Getting into retrofit series #2
Your guide to certification
Welcome to the Simply R&R getting into retrofit series!
The world of retrofit certification and standards can be confusing, so our handy little guide should help you to understand what is a retrofit certification and what is a standard and help you choose the right certification for your business.
What is retrofit?
Retrofit is the term used to describe any energy-efficiency measures that are fitted into existing buildings retrospectively. By 2050, all residential and commercial buildings need to be an EPC rating of C and above as part of the UK government’s commitment to achieving carbon net zero.
What’s the difference between standards, schemes and certifications?
A standard is a documented set of guidelines, criteria, or specifications designed to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose and consistently high in quality. Standards provide a common framework that organisations and individuals can follow to achieve desired outcomes reliably and safely.
A scheme refers to a structured program designed to ensure that products and installation services meet consistent and high-quality standards. A scheme, in general, is an organised plan or program of action designed to achieve specific goals, consisting of rules, standards, and processes that companies and products must follow to obtain certification.
A certification refers to the formal process by which an organisation or individual is assessed and recognised for meeting specific standards or schemes.
You can gain certification for PAS 2030, Flexi-Orb and MCS through Simply Certification. All certifications include TrustMark registration (read on to find out more).
First, a word on PAS.
When it comes to PAS, there is a lot of confusion. PAS 2035 serves as the overarching standard for retrofitting domestic buildings, providing a comprehensive framework that ensures all stages of the retrofit process are carried out systematically and effectively.
While PAS 2038 extends the principles to non-domestic buildings. Together, these standards ensure a cohesive approach to improving energy efficiency across different types of buildings.
PAS 2030 focuses on the quality of installations within the frameworks of PAS 2035 and PAS 2038.
PAS 2035- Standard
This is NOT a certifiable standard. This standard sets out the requirements for a domestic property to be retrofitted with energy efficiency measures and covers all aspects of the project to ensure it’s done to a high quality from project inception through to handover.
Relevant for:
Those who are assessing, designing and coordinating the retrofit of the property. There are a range of courses and qualifications that support the understanding to deliver under PAS 2035.
PAS 2030 – UKAS Accredited Certifiable Standard
This is a certifiable standard that installers need to gain to demonstrate they are compliant when it comes to retrofitting a domestic property using a compliant PAS 2035 design. It ensures the installers have the right health and safety, processes, materials, competence and are able to demonstrate an audit trail for each install.
Relevant for:
Installers/contractors who carry out the works of the retrofit installation under energy efficiency measures such as insulation, electrical and gas boilers.
PAS 2038 – Certifiable Standard by Simply Certification
Simply Certification have created a scheme under PAS 2038 that is certifiable to demonstrate that your organisation has the relevant processes and procedures in place to deliver a commercial retrofit project.
The main role within PAS 2038 is the retrofit lead professional. It is largely focused around having the management system in place to manage large commercial projects and ensuring the competencies are in place to fulfil this.
Relevant for:
Organisations who deliver refurbishment projects on commercial buildings such as designers, architects, facilities management service providers and those who offer construction design and management (CDM).
TrustMark- Registration on a government- backed quality assurance scheme.
TrustMark is the only scheme endorsed and recognised by the Government that ensures quality of workmanship for the home. When registered with TrustMark, your organisation is added to their scheme, showcasing you are continuing to meet the requirements of their scheme and also the discipline that you offer, i.e. installation of cavity wall insulation, installation of heat pumps etc.
Relevant for:
Qualified retrofit coordinators will be added to TrustMark so that their work can be lodged and there is an audit trail.
Retrofit assessors are also added to TrustMark when qualified
Retrofit and Renewable installers that have been assessed by a certification body against the TrustMark scheme will also be added to TrustMark identifying what scope/trade they have been assessed against e.g PAS 2030 Cavity Wall, MCS Heat Pumps and so on.
Schemes for solar, battery storage, heat pumps and EV charging
In addition to PAS 2030, there are various other schemes which signal to your customers that your installations are of a high quality. If you are installing energy-efficient measures such as Solar PV, battery storage or EV charging, then please read on for our guide to schemes.
Flexible Energy Oversight Registration Body (Flexi-Orb) – certifiable scheme
This scheme was accredited by UKAS under 17067 in 2024, and Simply Certification was the first CB to gain the accredited scheme in May 2024. This scheme demonstrates that organisations are robust from a business practice perspective and that they are technically competent to install electric vehicle chargers, solar panels and battery storage. This provides more choice in the marketplace for installers looking for recognised certification for renewable technologies. It is currently available for residential buildings.
Relevant for:
Contractors who install renewable technologies such as electric vehicle chargers, solar panels and battery storage to both new build and existing buildings.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
This scheme was launched some time ago, and focuses on the technical competency for renewable technologies. MCS have been vocal in recent times about reducing the focus around assessments for quality management processes and weighted more to the technical installation.
Relevant for:
Contractors who install solar PV, solar thermal, battery storage, ground/air source heat pumps and biomass systems for both new builds and existing buildings.
The steps to gaining certification for each standard/scheme.
Each certification body is different in how they work with customers. Simply Certification has streamlined the process to make it as simple and as straightforward as possible.
Here is the pathway to certification for PAS 2030, Flexi-Orb and MCS (all assessments include TrustMark):
- Complete our online application form, providing us with your company information, the services you require and agreeing to our Ts & Cs.
- We will issue you with an invoice for the assessments based on the information you have provided in your application.
- You will receive an email with all the relevant information you need to understand what you need to do next. This will include your contract and guidance checklists.
- Once we have received all your completed contracts and checklists, we will provide you with an assessment plan.
- We will then schedule your assessments in the diary
- It is essential you prepare for your assessments, ensuring you have the required evidence available to present to us, showing compliance to the standards you have applied for (read the standard!)
- Once the assessments are complete, you will receive a copy of the assessment report, and any non-conformances that require your attention.
- Non-conformances must be responded to by the deadline provided.
- Once any non-conformances have been closed by the assessor, we will send your reports to an independent verifier who will ensure the standards have been met.
- After the verifier is satisfied with the reports, an internal decision maker will make the final decision to grant certification.
- When certification has been granted, we will send your certification pack via post and email – we will also send you marketing material to help you promote your success.
- To maintain certification, you will be subject to ongoing surveillance to ensure ongoing compliance to the scheme requirements.
This is our tried and tested method to ensure that our certification process is as seamless as possible.
Hopefully now you have a better understanding of PAS 2030, MCS and Flexi-Orb. Our friendly and experienced team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.
And remember, being certified is opening up doors to a huge market of opportunity. Twenty-four million homes (read that again) need to be retrofitted to hit the UK government’s net zero target by 2050- that’s a rate of around 77,000 per month.
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