Operation comprises the use, maintenance and repairs of pressure equipment. Owners and holders of pressure equipment are responsible for operation, upkeep, chimney-sweeping and inspections related to operation. Hot-water boilers, oil burners and oil tanks shall be accompanied by instructions for operation, maintenance and installation, which the installer of the equipment hands over to the occupant of the single-family house after adding its own equipment installation certificate. Underwater oil tanks in important groundwater areas shall be inspected periodically by an operator deemed qualified by Tukes. The first inspection shall take place ten years after introduction and the times of subsequent inspections are determined on the basis of the condition rating given to the tank in the first inspection.
Removal from use is the final stage of the lifecycle of house boilers. Removal from use refers to the scrapping of boilers or termination of pressure-bearing use. Reasons for removal from use include problems in operation or the market entry of new, more efficient equipment. Changes in fuel may also call for replacement of equipment.
Energy companies deliver boiler fuel such as heating oil or natural gas to consumers. In most cases, solid fuel is obtained from the user’s own forest.
Maintenance companies are responsible for the upkeep of heating-related equipment in housing companies.
Chimney-sweeps shall sweep the fireplaces/chimneys of solid fuel boilers once a year and those of oil boilers every two years. The owners/holders of pressure equipment are responsible for ordering chimney-sweeping.