NHBC warranties are widely regarded as the standard warranty expected by homeowners who have purchased a new-build property. However, did you know that in order for that NHBC warranty to include low and zero-carbon technologies - including Heat Pumps - the installation needs to meet certain requirements.
What is MCS?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, which is a requirement for a company who wish to commission renewable heating products, such as heat pumps.
MCS is an eligibility requirement for the Government's financial incentives including the Renewable Heat Incentive ("RHI"). However, new build homes are usually considered ineligible for the RHI, and therefore certification under MCS is often overlooked.
What Does NHBC Require?
There is a myth that new-build properties do not require compliance and registration with the recognised industry standard - MCS. In fact the NHBC Technical Standards state the following requirements:
"Any LZC technology installed in homes covered by NHBC should have current certification confirming satisfactory assessment by an appropriate independent technical approvals authority. Certification in accordance with the MCS is normally accepted by NHBC, although others could also be accepted if they are considered to provide a suitable alternative."
At the time of writing, there is currently no recognised alternative to the MCS standard, therefore MCS provides the only guaranteed pathway to acceptance under the NHBC standards, and therefore coverage under the NHBC warranty.
MCS Umbrella Scheme
Alto Energy is the exclusive UK importer for IVT Heat Pumps and we offer an MCS Umbrella Scheme on all products that we supply. Under the umbrella scheme, Alto Energy takes responsibility for the design and sizing of the heat pump system, and provides a commissioning and MCS registration service.
So, if you're a developer or house-builder looking to gain a competitive advantage by installing heat pumps in your developments, please head to our Developer page to find out more about the benefits of working with Alto Energy.