MCS Accreditation

[johnthesparky]

thank you,

yeah it is something that has rattled around in my little brain, but I'd still need a builder/roofer to do the other side for me.... and I could potentially end up doing solar all the time if I'm not careful (and I love being self employed for the diversity) so I thought I'd go with the flow and then see what happens in the future....

the builder has about 70 properties that they would like to put PV on before the next cutoff, (which should get me up to speed ) and already has 2 customers waiting for the accreditation to get solar,

spoke to a few guys in the office today.. they are really buzzing about getting this sorted, and one said I'd have to make sure I charged enough, so it may be that it's as easy to stick it out together anyway as we have a really good working relationship

 

[VMan]

Hi Easy MCS, I got through the QMS from you guys,its very easy to follow thanks.
but maybe you or other on here can point me in the right direction as to what the Assessor will be requiring in terms of system design?
Will they require Cabel Calcs for cable sizing, or will the schematic diagram be sufficient? and will we need to leave scaffold up for them to take a look at the modules mounted on the roof or can he do that from a ladder??

cheers

V

 

[EasyMCSLtd]

Hi Easy MCS, I got through the QMS from you guys,its very easy to follow thanks.
but maybe you or other on here can point me in the right direction as to what the Assessor will be requiring in terms of system design?
Will they require Cabel Calcs for cable sizing, or will the schematic diagram be sufficient? and will we need to leave scaffold up for them to take a look at the modules mounted on the roof or can he do that from a ladder??

cheers

V

Hi VMAN,

As part of the Easy MCS service you have full access to our trained MCS mentors who will be more than happy to help you with this and any aspect of your MCS accreditation process. If you please call the office at your earliest convinience and we will assign you a mentor.

0844 4146041

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[solartecpv]

I've just used the Easy MCS QMS to set up our paperwork system for MCS accreditation with NAPIT. I found it really straight foreward to use as I'd been running iso9001 for a previous company. It took me about a week to tailor it to our company, spending about 2-3hrs a day on it.
We had our inspection a couple of weeks ago and only picked up a couple of minor non-Conformities and one that has proved to be a royal PITA! First we were asked for a procedure for roof inspection and suitability whick Easy MCS duly sent me. I sent this off and it still didn't suffice. Long story short, we have now had to take on board a self employed surveyor to inspect all our roofs prior to install.

Anyone else had any problems with roof surveys?

 

[Worcester]

ILong story short, we have now had to take on board a self employed surveyor to inspect all our roofs prior to install.

TBH, I'm glad to hear it, - this will casue MAJOR problems for the cheap end boys, the national sales led companies and even the likes of British Gas and Tesco

WRT roof surveys, it has just tightened up see the thread: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...energy-forum/36062-nic-mcs-pv-installers.html

Choosing NAPIT has probably just saved you a right royal headache!

You wouldn't want a roofer install electrics, you can't expect an electrican to do a roof survey.

 

[solartecpv]

TBH, I'm glad to hear it, - this will casue MAJOR problems for the cheap end boys, the national sales led companies and even the likes of British Gas and Tesco

WRT roof surveys, it has just tightened up see the thread: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...energy-forum/36062-nic-mcs-pv-installers.html


Choosing NAPIT has probably just saved you a right royal headache!

You wouldn't want a roofer install electrics, you can't expect an electrican to do a roof survey.

Agree 100% with you worcester, its just that the regs are so vague. They state that a structural engineer need only be consulted if there is any doubt. Unless you are actually qualified to survey a roof there will Always be doubt.
My biggest problem was finding someone willing to carry out the surveys.

 

[Worcester]

I'm also a chartered civil and structural engineer, so it was never a problem for us, however as it happened I got an email shot from a company offering to do them just this morning!

Solar Panel Installation | Structural Calculations & Regulations For Solar Panels | Structural Reports Online I haven't tested or tried them so I can't endorse them, seems like they are on the ball though. Price is about right, and what the market can easily stand.

 

[loony]

HI Graeme. In answer to your question as pasted below:

"Quick question on the above. The DNO 'should' have the details of their own meter serial number, typ and manufacturer. Surely this is the details of the newly fitted generation meter on which the FIT will be calculated, otherwise there is no registration ingo on this new meter that is generating at a higher p/KWh than the DNO meter."


The FIT is calculated from the meter that is newly installed by the PV installers. It displays all energy in kWh that is generated by the PV system whether it is used by the owner or fed back into the grid. So the details you include on your G83 form are those from this newly installed meter and not the existing one. The customer is paid about 43p for kWh measured by the newly installed meter. The extra 3 pence or so that the consumer receives for feeding back into the grid (on top of the 43p or so they have already been paid for producing it) is usually an estimate based on the power rating of the PV system. Most DNO/suppliers that I have heard about make an estimate rather than having an export meter to actually measure how much energy is actually fed back into the mains.​

 

[Dusty]

Hi All,
On an PV installation whereby the dc feed is taken inside the house to a junction box and then down through the house and taken out of a further junction box at the lower end to the inverter. Is this within the MCS guidelines for suitable equipment ? rather than using straight 4mm or 6mm core cable directly to the inverter.

Dusty

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Best bet is to start a new thread, and give a little more detail on the installation. You kind of posted your question in the wrong place.

 

[papa-golf]

Hi Easy MSC,

What are the costs to go through the MCS process with your company?
What time period is involved?

We are a very experienced company and have good HSE policies and procedures in place. We are wanting to gain our own MCS approval.

Regards


Papa-Golf

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Why dont you just write the manual youself, seems like you are most of the way there already. Took me a weeks worth of evenings to finalise mine, got through without any dramas, and now have a document I control that fits my business exactly, not to mention a healthier bank account.....

 

[cbw]

Hi easy MCS,

Are you offering a discount to forum members?

I would like to go ahead with a company within the next few days and would prefer a forum sponser.

I will be making payment to the chosen company this Tuesday so a speedy reply would be appreciated.

Thankyou,

James

 

[1billy wiz]

hi there easy mcs,

im a subby & working for a company at present installing solar pv. is it hard for a sole trader to gain mcs as i may have to possibly sub out between jobs & hopefully do my own jobs.

what do i need to get in order to prevent a million conformities??

i did the nic eic course for pv which was poor imo. anyhow i think it's pretty straight forward & any approved spark can do it after one install & being taken through the commisioning.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

The manual is easy to write, take the assessment guide from your chosen awarding body, combine witht he relevant MCS document and go through step by step answering the question "How would I do that" and write it down. Most comapnies are taking a "Cut and Paste" document and shoe horn your company into it (in some cases very badly). I saw 1 document for a mid sized roofing company, they paid just short of £5K and it was shocking. There were references to other companies, spelling mistakes, paragraph numbering errors, flow charts that did not make sense, errors in forms etc.

In most cases you will be spending in the region of £1K. take a week out and do it yourself, yes you are not earning, but then again you aint spending!!. You then have a document that is yours, you know it inside out, and most of all it fits your company.

Id be very tempted to put money on the fact, that Every supplied MSC manual will state you will have to set up a quarantine area!!!!