Technical and standards manager is the newly-created job at HETAS filled by Robert Burke, a former president of the British Flue and Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA).
Burke's new job at the government-backed approval body for solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services, gives him responsibility for regulations and standards and managing appliance approvals and certification.

He will be involved in the new HETAS Microgeneration Certification Scheme. HETAS, based in Stoke Orchard in Gloucestershire, plans to launch a Microgeneration Certification Scheme for appliance manufacturers and installers.

Burke's new post was created in response to a growing workload and demand from more and more appliance manufacturers seeking HETAS approval.

The new recruit's BFCMA presidency resulted in him helping shape standards for chimneys and flues- he successfully lobbied government to include secondary heating in the 2005 SAP calculations.

Burke said developing the HETAS guide, which details all approved appliances, was a major priority in his new job.

'New, high efficiency biomass appliances are being launched all the time, and it's a challenge to keep consumers, installers and specifiers up to date with approved appliances', said Burke, previously a technical manager for Red Bank Manufacturing.

A new version of the HETAS guide is scheduled to be released by the end of 2009.