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 - Technical Supervisors must be able to demonstrate that they hold an in-date qualification from the list of MCS approved qualifications, or an in-date personnel certification (in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024).

Insurance - A minimum of £2 million public liability insurance will be required for all. For those involved in design activities, a minimum of £250,000 professional indemnity will be required and for those with employees, evidence of employers liability insurance will be needed.

Consumer Code Scheme - Consumer Code membership is now no longer mandatory, however, if you are installing under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), Consumer Code membership will need to be gained/maintained until the Customer Commitment is accepted as an alternative to Consumer Code membership under BUS.

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 processes, controls and records in place to meet the requirements your businesses MCS Operating Scenario (further details can be found in Appendix A of the MCS Installer Operating Requirements). 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 Pre-sale & System Performance Estimate Standards & Microgeneration Installation Standard. Your main contact and relevant technical supervisor must be available on the day of assessment.

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 30 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).

MCS assessments will follow a similar structure to how they are currently performed, but with slight changes. The Main Contact and Technical Supervisor responsible for the installation(s) must be available through out the assessment.

1) Service Delivery Checks: NAPIT will audit your processes and controls against the scenario requirements (A-D), applicable to the size and complexity of your companies MCS related activities. 

You can ascertain which scenario your company falls under, by reviewing the criteria within Appendix A of the Installer Operating Requirements and also use our MCS Operating Scenario calculator to estimate which scenario applies to the size and complexity of your company here.

2) Site Assessment: The assessor will require evidence to confirm your capability and capacity to deliver an installation, in compliance with the relevant Pre-sale Information and System Performance Estimate Standards (MCS 0xx) and MCS Installation Standard(s) (MIS 300x). 

Whilst under the new scheme Consumer Code membership will no longer be mandatory*, consumer protection is central to the redeveloped Scheme and is reflected in the MCS Customer Commitment.

A key new requirement for installers is to purchase an approved MCS financial protection product for every customer. Details of MCS approved financial protection products will be listed in a dedicated directory on the MCS website.

*Please note that DESNZ are currently reviewing the effectiveness of the MCS Customer Commitment for approval of it’s use in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). As a result, businesses who are BUS registered may be required to retain consumer code membership in the short term once they have transitioned to the redeveloped scheme. Once approved, installers can utilise the Customer Commitment or Consumer Code membership for installs delivered under BUS.

Questions? We’ve got you covered

We’ve compiled a comprehensive FAQ section This section addresses the most common queries that have been raised regarding the redeveloped scheme.

See the FAQ document here.

Below is a list of other resources, such as webinars or posts regarding the redeveloped scheme, which may provide additional information and can be recorded as Continuous Professional Development (CPD):