MCS announced on 1 December 2022 that The IAA has joined the scheme as a new contractor certification body, described as the first new-to-scheme certifier in over 10 years1. The IAA is UKAS accredited to assess the work of its contractors against the MCS standards1.
The IAA brings a 140-strong membership base, and both existing members and new entrants to the industry can apply through it to become certified to install small-scale renewables1. The technologies covered are the design and installation of air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP), plus the installation of solar PV and solar heating1. MCS said the partnership is intended to expand its industry reach and grow the number of MCS certified installers, which it put at 2,673 at the time of the announcement1.
On timing, The IAA said the onboarding process can begin once installers have confirmed they are signed up to a consumer code, and that audit-ready installers can be onboarded in 12 working days1.
"The IAA have joined MCS as a new contractor certification body, the first in over 10 years."
Ian Rippin, chief executive of MCS, said the two organisations share "complementary visions on decarbonisation and meeting the scale of government retrofit targets by 2050", and that working with certification bodies provides "real confidence in quality renewable technologies to consumers"1. Ron Fenwick, head of certification at The IAA, said the body would "continue to deliver the Government's net zero targets through our Right First Time ethos"1. Simona Marcucci, head of customer operations at The IAA, said the team looks forward to "building a strong working relationship with MCS"1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | 1 December 20221 |
| New certification body | The IAA1 |
| Accreditation | UKAS accredited to assess contractors against MCS standards1 |
| IAA membership base | 1401 |
| Technologies covered | ASHP and GSHP design and installation; solar PV and solar heating installation1 |
| MCS certified installers at announcement | 2,6731 |
| Onboarding time, if audit-ready | 12 working days1 |
Why it matters for households
For a household considering a heat pump or solar installation, the certification body is the organisation that checks an installer's work against the MCS standards. MCS certification is the route by which installations become eligible for certain government incentives, and it is the marker most commonly used to identify a competent installer. Adding a second certification body widens the number of routes by which an installer can become certified, which in principle increases the pool of certified firms a household can choose from. The IAA states that its assurance framework gives homeowners confidence that work is carried out to the highest standards and is done "right first time"1. The announcement does not change the standards themselves, only who assesses against them. Households weighing MCS certification for solar PV or for heat pumps are still looking for the same certification mark; what changes is which body issued it.
What happens next
The IAA said installers can begin the onboarding process once they have confirmed they are signed up to a consumer code, and that audit-ready installers can be onboarded in 12 working days1. No further dates were given in the announcement. MCS has not reported any change to the number of certified installers since the figure of 2,673 given on 1 December 20221.
Sources1 cited
- MCS appoints The IAA as a new contractor certification body - MCS, mcscertified.com