HETAS What do they do?

Which of the following statements do you think is correct?

1. Competent retailers, installers, service engineers, and chimney sweeps must all be (HETAS) registered.
2. HETAS is the governing body of the solid fuel industry in the UK
3. HETAS is the national organisation working for consumer safety and the wider public interest in safe, efficient and environmentally responsible use of biomass and other solid fuels.

Answer..none of them! Surprised? These are all statements drawn from popular websites across the web. The last one is from HETAS own site.

In order

1. "Must all be HETAS registered". Nonsense! The Competency schemes run by HETAS are recognised by government but are by far not the only ones. With regard to stove/chimney installation, competency schemes are also run by Oftec, APHC, BESCA, certsure, NAPIT and stroma. They confer the same advantages as the HETAS scheme, pricipally allowing self certification by engineers and bypassing the building warrant system in ENGLAND and WALES. Trade organisations for chimney sweeps have a long and illustrious background and specialise in their task. (Guild of master sweeps, NACS )
2. "Governing body..UK" Nonsense! This is why I have capitalised ENGLAND and WALES above. The ONLY advantage membership of a competent persons scheme confers on its members is the ability to "Self certify", bypassing the need to refer to local authorities for building standards approval. However NO SUCH SCHEME with regard to solid fuel installation exists in SCOTLAND. Basically if a warrant is required for works....a warrant is required for works!
3. "The national organisation.." Aaargh! That word "National" again. Pay attention. The below is a statement in Scottish Building Standards

"There are other organisations representing the solid fuel industry but neither they nor HETAS have a mandatory status"

So if a HETAS engineer carries out works in Scotland that require a building warrant, and he doesn't apply for one, he is breaking the law!