Building Owners
BESCA Schemes are in place to protect and reassure building owners that our contractors are competent and have been checked and accredited to the appropriate level to safely carry out your work to the highest standard.
BESCA operates with authorisation from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and with the support of industry experts, to ensure that our members not only meet the standard and regularly undergo surveillance checks to ensure for continued compliance with that standard.
BESCA has in place procedures to ensure that building owners and customers may quickly check the legitimacy of any individual claiming to be, or have been, an Energy Assessor registered by BESCA, or be a BESCA approved Competent Person. You may check to see if a company claiming to be registered with BESCA is bona fide here on the public members search.
BESCA does not gain members as a result of any link with an organisation which operates a “Panel System”.
Building owners and members of the public are welcome to contact BESCA’s dedicated Helpdesk for further information or clarity on a member’s status.
BESCA’s Complaints and Appeals process is open to our member’s customers as well, and further information on this if found here.
Competent Persons Scheme
The Competent Persons Schemes were introduced by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in 2002 to allow registered competent installers, mostly from small firms or working as sole traders, to self-certify some types of building work as compliant with the requirements of the Building Regulations. Information on current Building Regulations may be found on the Planning Portal.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/
The main benefit of theCompetent Person Scheme for building owners is that the installer may offer lower prices as they will be self-certifying their work and not having to pay building control charges. There is also an added layer of security as ‘cowboy’ builders are not able to operate as Competent Persons and building owners will be able to identify only competent installers through the public search facilities offered by BESCA. Although membership to aCompetent Person Scheme like BESCA is voluntary there are many benefits to an installer, such as authentication by an authorised certification body.
Using a Registered Competent Persons Installer
The Department of Communities and Local Government has published a useful leaflet Building work, replacements and repairs to your home to help inform you on the types of work that can be undertaken by a registered Competent Person.
Energy Assessors Scheme
BESCA offers assurance to building owners by operating an Energy Assessors Scheme for Air Conditioning Inspectors for the mandatory lodgements of Air Conditioning Inspection Reports under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
Building owners and managers who control air conditioning systems have statutory obligations to maintain the standard and safety of that air conditioning system. The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has produced a publication to provide you with further information on the inspection criteria and minimum requirements for Energy Assessor Assessments of Air Conditioning Systems. Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings: A guide to air-conditioning inspections for buildings is available for download from the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/889248.pdf
It is important to have your air conditioning system inspected by an approved Energy Assessor to improve the efficiency and reduce carbon emissions and your costs. By having an accredited BESCA Energy Assessor inspect your air conditioning system, they will be able to highlight improvements and provide you with information and advice should you need to replace your older system with a new energy efficient one.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Building owners may be interested to know that benefits of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme including the Feed-in-Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive. Full information found here.
Feed-in-Tariffs were introduced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change to offers home owners the opportunity to generate their own energy through environmental technologies and to sell any excess energy back into the main grid. Once consumers have a microgeneration technology installed they should experience a monthly reduction in electricity bills and then received an income from their Feed-in-Tariff provider.
The Renewable Heat Incentive was also set up to encourage the installation of renewable heat technologies amongst households, commercial business, and communities. Introduced by Department of Energy and Climate Change to provide financial support for the installation of renewable technologies and expected to facilitate 12% of heating across the UK from renewable sources.
BESCA provides building owners with the confidence to contract with our members knowing that they are assessed and monitored by a government authorised certification body. BESCA maintains the highest standards and is committed to customer satisfaction.