DEA / EPC Accreditation - Training, Costs, Providers etc

[SRE]

I've just been looking at the area we cover for our jobs, taking into account we're rural there's no way we will get one DEA to cover all of our jobs. I reckon we're probably looking at 6 or 7 DEA's which means we're less likely to build a good relationship built on regular work - I think I'm maybe leaning towards training again :-(

 

[SRE]

Just been talking to REAL to see what their view was about when and how we should be getting an EPC for our customers.

Apparently Ofgem is issuing some guidance but it's not quite ready yet. I was explaining to REAL that none of us can really afford to wait until April because there's a lead into sale and installation of about 4 weeks already and not knowing what to do about EPC's is leaving us potentially with a huge gap with no installations again. I've stressed my worries that we won't be able to withstand yet another month without sales because of the lack of guidance.

Real are saying that you don't have to have an EPC at the time of pv installation so if you're sure that the house will meet band D requirements then you can go ahead do the installation and order the EPC later - no issues with losing your hard earned solar lead and no issues with paying for an EPC that doesn't result in a sale. So for houses built with cavity walls with cavity wall insulation and loft insulation in and a relatively new boiler (easily checked on sedbuk.com ) with proper heating controls this solves a lot of problems. It gives the customer a slight delay in claiming their Fit payment but if that becomes the "norm" few people will question it after a few weeks.

The big issue then becomes what happens with a house that is borderline D rating and unless you have an EPC you're not going to know whether it meets the criteria or not. This is likely to be in rural areas that are off the gas grid and who have solid walls.

So is it worth getting your DEA qualifications to do the jobs that are borderline?

From our point of view it's going to be better to install and then EPC where we are certain. Or at the very least EPC after the cooling off period with a caveat that the contract can be cancelled if the EPC doesn't achieve D rating. Not sure what we'll do about those solid wall houses - lots of our jobs just won't meet the requirements.

 

[SRE]

I'm having a conversation with myself now!!!!

Just been told EPC's from April will be more expensive because of the top up training needed before April. Green-tech consultancy offering £80 a pop booked online and allocated to a DEA nearest the job - anyone got any thoughts - apart from me

 

[whinmoor]

Poor SRE - being ignored is no fun, is it? ;-)

To make you feel even worse, I now have a friend. Morpheus and I are going to PPL Training in York to do their 6 day DEA course from 19th March. I believe it's full now as the lady told me I was the 9th participant (although they might say that to everyone to get them to register quickly). Morpheus and I expect to pay half the advertised fee (£960 instead of £1920) under a scheme run by the European Social Fund for small businesses in Yorkshire. Morpheus has also agreed to split his 7.5% commission for referring me to PPL so that demonstrates the effectiveness of this forum. We spoke on the phone but we live quite far apart so won't share transport to the course but it also means we're not direct competitors for customers on the ground either.

 

[morpheus75]

Its £800 plus vat as we get vat back anyway and the 7.5% recomend a friend is based on the full £1600 fee so £120 total cashback. £60 each so effectively we are paying £740 plus vat each. Either of us can refer you if anyone is around this area plus as long as your in Yorkshire or Humberside you can also get the 50% funding aswell


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[JulianC]

Just been told EPC's from April will be more expensive because of the top up training needed before April. Green-tech consultancy offering £80 a pop booked online and allocated to a DEA nearest the job - anyone got any thoughts - apart from me

I smell something akin to that which emanates from a cow's derriere. The country is awash with DEAs. I would think prices for EPCs will be more likely to go down, not up. Sounds like Greentech are creaming a nice £30 for making a phone call.


Good luck with PPL training gents. Did my NICEIC PV course with them. I taught the trainer a lot about PV :dunce:

 

[SRE]

Good luck with PPL training gents. Did my NICEIC PV course with them. I taught the trainer a lot about PV :dunce:

A friend of mine got his money back from them because he knew more than the trainer - they thought he was a mole from another training company. He wasn't even a sparky. Mind you I haven't been on a decent vocational training course in years - the trainers aren't really taught how to train - they generally just give them power point presentations.

 

[whinmoor]

I'm not expecting a great deal from the course tbh. It's simply a means to an end - namely to be able to produce our own EPCs for customers. It's annoying to have to take time out to attend (probably don't even get to check out the tourist attractions in York) but I hope that having the qualification will enable the PV sales process to run more smoothly. It's extra admin we could do without but that's the route the Government took - let's all be thankful they didn't implement the C-rating as initially suggested otherwise we would have all been up the proverbial creek.

By the way, I read somewhere that you needed a satisfactory CRB check to become accredited as a DEA. Not sure how long this might take to get processed but it will no doubt cost a few quid. I got one a few years back thru my church but don't know if it would be valid for this. Apparently a DEA needs only a basic level check whereas I got an enhanced version which went into greater depth.

 

[SRE]

My friend has just had one done it took 5 weeks, so better to get the ball rolling now just in case.

 

[morpheus75]

When do crb expire? I have got an enhanced one but couldnt see an expirey on it. Got it about 2-3 years ago


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[TedM]

I don't think they have an expiry date as such. It is up to the accreditation body you are applying to to decide how old a CRB they will accept as current.

 

[TedM]

Just checked with my wife, who has an Enhanced CRB, and there is an issue date but no expiry date.

 

[whinmoor]

What's the betting an Enhanced one is not acceptable and you need a Basic one to be a DEA. And then, the Basic one won't be acceptable if you want to (for example) coach the local under 11s soccer team so then you'll need an Enhanced one?

The world's gone loopy !!

 

[morpheus75]

Thanks Ted


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[SRE]

http://www.abbeqa.co.uk/images/awards/78/DEA Level 3 sample examination questions.pdf

Sample exam for the Abbe DEA exam

Also course structure and objectives:

http://www.abbeqa.co.uk/images/awar...ication Handbook Release issue April 2011.pdf