MCS Plans Redevelopment for New Year

IN JANUARY 2025, MCS is launching its redeveloped scheme for renewables installers to increase protections for consumers. Technical requirements remain the same.

The new year will see MCS launch a new website and publication of scheme documents for the redeveloped scheme.

It will include the framework for installer operating requirements to maintain MCS certification, outlining the requirements and processes that need to be followed.

Responsibilities for tradespeople and companies to protect consumers and follow the laws on this will be also described. The aim is to ensure that customers are treated fairly and that they know where to turn if they need to complain.

The technical standards for how systems should be designed and installed are not changing from the current MCS Installation Standards. They have, however, been restructured and streamlined to be more focussed as ‘technical truths’.

The technical standards that outline how to carry out system performance estimates and the pre-sale information that must be provided to a customer for an installation are also restructured and streamlined into their own technology-specific standards to improve clarity.

MCS Plans Redevelopment

Ian Rippin, MCS CEO

In a statement to MCS installers, Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, said: “This marks an exciting milestone in delivering a scheme that prioritises quality, fairness, and accessibility.

“Whilst you won’t be able to access the redeveloped scheme immediately, it’s important that we give you some time to become familiar with the scheme structure and its requirements.

“Following publication of the scheme documentation in January, we’ll work closely with your Certification Body (CB) to help support them through the process of updating their accreditation for the redeveloped scheme from the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). The timeline for this will be dependent on UKAS themselves and we can share more on this when we have it.”

MCS installers are advised to continue to comply with the current scheme requirements. It means maintaining membership of a consumer code and continuing to purchase Insurance Backed Guarantees.

MCS expects a rolling transition period over 12-18 months while the redeveloped scheme is being introduced.

MCS says it is creating lots of resources to support businesses. It is also continuing to collaborate with UKAS and certification bodies to prepare for the transition. The organisation is encouraging installers to contact its Customer Support Helpdesk if they have any questions or need further information.

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