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OFTEC set to pursue an 'All Ireland' agenda
24th February 2005
There"s been a mixed response to the decision by The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) - the training, standards and registration agency for the oil heating industry throughout the British Isles - to establish OFTEC "Ireland".
Until recently, OFTEC had operated largely on a British Isles wide basis, but following the establishment of OFTEC Ireland, appears to have largely ditched that approach in favour of pursuing an "All Ireland" agenda. OFTEC Ireland will be manned by David Blevings in affiliation with the Northern Ireland Oil Federation, Peter Conway from the Oil Promotion Federation of Ireland and James McGreer.
According to OFTEC"s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Gales "For some time now we"ve recognised the need to develop stronger links between the distribution and installer trades. Bringing together the combined skills of NIOF, OPFI and OFTEC cements the bonds between distributors and technicians to provide a one stop heating solution for the customer."
However, one Ulster installer who contacted Oilfiredup.com, seemed genuinely baffled and concerned at the motivations behind the creation of OFTEC Ireland and the pursuance of an "All Ireland" approach by OFTEC.
Noting the differences in the industry between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the comment was made "In Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, different installers install equipment supplied by different suppliers in accordance with different regulations enforced by different authorities and those installations will be fuelled by oil supplied by different distributors and invoiced in different currencies."
Similar sentiments were expressed by several other installers who made contact with Oilfiredup.com, who despite working at the "sharp end" of the industry, simply could see little benefit in OFTEC"s "All Ireland" approach.
In response, OFTEC commented "Thankfully we still live in a democracy where different views and opinions can be expressed! That said, the overall response to OFTEC Ireland from manufacturers and technicians in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic has been extremely positive."
"OFTEC recognises that the markets and regulations for oil heating and cooking are quite different in Ireland to England and Wales, and indeed Scotland for that matter. Because oil installations account for around 76% of heating systems in Northern Ireland and 36% in the Republic, there is clearly a need for a local office staffed by local people with local knowledge."
"OFTEC doesn"t make the rules - part of our brief is to help interpret the rules and maintain high standards for training, installation and manufacturing. For example, OFTEC Ireland is already working with trading standards in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic to resolve the problem of non-compliant boilers. OFTEC Ireland is also actively seeking funding for the training of installers/service technicians, and there will be more news to follow on this very soon."
"In short, there has been a demand for some time to establish a dedicated part of OFTEC for Ireland. With the threat from gas through subsidies and network expansion, it"s surely time that we all pull together to ensure the survival of a healthy oil heating and cooking industry."
However, despite the reference made by OFTEC to installers in England, Scotland and Wales, it is not known whether OFTEC intends to afford similar levels of representation to installers in other regions of the British Isles, as those apparently being afforded to the oil heating industry in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Even amongst those generally supportive of the initiative, concern has been expressed at OFTEC"s commitment to OFTEC Ireland. An installer based in the Republic of Ireland commented ""2 part timers, 2 phone lines and 2 laptops. Is this really the best OFTEC
can do for the oil heating industry in Ireland?"
In response, OFTEC commented "Again, everyone is entitled to the own view, but this is one of those situations that you just can"t win!"
"OFTEC Ireland has only just started, and in the most cost effective way possible - by working together with existing credible organisations such as the NIOF and OPFI. In time, as the market develops and Technician numbers rise, OFTEC Ireland will probably expand."
"If we had opened a brand new office staffed by goodness knows how many full time staff, I"m sure OFTEC would have been criticised for that instead!"
Time will certainly tell whether OFTEC Ireland makes a significant difference to the development of the oil heating industry throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and whether or not the resources being invested in the initiative could have been much better deployed elsewhere.
However, despite OFTEC"s confidence that OFTEC Ireland can and will make a difference to the development of oil heating industry across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is evident that at least some installers, remain to be convinced.
