MCS published an installer announcement on 27 November 2024 describing progress on the redevelopment of its certification scheme, following an open letter from chief executive Ian Rippin in June1. The announcement states that a new MCS website will launch in January 2025 and that scheme documents for the redeveloped scheme will be published at the same time, with the existing documents remaining available1.
The published documents will cover four areas: Installer Operating Requirements, described as the framework for maintaining MCS certification; Customer Commitment, covering responsibilities to protect and safeguard consumers and to adhere to consumer protection laws; MCS Installation Standards; and Pre-sale Information and System Performance Estimate Standards1. MCS states that the technical requirements are not changing from those in the current MCS Installation Standards, but have been restructured and streamlined to be more focused as "technical truths"1. The pre-sale and system performance requirements also exist today, but have been separated into technology-specific standards to improve clarity1.
"Until MCS and your CB confirms the availability of the redeveloped scheme and the timescales for transition, your business will remain under the current scheme requirements."
That means installers must maintain membership of a consumer code and continue to purchase Insurance Backed Guarantees in the meantime1. MCS expects a rolling transition period which will likely last 12 to 18 months, but states that these timescales are not yet clear1. After the January publication, MCS will work with certification bodies on updating their accreditation for the redeveloped scheme from the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), and the timeline for that depends on UKAS1.
| Document | What MCS says it covers |
|---|---|
| Installer Operating Requirements | Framework for maintaining MCS certification |
| Customer Commitment | Consumer protection responsibilities and complaints route |
| MCS Installation Standards | Technical standards for system design and installation |
| Pre-sale Information and System Performance Estimate Standards | System performance estimates and pre-sale information |
Why it matters for households
MCS certification is the route by which most domestic renewable installations, including heat pumps and solar, are recognised for government grant funding, and the installer requirements for grants and funded schemes rest on that certification. The announcement does not change what a household is sold or how a system is designed and installed: MCS states the technical requirements are unchanged, and the consumer protection duties it describes already apply through the existing consumer code and Insurance Backed Guarantee arrangements1. What changes in January is how those requirements are written down and organised, with the pre-sale information and performance estimate rules split into technology-specific documents. For a household weighing up a quotation, the practical effect is that the paperwork an installer must provide, and the standards behind the performance figures quoted, will sit in a different set of documents from 2025, while the underlying obligations remain as they are until the transition is confirmed1. The regulation and policy hub covers how such scheme rules interact with grant funding, and the installers and retailers hub covers certification more broadly.
What happens next
MCS says the new website and redeveloped scheme documents will be published in January 20251. Certification bodies will then seek updated accreditation from UKAS, on a timeline MCS says depends on UKAS1. MCS states it will provide tailored guidance, FAQs and other tools, and that its customer support helpdesk is available on 0333 103 8130 or at hello@mcscertified.com1. No date has been reported for the start or end of the transition period beyond the expectation of 12 to 18 months1.
Sources1 cited
- Update on the Redevelopment of MCS - MCS, mcscertified.com