About OFTEC
This section of the website is for anyone wanting to find out more about OFTEC and what it does
About OFTEC
OFTEC is the Oil Firing Technical Association. We represent the oil heating and cooking industry in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and here’s where you can find out more about what we do.
OFTEC’s present membership includes large companies such as Aga-Rangemaster (cookers) , Clarehill Plastics (Harlequin Tanks), Grant Engineering (boilers), Firebird Products (boilers), Kingspan Environmental (Titan Tanks), Riello UK (burners), Warm-flow Engineering (boilers), and Worcester Bosch Group (boilers).
OFTEC was formed in 1991 and replaced the former Domestic Oil Burner Equipment Testing Association (DOBETA), an organisation formed after the enforced split of Shell-mex and BP in the early 1970’s.
The OFTEC logo incorporates the DOBETA symbol of an oil droplet with three check marks.
OFTEC and the oil companies.
During the 1990’s the oil fired heating engineers were mainly Shell, BP and ex-Shell-mex employees. The original training infrastructure provided by Shell-mex at Fulham was lost in the mid 1970’s, and industry costs were mounting due to poor quality work by technicians. The oil companies (and later, equipment manufacturers) supported OFTEC financially. OFTEC’s original role was to write new technical standards and training manuals, and to provide a focus for the industry. When this was achieved, OFTEC’s role extended into promoting the oil fired heating and cooking sector.
Key events in OFTEC’s history
1990 Instigation of OFTEC, the oil-firing industry trade association
1991 OFTEC registers at Companies House as the Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry Ltd – a not-for-profit trade association
1991 First registration certificates presented to OFTEC businesses and technicians
1991 – 1995 OFTEC staff, members and registered technicians create technical books, training, assessments, industry product standards, and later British Standards – now the standard texts and training assessment packages for the industry
1995 – 1998 OFTEC produces the first ever NVQ’s in oil fired heating and adopts BS EN 45013 as the preferred industry standard (approved by UKAS for registration)
2000 OFTEC licensed in Jersey as the first Oil Competent Persons Scheme
2002 OFTEC licensed in England and Wales as the first Oil Competent Persons Scheme. 2,386 registered technicians across the British Isles, first OFTEC Awards for Excellence presented
2002 – 2007 Registered technicians reaches 9,500+, number of OFTEC inspectors increases from 1 to 10
2003 First OFTEC roadshows/exhibitions and seminars in regions
2004 OFTEC Direct, the online/catalogue shop for technicians, starts trading
2007 Quarterly Oil Installer Magazine launches
2008 Research Study with University of East Anglia and others into use of bio-liquid blends in existing oil boilers. OFTEC lobbies for Government to include bio-liquids in the Renewable Heat Incentive
2010 OFTEC organises first national “Oil and Renewable Heating Show”
2011 Renewal of OFTEC’s licence as a recognised Competent Persons Scheme
See Also
