head over to the  Installer 2018 website.

Later in the year we will also be attending Hearth & Home and APF alongside Woodsure. More on these events closer to the time.

Keep up to date with our events in the HETAS Events Diary.

When should I get my chimney swept?

Posted on by Alun

When should I get my chimney swept?

When should I get my chimney swept?Once again this year, HETAS was proud to support Chimney Fire Safety week which took place from 4th-10th September.

Whilst there was a reduction in nationwide chimney fires, there were still over 5,000 avoidable chimney fires in England and Wales – April 2016 to March 2017.

Our team is often asked “When should I get my chimney swept?”

HETAS encourage having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood or bituminous housed coal and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels.

The best times to have your chimney swept are just before the start of the heating season and after your stove has not been used over a prolonged period.  If sweeping twice a year, the second time should be after the peak of the main heating season.

Use a Professional

HETAS recommends that chimney sweeping is best carried out by a HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep.  In order to maintain high standards of sweeping, HETAS is associated with these professional bodies: The Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps (APICS), The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps (GoMCS) and The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS).

Brought to you by Fire Kills, HETAS and the three chimney sweep associations, the below website will provide you with tips and guidance to avoid having a chimney fire.

http://www.chimneyfiresafetyweek.co.uk/

Click here to find your local HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep.

All HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps will be able to provide an identity card.  Always ask to see identification before a sweep carries out any work.

Further Guidance and Advice

To download a free HETAS Advice Leaflet on Operating and Maintaining your stove – click here!

The HETAS team is available to call on 01684 278170 or email click here to visit our Contact Page.

HETAS Committee & Standards Work

Posted on by Antonia Russell-Clark

HETAS Committee & Standards WorkHETAS 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), Stove Industry Alliance, 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

AMAC celebrates 13 years of British manufacturing

Posted on by Alun

AMAC Celebrates 13 YearsAMAC celebrates 13 years of British manufacturing

AMAC Engineering Limited, a leading supplier of chimney inspection cameras across the UK and Europe, is celebrating its 13th anniversary this month. The firm is renowned for its commitment to British design and manufacture in the face of increasing competition from imported products.

The firm works closely with end users and industry bodies like The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) and The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps to improve and develop the technology they use in their cameras. Customers benefit from an industry-leading two year parts and labour warranty and 24 hour support.

Speaking on the anniversary, Quaerina Chorley, AMAC’s Sales Director said,

“Thirteen years of successful trading is a tremendous milestone for AMAC. We are incredibly proud of the British design and manufacture of our inspection cameras.”

“When a customer invests in inspection technology, they need to be confident that it will serve them reliably for many years. AMAC’s quality manufacturing, CE marking and PAT testing provides the reassurance that they’re buying the best.”

The AMAC range of chimney cameras is HETAS Listed and can be purchased in the HETAS Shop or via AMAC directly.

New HETAS Service and Maintenance Course for 2017

Posted on by Alun

New HETAS Service and Maintenance Course for 2017

Solid fuel appliances are well known for their high quality, robust construction and durability. However, like any product in continuous use they do require attention by the user and routine servicing by an engineer. HETAS recommends that appliances are serviced at least once a year or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

HETAS Service and Maintenance Course

In support of the requirements, HETAS has launched a Service & Maintenance course designed to ensure engineers are equipped with the knowledge and practical skills to undertake such work. The two-day practical course is ideal for businesses that don’t wish to undertake installation work such as professional chimney sweeps, maintenance operatives and local authorities with housing stock using solid fuel as a primary heat source.

Collaboration

This new course has been developed in collaboration with the three HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep associations, APICS, GOMCS and NACS. The course is now available at HETAS Approved Training Centres nationwide. Click here to find your local training centre.

Click here to find out more about this new HETAS training course which is being delivered by our network of HETAS Approved Training Centres.HETAS Service and Maintenance Course

HETAS Diary Dates 2017 | Events and Exhibitions

Posted on by Alun

HETAS Diary Dates 2017
HETAS Diary Dates 2017

HETAS has already signed up to exhibit at a number of events throughout 2017 and we really hope to see you all along the way. First up for the HETAS team is Ecobuild in March.

Ecobuild is the UK’s largest and number one event for specifiers across the built environment. This year the event theme is Regeneration. Ecobuild 2017 will be regenerated into an immersive city – complete with main street, distinct destinations and special feature attractions. Central to the experience will be Regeneration Drive, a boulevard running through the middle of Ecobuild, linking different aspects of the exhibition and enabling you to experience the very best examples of innovation and creativity from across the built environment.

You will be able to find HETAS along with Woodsure on stand B215. Ecobuild takes place from the 7th to the 9th March at ExCeL in London. For more information visit www.ecobuild.co.uk or click here to register for your free tickets.

Following on from Ecobuild, HETAS will then be at The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps Exhibition taking place at The Oxford Belfry on the 10th and 11th March 2017. We will have more details on the exhibition on the HETAS website as they become available or click here to visit the Guild website.

As always HETAS will be at Hearth & Home in Harrogate, taking place this year from the 11th to the 13th June. Visit the brand new exhibition website at www.hearthandhome.co.uk. Visitor registration is now live, click here to sign up.

The National Association of Chimney Sweeps have their annual exhibition taking place on the 7th and 8th April 2017 at The Holiday Inn Hotel, Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon. Visit www.nacs.org.uk for more information on the exhibition.

HETAS Diary Dates

For more information on events you can visit our dedicated events page at www.hetas.co.uk/hetas-events.

 

HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps Directory

Posted on by Alun

Chimney Sweeps DirectoryHETAS Listed Chimney Product logo

At the end of October HETAS launched its new HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps Directory and we have sent copies to our approved Sweeps and Retailers as well as Local Authorities, Fire & Rescue Services, Housing Associations and homeowners.

Working with our three recognised chimney sweeping associations, The Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps, The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and The National Association of Chimney Sweeps, HETAS is pleased to have launched the first HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps Directory to further promote to consumers the importance of using a trained and registered chimney sweep.

The Directory also includes some top tips for consumers to make the most of their heating system, from choosing the right fuel through to what to expect on the day a sweep visits their home.

The Directory will be updated regularly as new sweeps sign up and contact details change for existing sweeps. Copies of the HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep Directory are available via the HETAS Shop or by contacting the team on 01684 278170.

HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps Directory

To be listed in the Directory chimney sweeps are required to be a member of one of HETAS’ nominated chimney sweeping associations, APICS, Guild or the NACS. The induction, training and assessment procedures of the trade associations represent to HETAS that you are a competent practical sweep with the appropriate equipment and insurance.

Visit www.hetas.co.uk/professionals/chimneysweeps/join-now to find out more and to download your application pack to become a HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep, contact the Registration team on 01684 278170 or email info@hetas.co.uk.

Click here to search for HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps on the HETAS website.

Guild Exhibition

Posted on by Alun

The annual Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps Exhibition takes place at the Swindon Marriott Hotel on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th March 2016. The exhibition will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm on the Friday and 9:00am to 3:00pm on the Saturday.

The exhibition is open to everyone, including those within the chimney, heating and fireplace industry. There will be industry seminars delivered throughout the event, and we there will be new exhibitors attending for the first time with very exiting industry related products.

Exhibitors at the event include Landy Vent, Colt Cowls, AMAC and many more.

Visit the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps website to find out more.