The short answer
HETAS is the official body recognised in the UK for solid fuel, wood and biomass heating, running a competent person scheme for installers and registers for sweeps and serviced products. You need a HETAS-registered installer when you carry out controlled work under Approved Document J on a solid-fuel system — chiefly installing or replacing a stove, relining or fitting a flue, or building a hearth — because a registered installer can self-certify and notify the work without a separate building control application and issue a certificate. You do not need HETAS for ordinary repointing, flashing or pot repairs, which are maintenance, nor for gas work, which must be done by a Gas Safe engineer instead.
HETAS sits alongside building control as the route to certify solid-fuel chimney and appliance work. Here is what it covers.
HETAS at a glance
- Coverssolid fuel, wood, biomass
- Scheme typecompetent person scheme
- Needed forstoves, flues, relining
- Not forgas (use Gas Safe)
- Outputcertificate of compliance
What HETAS is
HETAS is the body recognised by government for the solid fuel, wood and biomass sector. It operates a competent person scheme under the Building Regulations, which means a HETAS-registered installer can certify their own work as compliant with Approved Document J and notify it to building control on your behalf. HETAS also maintains registers of approved chimney sweeps and lists approved appliances and fuels, and provides training and guidance. Using a HETAS-registered installer is not a legal requirement in itself, but it is the simplest way to make sure solid-fuel work is compliant and properly documented.
When you need a HETAS installer
You need a HETAS-registered installer — or a building control application — whenever you do controlled solid-fuel work. The common cases are installing or replacing a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, relining the chimney or fitting a new flue, opening up and bringing a fireplace back into use, and constructing or altering a hearth. In each case the installation must meet Approved Document J on flue sizing, hearth construction, air supply and protection from heat. A registered installer handles the certification and gives you a certificate of compliance, which proves the work was notified.
| Work | HETAS route applies? |
|---|---|
| Installing a wood-burning stove | Yes — solid fuel, controlled work |
| Relining a flue for solid fuel | Yes — controlled work |
| Repointing the stack | No — maintenance |
| Renewing flashing or a pot | No — maintenance |
| Fitting a gas fire | No — use Gas Safe instead |
Indicative; HETAS covers solid fuel and biomass, not gas. Sources: HETAS; gov.uk Approved Document J.
HETAS sweeps and what it does not cover
Alongside installers, HETAS lists approved chimney sweeps who have met its training standards, which can help when you want a sweep's certificate for an insurer. It is worth being clear about the limits: HETAS is for solid fuel, wood and biomass, so gas appliances and flues are outside it and must be handled by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. Simple repair and maintenance — repointing, replacing a pot, renewing flashing or a cowl — is not controlled work and does not need a HETAS installer at all. Where the work is controlled, you always have the alternative of a building control application if your installer is not registered.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a legal requirement to use a HETAS installer?
No. The legal requirement is that controlled solid-fuel work complies with the Building Regulations. A HETAS-registered installer is the simplest way to meet that, but you can instead make a building control application.
Does HETAS cover gas fires and flues?
No. HETAS covers solid fuel, wood and biomass. Gas appliances and their flues must be installed and serviced by a Gas Safe-registered engineer, which is the equivalent scheme for gas work.
Do I need HETAS to have my chimney swept?
No. Anyone can sweep a chimney, but using a sweep listed by HETAS, the NACS or the Guild of Master Sweeps gives you a recognised certificate that insurers often prefer.
Sources & further reading
- HETAS — official body for solid fuel, wood and biomass
- gov.uk — Approved Document J (combustion appliances and fuel storage systems)
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific chimney. They are guidance, not a quotation.