OFTEC (OFTEC)
The competent-person scheme for oil-fired heating engineers. Last reviewed April 2026 by the TradeMatch editorial team.
OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) is the UK's leading trade body for oil-fired heating, established in 1991 and authorised as a competent-person scheme under the Building Regulations. OFTEC technicians can self-certify replacement oil boilers, oil tanks and biomass installations against Building Regs Part J (combustion appliances) and Part L (energy efficiency). OFTEC has also expanded into renewable heating: registered technicians can certify air-source and ground-source heat-pump installations, sitting alongside MCS for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
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What does OFTEC cover?
OFTEC covers oil firing (kerosene / heating oil), biomass appliances and renewable liquid fuels. It also covers heat pumps via the OFTEC Renewable Heating registration. OFTEC does NOT cover gas (Gas Safe), solid fuel (HETAS) or electrical installations (NICEIC). OFTEC issues a CD/10 commissioning certificate for replacement oil boilers — the oil-equivalent of a Gas Safe CP12 — required for landlord compliance and home sales.
Verifying a OFTEC-registered tradesperson
- OFTEC registration number on photo ID card — verify at oftec.org
- CD/10 commissioning certificate issued for any oil-boiler replacement (lodged with Local Authority by OFTEC)
- For heat-pump install — OFTEC + MCS dual-certification needed for the BUS grant
OFTEC applies to these trades
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Every job, every payment, every time. Funds held in a segregated client account until you sign off the work.
- Held in escrowFrom the moment the deposit clears until the job is signed off.
- Released on sign-offFunds release within 24 hours of you confirming the work is done to spec.
- Disputed = frozenIf something is wrong, the payment freezes pending review by our resolution team.
TradeMatch escrow operates through FCA-regulated payment providers. Customer funds are segregated from operating accounts and protected under UK consumer law.
OFTEC FAQ
Is OFTEC mandatory for oil-boiler work?
Like Gas Safe for gas, OFTEC is the practical legal route for oil-boiler installation in the UK — non-OFTEC installers must notify Building Control individually. In practice almost all working oil engineers are OFTEC-registered.
Does OFTEC overlap with MCS for heat pumps?
They overlap deliberately. OFTEC offers heat-pump registration as an alternative to MCS for non-grant work. For the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, the install must be MCS-certified — OFTEC alone is not sufficient. Many engineers carry both.
Can OFTEC replace my old oil tank?
Yes — OFTEC engineers can certify oil tank installations against Part J fire safety, oil-storage regulations and the relevant SEPA / Environment Agency rules. Most oil-tank work in the UK is done under OFTEC self-certification.
Where do I find an OFTEC engineer?
oftec.org public register; or post on TradeMatch and you will receive only verified-OFTEC quotes for oil work, with escrow protection on the deposit.
Why OFTEC verification matters before any deposit
Lapsed accreditations are the most common silent failure on UK trade hires — registrations expire annually and not every trader updates their listing. Always verify the OFTEC number on the public register on the day you sign, not at first meeting. On TradeMatch, every OFTEC-registered tradesperson is independently re-checked before they can quote on your job, and the registration link is shown on their profile so you can confirm yourself.
Get a OFTEC-Verified Quote
Up to 5 quotes from UK tradespeople — every OFTEC-relevant member independently verified by TradeMatch. Escrow-protected payments. Reviews tied to completed jobs only.
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