LEAMINGTON SPA: Plumb Center is advising installers on the importance of obtaining MCS accreditation following a report on the BBC's Watchdog programme which aired last week.
The programme highlighted an unaccredited Midlands-based company, which was operating a 'rent-a-roof' scheme in order to take advantage of the Government's Feed-in Tariff. The company took money up-front from customers and then failed to install the panels or refund the customers' money, blaming installers for the delay.
In order for households to receive the FiT, both the installer and the solar PV panels have to be MCS-accredited. MCS gives the installer a mark of quality and reassures the customer that they are having products installed that have met the rigorous MCS testing standards.
Plumb Center recognises the importance of helping installers to get the training and accreditations needed to install renewable technologies and is developing a network of BPEC accredited training centres across the UK where customers are able to learn practical installation and design skills. It is also working together with NAPIT to provide a simple MCS registration process.
NAPIT's scheme is a simple route for installers to become MCS registered and enable them to install renewable technologies and introduce FiTS and the RHI to their customers.
Plumb Center is additionally running a course specifically about the control processes which need to be followed to obtain MCS accreditation.
The course is tailored so that if those attending have no procedures in place, it will take them back to basics. If they have a solid paperwork process in place, it will give them the reassurance that they are doing it all correctly.
