First solar pv for assessment

[darrenh]

Hello we are new to Solar PV, can anyone help with the first assessment for MCS accreditation.
We are going through the NICEIC and I am about to install the smallest possible system permitted on my own roof. Do I need to get a roof structural stability report prior to installation.
Thanks in advance

 

[GaryM]

It might be a good idea just in case you're asked for it during your assessment!

 

[darrenh]

It might be a good idea just in case you're asked for it during your assessment!

Thanks, was thinking best to get it done.
As we are both based in the north west is there anyone you could recommend.

 

[GaryM]

Sorry Darren, I didn't get that far.

I did my C&G2399 then a week later the government started with the whole 21p thing last year. This made my boss very wary of potential work so he chose not to continue with the MCS assessment we had booked with the ECA. Shame really as we had already enrolled with REAL as well.

Still, we're pretty busy with our main source of work in electrical installation though I really would have liked to carry out a PV install. I'd have saved a bulk of the £9500 I paid for my install too!

 

[GaryM]

Where's my manners - welcome to the forum!

 

[darrenh]

Am wary myself but figured because I have spent a small fortune I'll see it through and hopefully see a return.

 

[wolvesmad1]

hiya how are you

 

[WRDEnergy]

Hello we are new to Solar PV, can anyone help with the first assessment for MCS accreditation.
We are going through the NICEIC and I am about to install the smallest possible system permitted on my own roof. Do I need to get a roof structural stability report prior to installation.
Thanks in advance

You wont need a roof structural stability report, under the MCS we are allowed to asses this ourselves and make a choice, if your roof looks nackered then yes you should get someone who knows what they are talking about come in and sign it off... however if your happy with the state of play then the NIC will not have any problems either... please keep in mind 95% of your assesment is paper work, with solar panels they pretty much either work or they dont.... if they dont then you did something wrong if they do, then you are fine... probally not the right attitude I am sure but if i was you i would be focusing on all the paper work rather than the conditon of your roof... unless it's on its last leggs.

 

[GaryM]

You wont need a roof structural stability report, under the MCS we are allowed to asses this ourselves and make a choice, if your roof looks nackered then yes you should get someone who knows what they are talking about come in and sign it off... however if your happy with the state of play then the NIC will not have any problems either...

Really? So anybody can assess the structural state of a roof and form an opinion? Doesn't sound right to me.

 

[WRDEnergy]

Anyone can look at a roof and say that’s in good nick….. but mcs says that if we are in any doubts then we should get a structural engineer to check it over, this can be at our cost or we can explain our doubts to the customer and get them to pay, it’s not practical paying £100+ every time we quote a job, a child can tell if some roofs are ok or not… at least that’s how I understand it and had a similar conversation with my NIC MCS assessor I stand to be corrected though.

 

[Earthstore]

Sorry WRDEnergy, but you are wrong on not needing structural calcs, maybe not for the MCS assessment but you do need to be able to satisfy Building Control if the customer has building regs.
I know in a real world, we can all take a fair guess if a roof is strong enough to take the extra weight of a few panels, however, you have to have the mathematical calculations to back this up, you should also be compliant to part C of the building regs.
Also you need wind calculations, I have spent a long time trying to get to the bottom of all this to be compliant with correct procedure.
It does make a difference who you obtained your MCS through, as some do not acknowledge the competent persons scheme, only part P.
I do know of a company, that have 100's of installs and thought that they were covered for all this under MCS, and guess what?

I hope this helps.

 

[WRDEnergy]

Thanks Earthstore,

The way I have done it is that if I am 100% happy in my mind that it will be ok then I Go for it, if I have even a small dobut I fork out the £100 and just hope I get the job....but I can agree or atleast understand that there should be some rule to this...including calcualtions etc... I personaly did the C&G course and unless I was day dreaming there wasnt anything about the maths side of loads and members of staff have done the BPEC and nothing in that either aperantly....prehaps in the future it will be another requirement we have to have, I guess it should be and I Will very much enjoy spending money for another course

 

[darrenh]

Thanks for all your advice. I sometimes wonder what I have let myself in for!
The install will go ahead as planned and then I can try and get my head around the QMS!!!!
Thanks again

 

[babba]

When did a roof structural stability report become part of an mcs first assesment...????

 

[WRDEnergy]

Thanks for all your advice. I sometimes wonder what I have let myself in for!
The install will go ahead as planned and then I can try and get my head around the QMS!!!!
Thanks again

No problems, I hope has been of some help, also remember you can always contact the NIC they are not just their to look at your work, they are also their to help, if you give them any questions they should be more than happy to help, people often forget that they are not just there to mark you but help you aswell !

 

[powervan]

your first assesment will be 99% paperwork (is it all in place and can u put ur hand on it when asked) install (well the nic bloke we had was a paperwork man) he looked at inverta but woudnt go up scaffold so woudnt worry to much!! if its a small system the roof calcs wind/struc can be sorted after if he pics it up! I would think they be grateful someone still applying!!!! we had 4 hrs in office 20 mins on site ) im a site man myself ie fit them all day long EASY PEASEY !! paperwork well all i say is i got dose of shingles at xmas keeping up with it!! STRESS !! so if u think there is work out there for u then RELAX a few NON COMFORMATIES can be sorted by email then ur IN!! think ur mad but GOOD LUCK Doing MY last install tomoz!! then getting out of mcs and just fit odd one for local large company as a sideline!!

 

[GaryM]

When did a roof structural stability report become part of an mcs first assesment...????

Would it not be expected to be in place when looking at your initial job and paperwork that's associated with it?

 

[Earthstore]

This industry is so complex, and there are companies that do believe they are doing all they can to be compliant, there are also some that just do not bother and all they want is the money.
I personally feel that now we are 2 years into the FIT's there should be a complete list of requirements for a PV installation, then everybody would know where they stand. They can comply or ignore it, but those of us who try to do things correctly, on behalf of the customer, would be 100% certain.
What do we have MCS and REA, well they are about as much use as a chocolate kettle.
On a lighter note, I had an in depth conversation with a planning officer the other day, regarding a planning issue, when I had to explain to him that the rules had changed he went to check for 10 mins and came back and told me I was right (thanks Ted).
At the end of the day, who am I to tell the planners the rules, they should be informing us..

 

[darrenh]

Probably not the best time to apply but got everything else in place and have got a few commercial jobs in the pipeline.
Hopefully it will go as planned.

 

[babba]

Would it not be expected to be in place when looking at your initial job and paperwork that's associated with it?

Never heard of it myself and as for bulding regs some councils are clued others not so. I dont know when it comes to house insurance how they stand on building regs. I have seen the portal on real or mcs website cant remember which one and I know people are going to say you need it but for WHO..???