Blog: Remaining MCS compliant in a sub-contracting arrangement

Written by: Ben Howe

In my role as Compliance and Enforcement Manager, I regularly come across Installers who don’t fully understand how you can subcontract and remain compliant with MCS Standards.

There tends to be two instances where sub-contracting arrangements come into question; the first is around the MCS certified Installer subcontracting work out, the second is around the MCS certified Installer being subcontracted to do work for another Installer that isn’t certified.

MCS certified Installer subcontracting work out

If you are awarded work – you are allowed to sub-contract all, or part of the installation out to another Installer who isn’t MCS certified BUT you must adhere to MCS 001-1, clause 4.10.

Conditions include:

  • You will hold the customer contract
  • You must verify that the work undertaken meets the MCS Standards.
  • You must put a sub-contract agreement in place which describes the scope of work undertaken by the sub-contractor and how it is to be ensured that the work they undertake meets the MCS Standards
  • You assume full responsibility for the installation.

As the certified Installer, you hold the contract for the sale and installation with the customer and must register the installation on the MID.

Being subcontracted to do work for another Installer that isn’t MCS certified

If you have been sub-contracted to complete some work for another Installer who isn’t MCS certified, you CANNOT complete an MCS certified installation.

This is because you wouldn’t hold the contract directly with the customer, you won’t be able to raise an MCS certificate. The Installer signing the contract with the customer needs to be able to verify that the work undertaken on their behalf meets the MCS Standards. If they’re not MCS certified themselves, they won’t be eligible to do this.

For more information about staying compliant with sub-contracting arrangements, please refer to MCS 001-1 in our Standards and Tools Library.