How to become Oftec

[DustyM]

True - although my local merchant won't sell oil parts unless you produce said card - maybe a rarity I know, especially with well known internet sites not even bothering to check!

 

[dontknowitall]

SimonG - Do not despair; I am led to believe that this will soon be changing (I too had my reservations about becoming an OFTEC registered technician). OFTEC are going to be launching a media campaign, hopefully informing and educating the public of the need to have competent, registered tradesmen/companies to complete their servicing and installations needs etc. By doing this, and making the public more aware (as they are with regards to the requirement for Gas Safe engineers), then perhaps we will start to see a drop in the usage of non registered engineers.............................................................maybe!!

I heard this about 3 years ago. Also heard about how plumbers would have to have the water regs qualification.

Instead all that happens is institutions like GasSafe, OFTEC, ESA, etc keep adding to the rules to justify their jobs and we all have to pay increased subscriptions.

And because there are so many tradesmen it's impossible to form a group or union to fight this so ...

Nothing happens and nothing improves. More cowboys, more have a go heroes and, if I'm honest, more new people like me who'd like to do things by the book but are left behind because having done the courses I don't want to spend another hour or two each week learning more regulations which may or may not be applicable to my work.

I knew there was a reason for growing hairs on me chest and wanting to get something off it ... (oh golly, I'm losing the plot here).

 

[SimonG]

SimonG - Do not despair; I am led to believe that this will soon be changing (I too had my reservations about becoming an OFTEC registered technician). OFTEC are going to be launching a media campaign, hopefully informing and educating the public of the need to have competent, registered tradesmen/companies to complete their servicing and installations needs etc. By doing this, and making the public more aware (as they are with regards to the requirement for Gas Safe engineers), then perhaps we will start to see a drop in the usage of non registered engineers.............................................................maybe!!

Oh I don't despair, do many other things besides oil, but I won't hold my breath on the oftec front, I'll end up as blue as bod 🙂

 

[DustyM]

Ditto, bet you pass out first though!!! :skep:

 

[Best]

In my opinion oftec, like other registrations, has put loads of people, many with no links to heating or plumbing, out there servicing & installing oil boilers etc. The people with these "qualifications" tell the public they are engineers. Cant see how this raises standards.
I have a friend who is not from a building trade background & without any prior research he got the 101 & the more technical 105 exams no bother. He comes very much under the "get a fully qualified oftec engineer" term, yet he hasn't much of a clue.
Still, a nice badge does look well on a van! :smile:

 

[dancinplumba]

nice one DannyPipe 🙂
From DP to DP

 

[Dannypipe]

In my opinion oftec, like other registrations, has put loads of people, many with no links to heating or plumbing, out there servicing & installing oil boilers etc. The people with these "qualifications" tell the public they are engineers. Cant see how this raises standards.
I have a friend who is not from a building trade background & without any prior research he got the 101 & the more technical 105 exams no bother. He comes very much under the "get a fully qualified oftec engineer" term, yet he hasn't much of a clue.
Still, a nice badge does look well on a van! :smile:

That's probably true.

In my instance, I have been working with oil since I started, as I live in a rural area (Cowden Village) and it's nice to finally have the qualifications to go with the experience.

 

[Best]

That's probably true.

In my instance, I have been working with oil since I started, as I live in a rural area (Cowden Village) and it's nice to finally have the qualifications to go with the experience.

Was just saying what I thought about oftec Danny. Congratulations on getting the oil qualifications! You, as an experienced oil guy deserve to be able to use it to your advantage. I also did the oftec exams. Over in N.Ireland there was & still is a lot of oil heating & suddenly it seemed everyone from any background were doing the 101 exam as they thought it was easy money.
Out of interest, do you think, as an oil guy, did you learn much?
Always something to learn I guess, but if I hadn't have known about oil heating before I did the oftec, I wouldn't have come out much wiser. :smile:

 

[Dannypipe]

I learned the odd thing here and there, but in fairness I didn't learn much.

I know it sounds like I'm showing off, but I finished very early on the last day, before all the other candidates. They were all also experienced guys, and one of them was an Oftec inspector!!

I've done pressure jets, and tanks. I haven't bothered with vapourising as I don't have any experience of them and having the ticket doesn't mean that over night I would be an expert. So I still decline Aga's and Rayburns.

 

[Best]

I've done pressure jets, and tanks. I haven't bothered with vapourising as I don't have any experience of them and having the ticket doesn't mean that over night I would be an expert. So I still decline Aga's and Rayburns.

Haven't done vaporising either. Would need to do a lot to justify the extra time & cost of exam. Not a lot servicing some vaporising ranges. Just a thorough decarb & new wicks basically. Open flued, so risky. There is a a company who will supply an Aga service book for a reasonable cost & any parts you need.

 

[Dannypipe]

I heard that there is one type of Aga that can quite easily go BANG if you cock it up. I don't know if this is true as I stay well away from them. Even gas ones, I just don't have the experience.

There is a local firm near me who mop up all the Aga's anyway. They're about 2 miles from me, and have it wrapped up tight!

I would have thought I could nick some of their boiler work though as they're twice as expensive as me.

 

[Dannypipe]

Haven't done vaporising either. Would need to do a lot to justify the extra time & cost of exam. Not a lot servicing some vaporising ranges. Just a thorough decarb & new wicks basically. Open flued, so risky. There is a a company who will supply an Aga service book for a reasonable cost & any parts you need.

If there is a market in your area, and you think you could poach it. Your best bet might be to see if there is an Aga training facility nearby.

 

[Lou]

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