Austrian tiled stove association
The Austrian Tiled Stove Association is a non-profit association that on the one hand conducts research on the topic of tiled stoves and on the other hand informs the public about the results and innovations. Membership in the association is voluntary, with both the stove and the supplier industry represented. The association was founded in 1953 and its headquarters have remained in Vienna since then.
General
Members of the Austrian Tiled Stove Association are the nine provincial guilds and the federal guild of pottery makers, tile and tile layers and ceramists, and thus around 600 pottery firms throughout Austria. It also has around 50 major industrial companies among its members.
Experimental and research institute of the Hafner
Since it was founded, the association has operated its own research facility, the VFH - the Hafner Experimental and Research Institute. This is the only facility in the world with a clear focus on tiled stoves. The VFH is known and recognized beyond the borders of Austria. The focus of activities is on the constant improvement of the combustion quality and materials as well as research into the health aspects of heating devices. The VFH is an accredited and notified testing center for ovens and stoves in Brussels. She also chairs the European standardization committee for tiled stoves and is responsible for the development of the first European standard EN 15544 "Fixed tiled stoves / plaster stoves - design".
Services
The services of the association can be divided into the fields of activity technology (VFH), training and further education, public relations and specialist conference / trade fair. The focus in the field of technology includes research, development and innovation as well as technical advice, European-recognized testing and standardization work. As part of training and further education, the association holds courses in preparation for the master craftsman's examination and provides training in technical matters, such as B. Fire protection and energy certification for buildings. The main focus of public relations work is PR, lobbying and image advertising for the product tiled stove and the profession of stove. The highlight of the year is KOK Austria, the European trade fair for tiled stoves and home ceramics with a technical conference, which will be held in mid / end of January on the exhibition grounds in Wels. With around 2,500 visitors and well over 100 exhibitors, this event is by far the most important for the tiled stove industry in Europe.
Networking
The Austrian Tiled Stove Association attaches great importance to national and international cooperation. He is a member of VEUKO, the association of the European associations of the stove / tiled stove building trade and also looks after its secretariat. There is also close contact with North America through the Masonry Heater Association (MHA). Important national partners are the Ministry of Life through the klima: aktiv initiative, the Austrian Biomass Association and ACR, the association of cooperative research institutes. In addition, the association plays a leading role in national and international standardization (ÖNORM or CEN, ASTM) for space heating devices.