MCS & NICEIC Certified: What does it mean?
This year marks our 15th anniversary of being a NICEIC Certified Registered Installer and the same anniversary of being an MCS Approved Contractor.
What is NICEIC?
NICEIC stands for the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, and they support the safe installation and maintenance in the electrical and wider building services sector. They raise the standards and champion technical and professional integrity so that householders and businesses can find trusted contractors.
Being NICEIC certified means that the business meets its standards which includes demonstrating competence and compliance with electrical safety standards to deliver quality work. Businesses that are certified by them also have access to experts and training to support them in developing further and meeting regulations.
What is the NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor scheme?
The NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor scheme is the NICEIC’s accreditation scheme for certifying renewable energy contractors as MCS certified. MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme which certifies small-scale renewable energy installations and products in the UK. It recognises that the technologies meet industry standards and adhere to high quality and compliance standards.
The NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor scheme requires you to demonstrate a quality management system, alongside being a qualified competent contractor. To be registered with either the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) which Silvercrest energy was for the first five years, or HIES Consumer Code, which we are now. And to demonstrate competency to the MCS 025 standard, which shows our commitment to quality workmanship.
What does the NICEIC certification mean to customers?
Choosing a NICEIC-registered installer can give you peace of mind as they have been assessed for the quality of their work, and they ensure that the jobs they complete are to the highest standards. NICEIC-registered tradespeople are regularly assessed to ensure that their workmanship meets the required standards and legislation to keep everyone safe.
An added advantage of a NICEIC-registered tradesperson is that they can give you a certificate of compliance which is backed by comprehensive insurance and the NICEIC Platinum Promise (this provides an extra layer of protection). When the certification is for NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor, it also means that the renewable energy installation such as solar panels is eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which allows you to claim an income from the electricity you export to the grid. It also means that your installation will comply with Building Control regulations and insurance requirements
Further protections
As an experienced solar PV installer, we recognise the importance of being accredited and having the correct certification to support our customers in getting the most out of their system as well as having confidence in us. So, we have gone beyond the normal electrical and renewable energy body and standards schemes and have gained EPVS membership. EPVS provides validation to the customer that the energy performance of the renewable energy installation and the calculations made about the potential energy savings are realistic. The scheme checks the processes and calculations that the installer uses to calculate the generation figures, energy and financial savings to see that they are a fair estimation. Installers are also audited after attaining membership to ensure that they continue to maintain these standards. You can learn more about EPVS in our blog.
