If you are installing microgeneration technologies in the UK, then you are likely to be dealing with customers who will want to claim payments under Government incentives, such as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). For a list of other financial incentive schemes which apply to microgeneration technologies, please visit OFGEM’s website for more information.

All microgeneration installations are classed as notifiable works under the Building Regulations (England and Wales) and your NAPIT membership will allow you to notify through the Competent Person Scheme (CPS).

Relevant Standards - MCS Installer Standards. There are also Engineering Recommendations to meet for grid connections (for exporting electricity). These are available on the MCS Installer Standards page of the MCS website.

Legal Requirements - There are a wide range of regulatory requirements relating to microgeneration work, including planning, environmental and Building Regulations specific to the UK region where the installation takes place. More information can be found on the MCS website.

Qualifications - The competence requirements for MCS are covered by compliance with the standard MCS025. This includes the experienced worker route (see Page 7).

Insurance - Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) approved consumer code schemes require members to have suitable liability insurance and to provide insurance-backed workmanship warranty for all consumer work.

Consumer Code Scheme - In order to provide consumer confidence, it is a requirement that installers be a member of Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) approved Consumer Code Scheme.

Instruments - You or your employees must have access to sufficient instruments to carry out tests relevant to your scope of work as well as an in date calibration certificate for you or your employees equipment where applicable.

Technical Reference Documents - You or your employees must hold some, and have access to other, documents relevant to the type of work carried out, all of which are detailed on the MCS website.

Inspection - You or your employees will need to demonstrate that you have the policies, procedures and records in place to meet the requirements of MCS 001-01. You or your employees must also make available an installation which demonstrates the ability to undertake the supply, design and installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of the system in compliance with the relevant Microgeneration Installation Standard.

Notification - In England and Wales, Building Regulations self-certification must be carried out by notifying NAPIT within 21 days of completion of an installation. A Building Regulations Compliance Certificate will be issued to cover the work and the relevant Local Authority will be automatically updated. All MCS work must also be registered on the MCS Installation Database within 10 days of commissioning a system (this is not a NAPIT system and must be accessed separately).

Website Listing - Once successfully certified, your business will be added to the MCS Installer search facility as well as the NAPIT online search facility.

MCS Approval with NAPIT can allow you or your employees to self-certify the microgeneration installation work completed without any further scheme fees or assessment. However, additional fees and assessment do apply if scheme work extends beyond the installation of microgeneration technologies (such as new circuits or hot water storage, etc).

To carry out renewable work on energy efficiency programmes covered by PAS 2035 (such as ECO) you do not need PAS 2030 certification because PAS 2035 specifies that those systems comply with the relevant MCS standards.