Safety & Compliance
HETAS is the recognised competent person scheme for solid fuel heating in the UK. When people ask whether an installer is 'registered', this is usually what they mean, and the practical consequences are more concrete than most homeowners realise.
What registration actually means
A HETAS registered installer has been assessed as competent to install solid fuel appliances to the required standards, and remains subject to the scheme's ongoing requirements. That competence covers appliance installation, flue sizing and specification, hearth and clearance requirements, ventilation and commissioning — the elements that determine whether an installation is safe rather than merely tidy.
Self-certification and building standards
The most tangible benefit is self-certification. Because a registered installer can certify their own work as compliant, the appliance installation does not require a separate building standards application for that element. Without it, you would be arranging approval and inspection yourself.
The certificate is issued after commissioning and is your evidence that the installation was carried out and certified by a registered installer on a specific date.
Why the certificate matters later
It matters at three points beyond installation day. Insurers may ask for evidence of compliant installation after a claim involving the appliance. Manufacturer warranties typically require professional installation to remain valid. And when you sell, a solicitor will ask for documentation covering the stove — an uncertified installation becomes a negotiating point at exactly the moment you have least leverage.
Our accreditations
We are HETAS registered installers and NVQ qualified chimney sweeps, and members of APICS and the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. We carry public liability insurance and can provide the certificate on request.
Those memberships matter for the sweeping side as well as the installation side: they set the standards for how flues are swept, inspected and certificated, which is what sits behind the sweeping certificate you receive.
Questions worth asking any installer
Whoever you use, these are reasonable things to ask before work starts.
- Are you HETAS registered, and can I see your registration?
- Will the installation be self-certified, and when will I receive the certificate?
- Is the flue being surveyed before you quote?
- Does the quote include lining, hearth work, ventilation and making good?
- Do you carry public liability insurance?
- Is a carbon monoxide alarm included and fitted?
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone install a wood burner?
The work must comply with building standards. A registered installer can self-certify that compliance; an unregistered installation requires the homeowner to arrange approval independently, and unverified work causes problems with insurance, warranties and resale.
How long does it take to get the certificate?
It is issued after commissioning and normally reaches you within a couple of weeks. Keep it with your property documents rather than in a drawer.
I have an existing uncertified stove — what can I do?
It can be inspected against current requirements and any shortfalls identified and quoted. That gives you a documented assessment even where retrospective certification of someone else's work is not possible.
Is a sweeping certificate the same thing?
No. A sweeping certificate records that the flue was swept and inspected on a date. A HETAS installation certificate records that the appliance was installed compliantly. You want both, for different reasons.
Work carried out by registered installers
HETAS registered, NVQ qualified, insured — and certificated as standard.