MCS Certified Installers – SolarTherm UK
At SolarTherm UK, we have worked hard to achieve and maintain our MCS Certification for the past 14 years.
Our adherence to the standards and practices set by the MCS, along with the resulting quality of our work and history of satisfied customers are all things that we are immensely proud of.
MCS Certification for Solar Panel Installers
When customers first start researching Solar Panels and installers, one of the first things they will see mentioned is that they must always get quotes from MCS Certified installers. But what does this mean exactly?
Here we explain who MCS are, what they do, and why this badge is so important within the Solar PV industry.
Who are MCS?
The MCS are the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, an organisation that creates and maintains standards of quality for products, installers and their work within the low-carbon and renewable energy industry.
This means that MCS write the manual on how installations of low-carbon technologies such as Solar PV panels and battery storage systems should be completed, and the standard of quality the installer should meet.
To give people confidence in low-carbon energy technology by defining, maintaining and improving quality.
MCS Mission Statement
What does it take to become an MCS Certified Solar Panel Installer?
An MCS certified solar panel installer must demonstrate compliance to the industry standards, this involves a strict assessment against the MCS standard for all contractors, and an assessment against the standard for the specific industry, i.e. Solar PV.
The installer must demonstrate that their staff are competent in every aspect of the standard, including technical ability and safety requirements. The company must also appoint a Nominated Technical Person (NTP) for each type of certification they are seeking, and have a suitable Quality Management System (QMS) in place.
Part of the MCS certification for solar panel installers is a commitment to customer care. This means the installer is required to join a consumer code relevant to their industry. The consumer code must be recognised by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). The two approved consumer codes are Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or the Home Insulation & Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES).
As part of the certification process, the installer must nominate an installation for inspection by a certification body to ensure that the job has been completed to the applicable standard, including an assessment of the installation work itself, the contracts, internal procedures/policies and a lot more.
At SolarTherm UK, our original assessment and MCS Certification was in July 2010, and we have been committed to maintaining this quality ever since!
Why is MCS Certification important for customers?
For customers, having an MCS Certified solar panel installer is reassurance that the company taking care of your installation is reputable and competent, and that the product you are buying complies with the quality and safety standards.
For most people, having solar panels installed is a significant investment, so having the installation undertaken by an MCS certified solar installer gives an extra layer of protection for this investment. MCS is a mark of quality and demonstrates that the installer and their processes have all been carefully assessed. Furthermore, MCS Certified installers can only use MCS Certified products in their installations, so you know that all the parts that make up the system have been tested for safety and performance against the MCS standards.
When a solar panel system is installed by an MCS member, the system itself will be issued an MCS Certificate. It is worth noting, that in order to join a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, the energy company will ask to see a copy of the MCS Certificate for the installation before export payments can be made.
As MCS Certified installers, you can rest assured that by choosing us for your solar panel installation, every aspect from the initial planning to the final installation will meet the stringent criteria for performance and safety.
At SolarTherm UK our MCS Certification isn’t just a badge – it shows commitment to quality, competency and customer care for over 14 years!
