Here at Gr8Fires, we do not carry out installations. We focus on selling wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves at the best possible prices (backed by our lowest price guarantee). So, when you buy a stove from us you will need to find somebody to install it for you.
Let’s not forget, when you install a woodburner, you’re going to want to ensure that poisonous gases are sealed into the system and do not seep into your house. You’re also doing it to meet the building regulations relating to stove installations.
So, you need a competent installer who will help you to achieve both of those things. Fortunately, the government runs a series of competent person schemes, which allow installers who have joined the scheme to self-certify their work. This avoids the need to have to pay your local building control office to inspect and certify that the work meets building regulations.
Here are the competent person schemes currently in operation whose members are able to self-certify woodburner installations. Many of these bodies offer search functions on their websites to allow you to locate a registered installer in your area by either place name or postcode.
APHC
Full name: Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
Telephone: 0121 7115030
Benchmark
Full name: Benchmark Certification Limited
Telephone: 0238 0517069
BESCA
Full name: Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment Limited
Telephone: 0800 652 5533
ELECSA
Full name: Certsure LLP trading as ELECSA or NICEIC
Telephone: 0845 634 9043 or 01582 531000
HETAS
Full name: HETAS Limited
Telephone: 01684 278170
NAPIT
Full name: NAPIT Registration Limited
Telephone: 0345 5430330
OFTEC
Full name: Oil Firing Technical Association Limited
Telephone: 0845 6585080
Stroma
Full name: Stroma Certification Limited
Telephone: 0845 621 1111
It is worth investing a bit of time to read up on the various merits of these schemes to check on their particular specialisms. For instance, some schemes have a stronger focus on biomass installations than others, while some specialise in wet installations (i.e. for boiler stoves) and others do not.