OFTEC Oil Firing (OFT101/105E) study plan
OFTEC Oil Firing (OFT101/105E) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Oil Storage, Supply and Fuel Properties & Health and Safety, Legislation and Industry Standards
Explain how fuel oil grades (kerosene, 28-second, 35-second gas oil) differ in viscosity, calorific value, sulphur and waxing behaviour, and state where each is typically used
Describe the legal and practical requirements for domestic oil storage: bunding, tank siting, fire separation distances, and secondary containment for tanks over 200 litres
Identify the supply-chain components (tank, filter, fire valve, isolating valve, de-aeration device, pipework) and state the purpose of each
Calculate the usable capacity and bund capacity needed for a given domestic tank installation scenario
Your checkpoint
A one-page annotated oil supply schematic plus a completed storage-compliance checklist covering 8 siting and bunding criteria
Oil Fired Appliances: Types, Construction and Operation & Combustion, Burner Components and Settings
Distinguish pressure-jet, vaporising and rotary-cup burner types by construction and operating principle, and match each to suitable appliance types
Trace the sequence of a pressure-jet burner through pre-purge, ignition, flame establishment and lockout, naming each component involved
Explain the roles of the oil pump, nozzle, electrodes, photocell, solenoid valve and control box in the combustion process
Interpret nozzle flow-rate and spray-angle markings and select a nozzle for a stated appliance output using a nozzle chart
Your checkpoint
A labelled burner component diagram with a written start-up sequence of at least 8 steps, plus three worked nozzle-selection calculations
Combustion, Burner Components and Settings & Oil Fired Appliances: Types, Construction and Operation
Set pump pressure, electrode gap and position, and air settings to manufacturer specification on a burner, and state the effect of each adjustment on combustion
Interpret flue gas readings (CO2, O2, CO, smoke number, flue temperature) and diagnose rich, lean and incomplete combustion from them
Describe the construction and operation of condensing and non-condensing oil boilers, including heat exchanger materials and condensate handling
Explain why correct combustion settings matter for efficiency, safety and compliance with emissions expectations
Your checkpoint
A combustion-diagnosis table matching 6 sets of flue readings to likely faults and the corrective adjustment for each
Installation of Oil Fired Appliances and Systems & Flues, Ventilation and Combustion Air
Apply siting and separation requirements for oil-fired appliances, including distances from combustible materials and protected openings
Size and specify combustion and ventilation air openings for a given appliance location, distinguishing ventilated and unventilated compartments
Describe flue options (conventional, balanced, room-sealed, condensing) and state terminal siting and clearance requirements for each
Explain the requirements for fire valves, remote emergency stops and their correct positioning in the oil line
Your checkpoint
A full installation plan for a fictional domestic boiler: appliance siting, oil line layout with fire valve position, flue route and terminal clearances, and ventilation opening sizes with calculations
Health and Safety, Legislation and Industry Standards & Electrical Controls, Safety Devices and Wiring
List the key legal duties and industry standards relevant to oil installation work, including notification, competence and records requirements
Identify the electrical safety requirements for oil-fired appliances: isolation, earthing, and separation of control and mains circuits
Trace a typical control circuit from programmer through thermostat, limit stat and burner control box, and explain the lockout and safety shutdown functions
Explain the purpose and testing of the fire valve, overheat thermostat, and flame-failure device in the safety chain
Your checkpoint
A wiring and safety-device schematic for a typical oil boiler with a written explanation of each safety shutdown path
Commissioning, Testing and Handover & Servicing, Fault Diagnosis and Repair
Carry out a commissioning sequence in the correct order: pre-checks, oil line pressure test, combustion analysis, and safety-device proving
Record commissioning results on a handover document, including flue readings, oil pressure, nozzle fitted and appliance output
Plan a routine service: list tasks, required tools and the checks that must be completed before and after cleaning
Diagnose common faults (lockout, poor flame, pump noise, air in line, water in tank) from symptoms and describe the repair path for each
Your checkpoint
A completed mock commissioning and handover record for a domestic boiler, plus a fault-finding flowchart covering 8 symptoms and their causes
Servicing, Fault Diagnosis and Repair & Oil Storage, Supply and Fuel Properties
Diagnose oil supply faults including blocked filters, failed fire valves, air ingress and tank contamination, and state the corrective action for each
Explain the causes and prevention of oil line air locks, and describe how de-aeration devices and correct pipe sizing reduce them
Evaluate a tank installation for contamination risk, water ingress and sludge, and recommend remedial measures
Describe the procedure for safely isolating, draining and recommissioning an oil supply system during repair
Your checkpoint
A written fault-report for three realistic supply-system scenarios, each with diagnosis, evidence, repair steps and post-repair checks
Health and Safety, Legislation and Industry Standards & Commissioning, Testing and Handover & Servicing, Fault Diagnosis and Repair
Consolidate weak areas identified from earlier weeks by re-testing each domain with timed practice questions
Explain, without notes, the full life cycle of an oil installation from survey through commissioning to service and handover
State the key legal, safety and combustion facts in a condensed revision sheet you can recall under exam conditions
Complete a full timed mock exam and review every incorrect answer to identify the underlying knowledge gap
Your checkpoint
A timed mock exam result with a written review of every wrong answer and a personal revision sheet of no more than two pages
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain the pressure-jet burner start-up sequence and select a nozzle from a chart without reference material
Week 4: Can produce a compliant installation plan covering siting, oil line, flue and ventilation with correct calculations
Week 6: Can complete a commissioning record and diagnose at least 6 common faults from symptoms alone
Week 8: Achieve a pass mark on the timed mock exam and have a written remediation note for every incorrect answer