HETAS stands for the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme, a program established in the UK to certify professionals in chimney sweeping, wood stove, pellet stove, and fireplace installation. While in the USA the word “scheme” has a negative connotation, it does not carry such a negative connotation in Europe or England. It simply refers to a structured plan or system.
The HETAS certification, recognizable by its distinctive triple-checkmark logo in three colors, is considered the gold standard of expertise within the UK chimney industry. However, it’s important to note a key distinction: in the UK, chimney sweeps are not authorized to work on gas appliances unless they obtain separate qualifications from a different certifying body. To legally service gas appliances, professionals must be “Gas Safe Registered,” holding a current ACS (Assessment of Competence) certificate. This certification ensures they are fully trained to handle gas systems safely, as required by UK law.
After exploring several developed nations in Central Europe and the UK, the author believes that adopting a model like HETAS for education, training, and certification could significantly enhance standards in the U.S. chimney industry.
For more information, visit the HETAS website.
In the United States, the chimney sweep industry has struggled with fragmented leadership and disagreements over which certification is “the best.” However, after spending seven months in Europe, the author suggests that U.S. industry leaders have been too focused on comparing themselves to each other rather than evaluating their position in the global market. This inward focus has hindered the development of a robust, long-term strategy for training chimney sweeps and ensuring the profession’s health over the next century.
The author recommends leveraging the expertise of experienced U.S. chimney sweeps and installers by establishing onshore training programs.
Imagine this: a retiring, seasoned chimney sweep opens a training center, offering monthly courses designed and approved by a certifying body. These approved trainers, working in accredited facilities, deliver high-quality, standardized instruction to new students nationwide. This hands-on training model could provide timely access to in-depth learning opportunities—not cheap, but effective.
While digital and virtual reality training has its place, it cannot replace the value of hands-on experience. By combining cutting-edge digital resources with the knowledge and skills of retiring industry veterans, the U.S. chimney sweep industry can bridge the gap between seasoned professionals and new recruits. This approach would make training easily accessible, both online and in-person, ensuring fast, practical learning with trusted trainers. This model, inspired by HETAS in the UK, has already proven its effectiveness.
HETAS’s success stems from its practical approach to training. It provides training materials to experienced professionals who operate approved training centers. These centers must meet rigorous standards, including the installation of mock and functional chimney setups (“rigs”). These rigs allow students to practice real-world scenarios, such as handling chimney liners, troubleshooting smoke chambers, and even retrieving a disconnected chimney brush lodged deep in a flue.
The author’s personal experience attending the HETAS H009 Sweeping Course in Wigan, England, highlights the program’s impact. At a training center, participants were immersed in a full-day session combining digital presentations with hands-on practice. The facility featured over 15 chimney rigs, some fully functional, offering students a realistic and challenging learning environment.
This blend of theoretical and practical training ensures that new chimney sweeps not only understand the concepts but also gain confidence in applying their skills.
See this video of the author being instructed on how to light a proper British fire in a freestanding coal stove at the Wigan HETAS training center owned by David Sudworth.
Adopting a similar model in the U.S. could transform chimney sweep training, ensuring the industry thrives for generations to come.
The chimney sweep industry in the U.S. is filled with independent, entrepreneurial professionals. By the time these individuals reach their 50s and 60s, they’ve accumulated a wealth of knowledge, mastered countless chimney configurations, and participated in numerous trade shows. Why should all this experience and knowledge walk out the industry door with no trailing legacy? Why not harness this knowledge to train and inspire the next generation of chimney sweeps?
The HETAS model provides a solution. It creates opportunities for retiring chimney sweeps to transition into training roles, sharing their expertise with newcomers to the trade. This approach allows these seasoned professionals to establish training centers on their own property, eliminating the need for extensive travel to CSIA headquarters to train for a week. For less than $25,000, trainers can set up a fully equipped training center in their own shop, enabling them to teach as many or as few courses as they desire.
Profits from these training sessions are shared equally between the trainers and the certifying body, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement. Trainers enjoy a steady income while the industry meets its need for hands-on instruction. This model also addresses the growing demand for practical, localized training across the U.S.
While this approach isn’t cheap, it’s a practical, convenient, and high-quality solution to a pressing challenge in the chimney sweep industry. By embracing the HETAS model, the U.S. can tap into the entrepreneurial instincts of retiring professionals, ensuring their legacy and expertise continue to benefit the industry for years to come.
When compared to global standards, U.S. chimney sweep and fireplace installation certifications lack…well…”Umph” Unlike the certifications in many first-world countries, the U.S. lacks comprehensive requirements such as:
Midtown Chimney Sweeps, a nationwide franchise with operations in over 10 states, has already incorporated elements of the HETAS model, along with best practices from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. While Midtown has developed an effective system for training and rapidly deploying chimney sweep technicians, it remains a business, not a training institution. The responsibility to establish and enforce robust, hands-on training and certification standards lies with the industry’s leading organizations: the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG).
Currently, the CSIA offers a week-long training and certification program, which is a solid starting point for new chimney sweeps. However, the NCSG provides no hands-on training and relies on virtual reality tools and a 100-question exam for certification. Copperfield Academy is the only recurring training program offering hands-on instruction, but as a private, profit-driven entity focused on selling chimney products, it doesn’t fully address the broader industry needs.
The lack of robust, hands-on training from U.S. credentialing bodies highlights a significant gap. The HETAS model from the UK offers a proven, decentralized approach that could fill this void. By empowering experienced professionals to establish local training centers, the industry could ensure new chimney sweeps receive practical, field-tested education which is critical in maintaining safety for our customers and their homes.
Midtown Chimney Sweeps receives inquiries every month from aspiring technicians-to-be seeking access to our training system. This demand underscores the need for the CSIA and NCSG to adopt a similar model. A decentralized training system, inspired by HETAS, would enhance professionalism, improve safety standards, and provide the reliable training the U.S. chimney industry sorely needs.
The author urges U.S. industry leaders to consider this approach and invites collaboration to make the chimney sweep profession safer, more reliable, and better trained.
Authors and contact email for more information:
Christina Smith, christina@midtownsweeps.com
Byron Schramm, byron@midtownsweeps.com
To read more from the author Byron Schramm, click here.
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