Competent persons scheme
These were introduced to enable individual trades people to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. This is an alternative to submitting a building regulations application.
Various trade bodies have taken responsibility for registering competent persons who meet the standards of work and competencies required in their technical area. Registration in these schemes, with the exception of GASAFE, is not compulsory. However, if work is undertaken by a person who is not registered, it is necessary to submit a building regulations application.
A variety of schemes exist covering many aspects of the Building Regulations:
- replacement windows and doors;
- gas appliances, heating and hot water systems;
- oil combustion appliances; solid fuel combustion appliances;
- plumbing, hot water and heating service systems;
- ventilation and air conditioning;
- electrical, lighting, heating and control systems;
- air pressure testing of buildings;
- CO2 emission rate calculations; and
- sanitary conveniences in washrooms and bathrooms.
When someone has undertaken notifiable work in accordance with one of these schemes, the competent person via the scheme provider gives evidence to both the owner and Local Authority that the work complies with the relevant regulation(s) within 30 days of completing the work.
Below is a list of existing competent person schemes:
- Replacement windows and doors
- Heat producing gas appliances and associated heating and hot water systems
- Combustion appliances - oil
- Combustion appliances - solid fuel
- Electrical safety in dwellings
- Plumbing, heating systems and hot water service systems (non dwellings)
- Plumbing, heating systems and hot water service systems (dwellings)
- Ventilation and air conditioning (dwellings)
- Ventilation and air conditioning (non dwellings)
- Ventilation and air conditioning (commercial kitchens)
- Lighting systems, electric heating systems and associated controls
- Air-Pressure testing of buildings
- Sanitary conveniences, washing facilities or bathrooms in a dwelling
- Replacement windows and doors
- Installation of replacement windows, rooflights, roof windows or doors in an existing dwelling.
Scheme
British Standards Institution (BSI)
www.bsi-global.com 
01442 278607
CERTASS Limited
www.certass.co.uk
01292 266636
FENSA (Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme)
www.fensa.co.uk
0870 780 2028
Heat producing gas appliances and associated heating and hot water systems
Installation of a heat producing gas appliance which has a rated heat output of 100 kilowatts or less and is installed in a building with no more than three storeys (excluding any basement) or in a dwelling. Installation of heating or hot water service system connected to a heat producing gas appliance or associated controls.
Scheme
GASAFE
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
0800 4085500
Combustion appliances - oil
Installation of:
a) an oil fired combustion appliance which has a rated heat output of 100 kilowatts or less and which is installed in a building with no more than three storeys (excluding any basement) or in a dwelling
b) oil storage tanks and the pipes connecting them to combustion appliances
c) heating and or hot water service systems connected to an oil fired combustion appliance.
Scheme
APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
www.aphc.co.uk
02476 470 626
Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA Limited)
www.hvca.org.uk / www.besca.org.uk
0800 652 5533
NAPIT Registration Ltd
www.napit.org.uk
0345 543 0330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association Limited)
www.oftec.org.uk
0845 658 5080
Combustion appliances - solid fuel
Installation of:
a) solid fuel burning combustion appliance which has rated heat output of 50 kilowatts or less which is installed in a building with no more than three storeys (excluding any basement) or
b) heating and hot water service systems connected to a solid fuel burning appliance.
Scheme
APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
www.aphc.co.uk
02476 470 626
Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA Limited)
www.hvca.org.uk / www.besca.org.uk
0800 652 5533
HETAS Ltd (Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme)
www.hetas.co.uk
01684 278170
NAPIT Registration Ltd
www.napit.org.uk
0345 543 0330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Electrical safety in dwellings
Find a registered electrician - A register of electricians belonging to the various CPS schemes www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/
General guidance - For general advice, guidance and information in easy to understand formats www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice
(a)Full competence schemes
Scheme
BRE Certification Limited
www.partp.co.uk / www.redbooklive.com
01923 664100
British Standards Institution (BSI)
www.kitemarktoday.com / www.bsi-global.com
01442 278607
ELECSA Limited
www.elecsa.org.uk
0870 749 0080
NAPIT Registration Limited
www.napit.org.uk
0345 5430330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
(b) Defined competence schemes
These schemes are designed primarily for those who do electrical installation work as an adjunct to or in connection with their primary work activities - for example, gas installations, plumbing, kitchen or bathroom fitting, heating installation, security systems.
Scheme
APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
www.aphc.co.uk
02476 470 626
ELECSA Limited
www.elecsa.org.uk
0870 749 0080
NAPIT Registration Ltd (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
www.napit.org.uk
0345 5430330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association Limited)
www.oftec.org.uk
0845 658 5080
Plumbing, heating systems and hot water service systems (non dwellings)
Installation of a heating, hot water service system, mechanical ventilation or air conditioning system, or associated controls in a building other than a dwelling.
Scheme
Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA Limited)
www.hvca.org.uk / www.besca.org.uk
0800 652 5533
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Plumbing, heating systems and hot water service systems (dwellings)
Installation of a heating or hot water service system or associated controls in a dwelling.
Scheme
APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
www.aphc.co.uk
02476 470 626
Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA Limited)
www.hvca.org.uk / www.besca.org.uk
0800 652 5533
NAPIT Registration Limited
www.napit.org.uk
0345 5430330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Ventilation and air conditioning (dwellings)
Installation of an air conditioning or ventilation system in an existing dwelling which does not involve work on systems shared with other dwellings.
Scheme
NAPIT Registration Ltd
www.napit.org.uk
0345 543 0330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Ventilation and air conditioning (non dwellings)
Installation of a heating, hot water service, mechanical ventilation or air conditioning system, or associated controls, in a building other than a dwelling.
Scheme
Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA Limited)
www.hvca.org.uk / www.besca.org.uk
0800 652 5533
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Ventilation and air conditioning (commercial kitchens)
Installation of a commercial kitchen ventilation system which does not involve work on systems shared with parts of the building occupied separately.
Scheme
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Lighting systems, electric heating systems and associated controls
Installation of a lighting system or electric heating system or associated electric controls.
Scheme
ECA Limited
www.eca.co.uk
020 013 4800
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Air-Pressure testing of buildings
Scheme
iATS
Sanitary conveniences, washing facilities or bathrooms in a dwelling
Installation of a sanitary convenience, washing facility or bathroom in a dwelling which does not involve work on shared or underground drainage.
Scheme
APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
www.aphc.co.uk
02476 470 626
NAPIT Registration Ltd
www.napit.org.uk
0345 543 0330
NICEIC Group Ltd
www.niceic.com
0870 013 0382
Related publications
Building work, replacements and repairs to your home
Site: Planning, building and the environment
