NICEIC MCS installer scheme

[Gavin A]

We just had our second MCS assessment with NAPIT for solar PV and thermal with an ex gas engineer as our assessor.

desktop assessment for solar thermal that basically amounted to nothing - no questions at all about the actual installation process or anythiing, just checking we had all the relevant paperwork in place. 1 site assessment for PV, in which he wanted to check we'd used 2 screws to mount each bracket, but wouldn't go up a ladder, and insisted we needed to supply him with a picture showing the 2 screws in place... can't fathom why they can't let you know in advance if they want a picture of something like this, it's not like we can be taking pictures of every bracket we mount (as he suggested we should).

Main issue now though is they want us to either have a structural surveyor sign off on each job, or a time served roofer. Seems like they're covering their arses because of 1 roof that blew off last year - that's 1 out of 200,000, and none that I know of during the recent gales, but we now all have to add at least £100 to each job just for a desktop assessment by some unqualified admin worker with a spreadsheet. I can't see any time served roofers holding the professional indemnity insurance needed to issue this sort of advice / sign off of other peoples work.

I've no idea when they'll get a spark out to assess out 3 sparks for the CPS scheme that should have been done at the same time.

still, must keep jumping through the hoops eh.

 

[powervan]

NICEIC ref stickers ! yes agree i dont advertise them! as u said i was proud but not anymore! STRUCTUAL survey well yes like u say another £100 with measurements u give? so is it a TRUE STRUCTUAL survey??REF pic of 2 screws in brackets??????????? well im affraid its another case of IF PAPERWORK IS CORRECT(even if job is rough) PAPERWORK PAPERWORK PAPERWORK! lets get back to QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY WORKMANSHIP WORKMANSHIP WORKMANSHIP!

 

[Gavin A]

I totally agree, we've built our reputation on quality and workmanship, and we do refer jobs to proper structural engineers to do proper surveys if we've assessed it ourselves and in our judgement there's a potential problem. I just don't see the point in having to have structural reports done on every single job even if it's exactly the same build as the house next door (which was an example I used with the Napit inspector).

It also goes against the guidance Napit published themselves as far as I can see.

Still, if it's got to be done then it's got to be done, and should be fairly easy for us as we've always taken all the roof support measurements at the initial site survey stage anyway.

 

[SRE]

Main issue now though is they want us to either have a structural surveyor sign off on each job, or a time served roofer.

We've always done a structural survey, simple jobs we get a desktop done, but most have a visit by a structural surveyor and are covered by his indemnity insurance. Makes us look more prefessional and we rarely have complaints about the extra cost.