Updated: Removed references to Benchmark Certification Limited.
Overview
You can join a ‘competent person scheme’ to self-certify certain types of building work if you work in the building trade as an installer. This is instead of getting building regulations approval.
Current schemes
Current competent person schemes are listed alphabetically in the table below. Contact the relevant scheme for details about joining.
You can also check the types of work you can self-certify under each scheme - there’s more information about this under the table.
Scheme full name
Short name
Contact number
Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association
ATTMA
020 8253 4514
Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
APHC
0121 7115030
Blue Flame Certification Limited
Blue Flame Certification
0845 194 90 31
BM Trada Certification Limited
BM Trada
01494 569700
British Board of Agrément
BBA
01923 665386
Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment Limited
BESCA
0800 652 5533
Capita Gas Registration and Ancillary Services Limited
Gas Safe Register (GSR)*
0800 408 5500
Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency Limited
CIGA
01525 853 300
Certass Limited
Certass
01292 292099
Certsure LLP trading as ELECSA or NICEIC
Certsure
0333 321 8220 or 01582 531000
Fensa Limited
Fensa
020 7645 3700
HETAS Limited
HETAS
01684 278170
Independent Air Tightness Testing Scheme
iATS
0300 6880016
NAPIT Registration Limited
NAPIT**
0345 5430330
National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited
CompetentRoofer
0207 448 3189
Network VEKA Limited
ASSURE
01282 473170
Oil Firing Technical Association Limited
OFTEC
0845 6585080
Stroma Certification Limited
Stroma
0845 621 1111
*The GSR is not technically a competent person scheme, but in practice its installers have the same responsibilities for complying with building regulations.
** Benchmark Certification Limited ceased to operate as a competent person scheme from 10 February 2017 and became part of NAPIT Registration Limited on that date.
If you are joining an electrical scheme then you will be included in the electrical competent person register designed to provide a single place for householders to find registered electricians in their area.
Types of building work
Air pressure testing of buildings
The authorised schemes are:
Air Tightness testing and Measurement Association (ATTMA)
Independent Air Tightness Testing Scheme (iATS).
Cavity and solid wall insulation in an existing building
Type of insulation
Scheme(s)
Cavity walls in an existing building
Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, CIGA, NAPIT, Stroma
Internal walls of a building
BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
External walls of a building (not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings)
BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Both external and internal walls of a building (‘hybrid insulation’ - not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings)
BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Combustion appliances
Type of appliance
Scheme(s)
Gas
Gas Safe Register
Oil (including liquid biofuels)
APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification , Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Solid fuel (including biomass)
APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Electrical installations
Type of installation
Schemes
In dwellings - installation of fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations
BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
In dwellings - fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations as part of other work being carried out by the registered person
APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Buildings other than dwellings - installation of lighting or electrical heating systems
BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Heating and hot water systems
Type of installation
Schemes
Heating or hot water system, or its associated control
APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Gas Safe Register, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems
Type of building
Schemes
Dwellings (not including work on systems shared with other buildings
BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Other buildings (not involving work on other parts of a building occupied separately)
BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Plumbing and water supply systems
Type of system
Schemes
Wholesome and softened wholesome water supply
APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, Stroma
Non-wholesome water supply to a flushing toilet (not involving work on shared or underground drainage)
APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, Stroma
Toilets, sinks, washbasins, fixed baths, showers or bathrooms in dwellings (not involving work on shared or underground drainage)
APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, Stroma
Replacement windows, doors, roof windows or rooflights
Type of building
Schemes
Existing dwellings
BM Trada, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, Fensa, NAPIT, ASSURE, Stroma
Existing buildings other than dwellings (not including replacement of load-bearing structural glass, glazed curtain walling or revolving doors)
BM Trada, Blue Flame Certification , CERTASS, Certsure, Fensa, NAPIT, ASSURE, Stroma
Replacement of roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs
This includes any necessary connected work (but not solar panel installation). The authorised schemes are:
NAPIT
CompetentRoofer
Microgeneration and renewable technologies
The authorised schemes are:
APHC
BESCA
Certsure
HETAS
NAPIT
OFTEC
Stroma
How schemes are authorised
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is in charge of authorising competent person schemes.
To make sure that the standards are consistent, there are rules that scheme operators must follow and conditions they must meet.
Read more about how schemes are authorised.
DCLG periodically invites applications for competent person schemes.
The most recent invitation exercise closed on the 10 December 2014. Latest authorised schemes are listed in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations &C (Amendment) Regulations 2015 with effect from 18 April 2015.
Minimum technical competence (MTC) requirements for competent person schemes
In order to be registered with a competent person scheme, installers need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant minimum technical competence requirements, copies of which can be found at the links below. To be authorised as competent to self certify some types of work it may be necessary to meet the requirements of several of the minimum technical competences.
Most of the minimum technical competences are also used to assess the competence of Green Deal installers and, where relevant, installers registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. These are referred to as common minimum technical competencies.
The front section to the Minimum Technical Competences covers the minimum requirements that are not specific to a type of work. This document is supported with the annexes that set out the common minimum technical competence requirements for different types of work.
Common minimum technical competences
Download ‘Common Minimum Technical Competences - December 2011’ (PDF, 3.76MB) annexes.
This document contains the following minimum technical competence requirements:
annex 2a - common process for hw, cw and ‘wet’ heating systems (domestic)
annex 2b - common processes for hw, cw and ‘wet’ heating systems (non-domestic)
annex 2c - common processes (compressed gas welded pipework)
annex 2d - common processes (manual arc welded pipework)
annex 4a - oil appliance installation (domestic)
annex 4b - oil appliance installation (non-domestic)
annex 4c - oil storage and tank systems
annex 5a - solid fuel (domestic)
annex 5b - solid fuel (non-domestic)
annex 5c - biomass (domestic)
annex 5d - biomass (non-domestic)
annex 6 - backflow prevention
annex 7a - cold water systems (domestic)
annex 7b - cold water systems (non-domestic)
annex 8 - rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems
annex 9a - hot water systems (domestic)
annex 9b - unvented hot water storage systems
annex 9c - hot water systems (non-domestic)
annex 9d - solar thermal hot water
annex 10a - ‘wet’ heating systems (domestic)
annex 10b - underfloor heating
annex 10c - ‘wet’ central heating systems (non-domestic)
annex 10d - warm air heating (domestic)
annex 10e - warm air heating (non-domestic)
annex 11 - heat pump systems
annex 12 - micro combined heat and power systems
annex 13a - energy efficiency (domestic)
annex 13b – energy efficiency (non-domestic)
annex 14 – sanitary appliances
annex 15a – domestic ventilation
annex 15b – mechanical ventilation systems installation (non-domestic)
annex 15c – air handling unit (non-domestic)
annex 15d – plastic ductwork systems
annex 15e – fire-rated ductwork systems
annex 16a – air conditioning installation
annex 16b – air conditioning (halocarbon systems)
annex 18 – solar photovoltaic
annex 19 – micro and small scale wind turbine systems
Insulation minimum technical competences
See the common minimum technical competencies for insulation:
CMTC annex CWI 1 - determine the suitability of the building for cavity wall Insulation
CMTC annex CWI 2 - install cavity wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 1 - determine the suitability of the building for external wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 2 - install external wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 3 - apply surface finishes to external wall insulation
CMTC annex IWI 1 - determine the suitability of a building for internal wall insulation work
CMTC annex INS2 - install insulation to framed sections of buildings (install internal wall insulation).
Electrical minimum technical competences
See the electrical minimum technical competencies.
Glazing minimum technical competences
Download the ‘fenestration minimum technical competencies for installers’ (PDF, 414 KB)).
Download the ‘fenestration minimum technical competencies for surveyors’ (PDF, 448 KB).
Roofing minimum technical competences
See the common minimum technical competences for roofing:
CMTC RFG 1 Carry out site measurements and evaluations
CMTC RFG 2 Installation of hard and soft metal roofing
CMTC RFG 3 Installation of mastic asphalt
CMTC RFG 4 Installation of reinforced bitumen membranes
CMTC RFG 5 Installation of single ply
CMTC RFG 6 Installation of liquid waterproofing systems
CMTC RFG 7 Installation of thatched roofing
CMTC RFG 8 Installation of slate and tile roofs
CMTC RFG 9 Installation of wood shingles.
Please note that CMTC RFG’s 10 to 12 are not included for competent person self-certification schemes.
*For insulation and roofing MTC routes to competence, please substitute “registered with a building regulations competent person” in place of “approved as a Green Deal installer for this type of work”.
Airtightness testing minimum technical competences
Download the
Minimum technical competence for air tightness testing in buildings for England and Wales
(PDF, 288KB, 10 pages)
.