Oil Fired Up

Trading Standards issues Gas Safety Warning

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:43:00 GMT

As the days are getting colder and many of us are turning to our central heating, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is urging consumers to take care should they need to find a handyman to fix their boiler. Brian Smith, TSI's lead officer for crime and disorder, said 'We are very concerned by new figures showing that a quarter of a million gas jobs are potentially botched every year by irresponsible traders who don't have relevant skills or qualifications.

APHC Makes A Good Scheme Even Better

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:57:00 GMT

The Association of Heating and Plumbing Contractors' (APHC) successful Online Notification System, has been boosted by some fundamental changes made in direct response to feedback from members. The changes to the system have been designed to make it even more straightforward for APHC Members to manage their online account more effectively.

EA Urges Courts To Get Tough With Polluters

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:38:00 GMT

Whilst the number of serious pollution incidents in England and Wales during 2008 dropped 13 per cent from 827 to 723 compared with 2007, the Environment Agency has urged the courts to issue tougher fines for polluters as an incentive for businesses to continue to reduce their impact upon the environment.

OFTEC pulls the plug on Dumfries Oil Heating Show

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:50:00 GMT

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has cancelled Scotland's sole Oil Heating Show in 2009, which was previously set to be held in Dumfries on 18 November 2009.

Polytank Water Tanks launch online at TankDepot.co.uk

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Online storage tank supplier TankDepot.co.uk, has added an all-new range of Polytank cold water storage tanks and cisterns to its growing portfolio of fuel, oil and water storage solutions.

Polluter Pays The Price for Steel Oil Tank Failure

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:00 GMT

A Falmouth company was recently ordered to pay �4,946 in fines and costs after waste oil polluted a stretch of foreshore alongside the Fal Estuary following the failure of a steel storage tank, in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

Kingspan 'Titans' Up On Oil Tank Prices

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Irish building products conglomerate Kingspan plc, has confirmed that prices of the company's range of budget Titan branded fuel storage tanks in Great Britain, will increase by up to 15% with effect from Monday.

FPS Expo Defies the Recession!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:07:00 GMT

Taking place from 21-22 April 2010 at the Harrogate International Centre, FPS Expo 2010 is organised by the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) and its 30th anniversary year is already proving popular with over 80% of exhibition space already booked - 6 months before the show!

Alan Ball leaves PTS Plumbing Trade Supplies

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:54:00 GMT

PTS Pluming Trade Supplies' parent company BSS Group plc, has announced that PTS Managing Director Alan Ball, has resigned from the Group to pursue what the company describes as 'other interests'.

Total Butler extends Glowmax Availability

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:38:00 GMT

Fuel distributor Total Butler is extending the availability of its Total Glowmax Heating Oil to customers in Northern and South Eastern England, following a limited release of the fuel in 2008.

TankDepot.co.uk reports growing interest in Biodiesel and Bioheating Oil

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:23:00 GMT

Interest in Biodiesel and Bioenergy continues to grow, despite current economic conditions. That's the conclusion of online fuel oil storage tank specialist TakDepot.co.uk, following the company's attendance at the European Bioenergy Exhibition & Conference (EBEC) held recently in Coventry.

OFTEC announce 2009 Excellence Award Winners

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:11:00 GMT

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) recently held their annual Awards for Excellence at the City West Hotel in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Almost 200 guests from throughout the British Isles attended the gala dinner and awards ceremony, sponsored by budget tank manufacturer Titan Environmental.

APHC calls for Common Sense approach to License to Practise

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:39:00 GMT

The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors has written to MPs calling for a review of the concept that Licence to Practise is the solution to skills problems within the sector. The Association is largely supportive of the License to Practise idea but believes a number of key criteria need to be met before it could work without becoming a burden to the plumbing and heating industry.

HVCA signs up to Trade Association Code of Practice

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:03:00 GMT

The Heating & Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA) has signed up to a Code of Practice which has been developed by the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) Trade Association Forum to promote best practice amongst its members, and so raise their overall quality and effectiveness.

Polluter pays the price for Oil Pollution

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:51:00 GMT

Oil from a forklift repair site ended up in a drain at Donington near Spalding resulting in one swan having to be cleaned up and the death of invertebrates. Owner of the business Eric Elam (trading as E&S;Fork Lift Sales and Hire) was recently fined �8,000 and ordered to pay full Environment Agency costs of �4,000.

APHC issues Renewables Training Warning

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:05:00 GMT

While renewable technologies are being hailed as the future of the plumbing & heating industry, the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors is warning that inadequate training is threatening to derail the drive for sustainable systems.

Catch up with TankDepot.co.uk at EBEC 2009!

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:32:00 GMT

TankDepot.co.uk - the UK's leading online reseller of fuel, oil and water storage tanks, has teamed up with Harlequin, to attend EBEC 2009 - Europe's largest exhibition for the Biodiesel and Renewable Energy Industries. Doors open on Thursday at Stoneleigh Park, outside Coventry.

Countdown begins to Belfast Heating & Plumbing Show

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:12:00 GMT

There’s only a week to go until Northern Ireland’s inaugural Plumbing & Heating Trade Show at Belfast’s prestigious Ramada Hotel Shaw’s Bridge. Organised by Plumbing & Heating in Northern Ireland Magazine, the Trade Show brings together leading suppliers in Northern Ireland under one roof.

Save Cash and The Environment This Winter, says the Environment Agency

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:51:00 GMT

As people bulk buy fuel for the winter the Environment Agency in England and Wales has highlighted the need for homeowners and householders to store it safely and minimise the impact of oil upon the environment.

Building Control welcomes OFTEC Passport Initiative

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:23:00 GMT

Northern Ireland Building Control has given a warm welcome to the ‘Boiler Passport’ initiative, devised by The Oil Firing Technical Association in Northern Ireland in partnership with leading boiler manufacturers.

Consumer Council concerned at lack of competition in Ulster gas market

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:48:00 GMT

The Northern Ireland Consumer Council has welcomed a 19% price decrease by Ulster gas utility Phoenix Supply, but at the same time, expressed concern over the absence of any form of effective competition in the province’s gas market.

OFTEC introduces Boiler Passports in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:28:00 GMT

Oil boiler manufacturers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are now issuing a 'Boiler Passport, with every boiler manufactured.

Argent Energy acquired by Local Investors

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:35:00 GMT

Motherwell based Biodiesel supplier Argent Energy, has attracted new private investment and is now owned by a consortium which includes Souter Investments, the private investment company of the Souter family; plus existing managers.

Operating Profits Slump by 66% at Kingspan

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:47:00 GMT

Irish building products conglomerate Kingspan plc - better known within the oil heating industry as the manufacturer of heating oil tanks under the Armet, Atlas, Deso, Kingspan GSP, PC Rotomoulding, Roug, Titan Eko and Titan Environmental brands - has reported a 66% slump in operating profits for the 6 months ending 30 June 2009.

Hot Water Use Key To Cut CO2, says EST

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:49:00 GMT

Hot water use will remain a major cause of domestic carbon emissions - and could even overtake emissions from heating in new homes - unless action is taken to reduce demand and energy losses from inefficient boilers and poorly lagged pipes, says a new report.   

FPS and OFTEC publish Industry Briefing Note

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:33:00 GMT

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has issued a new Industry Briefing Note, which aims to provide assistance to Oil Heating Technicians who encounter problems with both Vapourising and Pressure Jet Burners.

APHC Online Works Notification Saves Kinetics �12,000!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:59:00 GMT

In the four months since the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors launched its comprehensive Online Works Notifications System, one of its largest members says the system has already saved them over �12,000

Freedom Association dares to 'Question the Unquestionable'

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:38:00 GMT

As almost any Oil Heating Technician will testify, the HVAC industry has been more affected than most sectors by Climate Change Legislation, originating from both Westminster and Brussels. In less than 20 years, Climate Change has evolved from being an obscure concern voiced by a small number of self styled 'scientists' to become possibly the fastest growing industry on earth.

Heating Oil Demand Fuels NWF Growth

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:47:00 GMT

Specialist commodity distributor NWF plc has reported strong profit growth, despite the current economic downturn, with the company's Fuels Division perfoming strongly in what Chairman Mark Hudson describes as 'near perfect market conditions'.

Technicians Should Lead The Way in Specifying CO Alarms

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:23:00 GMT

Every home with a gas, oil or solid-fuel appliance should have a carbon monoxide detector. And with one hundred and fifty million hours of time spent collectively in front of consumers a year, it's the plumbing and heating engineers that should be their best ambassadors, says The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering.