MCS, which describes itself as the standards organisation for small-scale domestic renewable energy and heating across the UK, has appointed the British Assessment Bureau (BAB) as a certification body for the installation of small-scale renewables1. BAB became UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited in June 2023 to assess the work of contractors to the requirements of MCS standards1. MCS announced the appointment on 26 July 20231.
The accreditation covers assessments for solar PV, battery storage, solar heating, and the design and installation of air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP)1. MCS said BAB is the third certification body it has appointed in the last year, following more than a decade without new appointments1. It said BAB's existing client base and new industry entrants can now become certified to install low-carbon technologies1.
"We are very pleased to announce the new partnership between MCS and BAB as we work together to reach our joint goals of providing consumer confidence and meeting the scale of government decarbonisation ambitions."
Julian Russell, Chief Product Officer of Amtivo, said the team had worked hard to achieve the accreditation in a short amount of time, and that MCS certification complements BAB's existing services and will work together with PAS 20301. The announcement did not state how many contractors BAB expects to certify, what the assessment fees are, or when the first certifications through BAB will be issued; those details have not been reported1.
| Technology covered by BAB's MCS accreditation |
|---|
| Solar PV |
| Battery storage |
| Solar heating |
| Air source heat pumps (design and installation) |
| Ground source heat pumps |
Why it matters for households
MCS certification is the route by which installers of small-scale renewables are assessed against agreed standards, and it is the certification that sits behind consumer protection arrangements for domestic work of this kind. For a household considering MCS Certification for Solar PV Installations, the practical effect of a new certification body is a wider pool of contractors able to hold certification, and therefore more choice of who can carry out an installation to those standards. The technologies listed in BAB's accreditation also cover heating, which falls under Heating Appliance Standards, Marking and Certification, so the same assessment route now extends to heat pump design and installation as well as solar.
For a home's energy independence, the significance is indirect but real: certification is what allows an installation to be recognised as meeting a defined standard, which in turn underpins access to some government schemes and to grid-related permissions. MCS framed the appointment as a way to expand its industry reach and grow the number of certified contractors delivering installations1. Whether that translates into more certified installers in any particular area, or into shorter waiting times, is not addressed in the announcement1.
What happens next
No dated next steps were set out in the announcement. Contractors interested in certification through BAB were directed to request a quote from the bureau1. MCS said it is looking to redevelop its scheme, without giving a timetable1.
Sources1 cited
- MCS appoints BAB as a Certification Body - MCS, mcscertified.com