Trade accreditations your builder should have

If you are planning work on your home; small repairs or major works, there are key trade certifications that your potential tradesman or building supplier should have. This summary gives you the essential trade certifications to look out for in each trade - roofing, electrics, gas, etc. - and the benefits and protection that each one provides.

WARNING: Opting for a company without proper certifications can leave you exposed to poor quality of work that doesn’t meet building regulations and the high cost of later repairing substandard work. You cannot sell or rent your home if building regulations are found not to have been met.

DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE BADGE

Its easy to copy a logo: always verify you builder’s certification number using the website links provided.

Multi-Trade

Trust Mark

• Demonstrate a commitment to raising standards in relation to competence, quality of workmanship, quality of service and customer care
• Insurance backed warranty
• Deposit protection insurance in the event that your chosen firm ceases to trade
• User-friendly complaints procedure to help resolve any issues
• Adopt and comply with appropriate industry standard requirements, such as the Building Regulations and British Standards

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The Guild of Master Craftsmen

• Will make sure that the minimum qualifications that are required to gain membership are of a high standard
• Access to a free conciliation service if problems arise
• Tradesmen of the Guild of Master Craftsmen have demonstrated the quality of their work and a commitment to customer care

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Building / Contracting

FMB (Federation of Master Builders)

• Assurance of compliance with building regulations and ‘stringent code of practice’
• Members have a minimum of twelve months trading and have passed credit checks
• All members can offer Build Assure warranties on their work
• Free dispute resolution service

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CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building)

• The COIB accredit professional and vocational qualifications as a mark of the highest levels of competence and professionalism – providing assurance for clients and professionals procuring built assets
• Five grades of membership in the institute, depending on qualifications

NHBC (National House Building Council)

• Access to a resolution service and NHBC Guarantee should your builder fail to fulfil their responsibilities
• Pre-completion insolvency cover gives you protection if your builder becomes insolvent after exchange of contracts or for repairs in the first two years after completion

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Helifix

• Quality assurance on installation of Helifix structural goods
• 10 year insurance-backed warranties, on all completed works

The Green Register

• Members trained in sustainable building practices
• Not an assurance that sustainable practice will be used

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CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme)

• Contractor must pass health and safety pre-qualification assessments to a nationally recognised and accepted threshold standard
• Good mark of reassurance for professional contractor; no direct client benefit

CSCS (Construction Skills Certificate Scheme)

• Certified card holders have achieved the recognised qualifications required in their trade/occupation
• Card holders also have passed the relevant Health Safety and Environment test

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Roofing

Competent Roofer

• By law all roofers must be accredited with a CompetentRoofer certificate
• All registered works automatically receive a 10-year insurance –backed insolvency guarantee

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Confederation of Roofing Contractors

• Fully insured 10-year back up guarantee on new works, even in the event of your chosen contractor ceasing to exist
• Optional no deposit home improvement loan enabling any essential work to be carried out immediately

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NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited)

• Insurance backed guarantees
• Proven financial stability and trading records
• Free technical advice
• Fulfilment of the NFRC Codes of Practice and compliance with the TrustMark scheme
• Provides a range of warranties for its members through Quality Assured National Warranties

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Gas, Boilers and Heating

Gas Safe Register

• Gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register by law
• Reassurance that the engineer is trained and qualified
• Free dispute resolution service

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CORGI

This accreditation is no longer valid: Gas Safe Register has replaced CORGI as the gas registration body in Great Britain

APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors)

• Ensure that only qualified operatives are employed to undertake plumbing & heating work
• All members must have a minimum of £2M of public liability insurance

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Electrics

NICEIC

• Free access to the NICEIC independent complaints procedure
• If standards are not met, the work will be amended at no additional cost
• Contractors re-assessed on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance

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Painting & Decorating

PDA (Painting Decorating Association)

• Reassurance all members have a minimum of five years experience in the industry  & carry adequate public liability insurance
• Members are subjected to random checks to ensure high standards are maintained

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Glazing

FENSA

• When having windows or doors installed by FENSA approved contractors, you’re not required to register the works with your local authority. This can save you up to £250
• Deposit indemnity cover, also covering cost of completion if frim ceases to trade

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GGF (The Glass and Glazing Federation)

• All deposits placed are protected up to £3,000 or 25% of the contract price, whichever is lower
• Free Conciliation Service
• Members work to a GGF Code of Good Practice and to the Technical Standards laid out in the GGF Glazing Manual
• Operating for at least 24 months in order to be a member

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Electrical Terminology A-Z

If you’re planning on booking some electrical work, the chances are you’ll be hearing some words and terms that you may not be too familiar with… or that you haven’t heard since secondary school science class.

This electrical terminology guide will give you enough information for you to understand what your engineers are talking about. You may even find yourself brave enough to drop an acronym or two in conversation.

Electrical Acronyms and Terms A-Z

Alternating Current (AC)	An electrical current that alters its direction of flow many times per second.
Amp / Ampere (A)	The single unit of electrical current.
Bonding	Connections on exposed metal-work to stop electric shocks, by means of an earth connection.
BS 7671	The British Standard Requirements for Electrical Installations, previously known as IEE Wiring Regulations. This document informs of the requirements for electrical installations in the UK.
Circuit	The action of distributing electricity, consisting of cables and accessories.
Circuit Breaker (CB)	This device automatically breaks an electrical circuit when a fault is detected.
Circuit Tester	This device plugs into a standard outlet to check a circuit is properly grounded.
Conductors	Any material, substance or device that allows the flow of electricity.
Direct Current (DC)	An electrical current that flows in one direction, e.g. Battery.
Distribution Board (DB)	A piece of equipment that is used to connect circuits to an electricity supply.
Distribution Circuit	A circuit supplying electricity to a secondary distribution board.
Distribution Network Operator (DNO)	The company that distributes electricity to your home.
Electrical Installation Condition Report(EICR)	A report showing the condition of your property’s existing electrical installation.
Electrical Panel	An insulated panel that is used to connect electrical wires to circuit breakers.
Extractor Fan	An electrical ventilator for bathrooms and kitchens to prevent moisture from developing.
Extra Low Voltage	A low supply of electricity. 50V AC or less.
Fault Finding	The act of testing circuits to see if there is a fault within the chosen electrical system.
Floor Plan	A simple scaled drawing to portray rooms as seen from above
Flush	The way in which electrical accessories are sunk into the wall, so only the face place protrudes.
Fuse	A safety device that will melt the wire inside it if an excessive current flows through it.
Fuse Board	An enclosure that contains fuses for a property.
Fused Connection Unit (FCU)	An electrical accessory containing a cartridge fuse, used to connect and protect a piece of electrical equipment.
Hertz (Hz)	Unit of measure of electrical frequency.
Ingress Protection (IP)	A rating system that shows how protected an enclosure is against liquids and solids.
Insulation Resistance (IR)	The measurement of how an electrical circuit or piece of equipment is able to resist electricity leakage.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)	An energy efficient device that produces light when supplied with electricity, developing rapidly into a viable light source in its own right.
Live	The collective name for the conductors that carry the normal operating current.
Live Conductors	Wires with electrical current actively running through them.
Neutral Conductor	A conductor that under normal conditions will carry no current.
Low Voltage	An electrical supply of between 50V AC and 1000V AC.
Luminaire	A light fitting.
Neon Voltage Tester	A tool used to detect if wires are live.
Neutral (N)	A term used to describe one of the cable cores in a normal mains supply.
Ohm	A unit of measure for electric resistance.
Ohm’s Law	V=IR where V is the voltage in volts, I is the current in amperes, and R is the resistance in ohms.
Over Current	A condition when the normal load current is exceeded in a circuit. This may result in an overload or a short circuit.
Overhead Wires	Wires that are above the ground.
Overload	An over current exceeding the normal full load current of a circuit.
Radial Circuit	A circuit set so that the cable runs from the consumer unit or fuse box to one or more accessories without returning to the source.
RCD (Residual Current Device	A current-activated circuit breaker used as a safety device for mains operated electrical tools and appliances that offers earth fault protection.
Recessed Lighting	A light fixture installed into a hollow opening. Also known as a down light.
Resistance	The property of an electrical circuit, measured in ohms, that restricts the flow of current.
Resistive Load	An electrical load with no considerable inrush current.
Semiconductor Fuse	A fuse that is used to protect solid-state devices.
Short Circuit	An overcurrent greater than the original full load current of a circuit.
Short Circuit Rating	The maximum short circuit current an electrical component can sustain without excessive damage.
Spur	A cable that supplies a socket or other accessories, which branches from a circuit.
Switch Leg	A wire connected to a power switch.
Volt (V)	A unit of electrical pressure.
Voltage Rating	The maximum open circuit voltage with which a fuse can be used.
Watts	The energy consumed by an appliance per second is expressed in watts.