The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched their first course with the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS)
The course is designed to provide training to support the HNTAS.
The HNTAS is a scheme being phased in slowly once policy proposal consultations are finished and the scheme is finalised.
Introducing the HNTAS
The first course, titled ‘Introduction to Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme’, is intended to be the first of many courses supporting the scheme.
HNTAS will eventually bring in mandatory minimum technical standards for all heat networks in Great Britain, improving performance, efficiency, reliability, consumer protections, and heat policy ambitions.
The initial course therefore focuses on introducing the HNTAS and the reasoning for the scheme, covering elements of heat networks, roles, and responsibilities under the scheme.
Jill Nicholls, BESA director of competence and compliance, said: “The launch of this training is a major step forward for industry readiness.
“HNTAS will become a crucial framework for compliance and performance, and BESA is delighted to be able to deliver the training that will make sure our industry is ready.”
“The future success of this critical low carbon technology depends on having a fully trained, competent workforce. This will also ensure a better experience for heat network end users.”
Shifting sands for building engineering
Earlier this month, the BESA released a statement calling for more urgent attention to be given to overheating buildings.
Using data from the Met Office, Imperial College London, and Friends of the Earth, they highlighted that, as of 19 August, the UK has experienced the longest period of time on record with temperatures above average, at 79 days.
Furthermore, nearly 5,000 neighbourhoods in England regularly suffer from heat stress, around a third of the country, and including 1,000 hospitals and 10,000 children’s nurseries and care homes.
In London, 263 people died from the heat in June alone, and by 2050 it is estimated that there may be more than 10,000 heat-related deaths form heatwaves.
BESA say urgent action is required to prevent this.
Technical director Kevin Morrissey, said: “There are multiple technical solutions available, including both passive and mechanical cooling systems.
“However, to ensure these reach the most vulnerable in our society, cooling must now become a central part of the UK’s push to decarbonise the built environment, which continues to focus primarily on how we heat buildings.
“Adapting the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to support wider adoption of heat pumps that provide cooling in summer as well as heating would be a positive and easy first step.”
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