A study, conducted by Dynamic Markets for meter manufacturer Itron, revealed that in the last three years 29 per cent of meter installers have had to address problems with the incorrect installation of the heat meter.
The report also revealed that, of the installers surveyed, more than half (55 per cent) had not received formal heat meter installation training.
The most common problems that had to be rectified were issue installing the meter itself (16 per cent), temperature sensors not installed correctly (14 per cent), and dirt getting into the system (10 per cent).
Bernard McWeeney, water and heat manager at Itron, said that with the industry “flourishing” as a result of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the need for a high standard of training is “a serious issue”.
He told Utility Week: “If three people read those documents they would potentially would come to different conclusions over what the requirements were.
“It is very important that everybody is clear on what is required and training and what is required is part of that.”
The Department for Energy and Climate said they are interested to any hear details about an industry-led code of best practice or standards that could be implemented across the sector.