Become an HVCA member
The mark of quality
Every industry has its leaders – those who set and maintain the standards to which others can only aspire. For more than a century, members of the HVCA have occupied just such a position in building services engineering.
It is they who have broken new barriers in technological excellence, risen to the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated buildings, responded to growing environmental pressures – and offered an increasingly expert and professional service to commercial and domestic customers alike.
A business edge
In craftsmanship, commercial competence, management ability and all-round professionalism, HVCA members have the edge – a fact acknowledged by clients and specifiers throughout the country, and by householders who have cause to thank them for the efficiency of their central heating installations.
Eligibility
HVCA membership is open to UK firms engaged in the design, installation, commissioning and/or maintenance of heating, ventilating, refrigeration, air conditioning, ductwork, plumbing, facilities services and energy management systems.
Inspection and assessment
All HVCA members are subject to third-party inspection and assessment by BM TRADA, a recognised certification body with a sound track record in the construction industry.
Potential members must undergo independent inspection and assessment prior to admission. Inspection and assessment is then repeated for all members every three years, and comprises two elements.
The first addresses commercial capability – covering such matters as administrative and business systems, financial and training records, insurance arrangements, and health and safety, environmental and equal opportunities policies.
The second is designed to evaluate technical competence. This takes place on-site and involves the inspection of work in progress against a broad range of standards, devised and compiled by the HVCA in collaboration with the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA).
Click here to find out more about the HVCA's independent member inspection and assessment scheme.
A quality passport
HVCA independent inspection and assessment also means that HVCA members:
- can automatically register with the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), enabling them to satisfy tender conditions relating to health and safety in respect of most work undertaken for public and private sector clients and main contractors;
- are assisted in qualifying for membership of a Competent Persons scheme operated by Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd (BESCA), and so are able to self-certify work they carry out in relation to Parts F,G J and L of the Building Regulations;
- are pre-qualified for registration under the Government-inspired TrustMark scheme in England and Wales, and by the Construction Licensing Executive in Scotland and Northern Ireland;
- receive a discount on their subscription to Constructionline, the Government-backed national register of contractors competent to undertake public sector projects.
Member benefits
HVCA member companies also benefit from access to a wide range of legal, commercial, technical and promotional services carefully tailored to the needs of all its members, whatever their size and specialism, and which help them to build better – and more profitable – businesses.
These include commercial, legal and technical advice, health and safety guidance, industrial relations back-up, promotional support and an infrastructure for education and training.
HVCA members can also access attractive discounts on the cost of core business services. By taking advantage of what the Association has to offer, many members achieve savings far in excess of their annual subscription.
The diverse nature of work carried out by the HVCA membership is reflected in the existence of four specialist groups to which members can elect to belong at no extra cost. These cover: ductwork; heating and plumbing services; refrigeration and air conditioning; and service and facilities. The specialist groups benefit from the services of a dedicated executive team.
The HVCA's nationwide regional, regional branch and group branch network is serviced by a team of six full-time locally-based executives who can offer advice and guidance on a wide range of industry issues. Regional, regional branch and group branch meetings take place according to a regular annual cycle.
Industry alliances
In the wider context, the HVCA is itself a member of:
- the Specialist Engineering Contractors' (SEC) Group, which provides a united voice for engineering specialists;
- the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB), which brings contractors together with manufacturers, consulting engineers and specifiers;
- GCI-UICP, the European umbrella body for the hvacr and plumbing industries;
- CEETB, the principal European organisation representing all engineering specialists in construction;
- the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA).
For further information on all of the organisations mentioned above, see our industry links.
What the members say
"HVCA has at all times been in the vanguard of culture change."
Grahame Ludlow, AMEC Building and Facilities Services, London SE1
"HVCA members are passionate about the sector in which they work."
John Wardley, Aqua Mechanical Services, Swavesey, Cambs
"I have always been impressed by the HVCA's professionalism."
Ted Rheams, Rheams (Plumbing and Heating), Leamington Spa
"HVCA membership is seen by clients as a true badge of quality."
Malcolm Linsley, Bailey Maintenance Services, Newcastle upon Tyne
"Members realise that the HVCA is an organisation with real influence."
Peter Edmunds, Ductwork Projects, Wimborne, Dorset
"Independent inspection and assessment helps HVCA firms to operate more efficiently, more effectively and therefore more profitably."
John Miller, J H Shouksmith & Sons
"HVCA is ahead of the game when it comes to proving competence."
Dennis Wheelhouse, Thorley Environmental Systems, Harlow, Essex
"That it has the ear of Government is central to the HVCA's success."
Peter Excell, Inspace Environment, London SE1
"Independent inspection and assessment has set HVCA members even further above their unaudited competitors"
Mike McCloskey, Argent FM, London SE1
"The HVCA has been great for us. I wish we had joined sooner."
Brian Edwards, Bartcrown Engineering, Dagenham, Essex
What the clients say
"We have found that HVCA members provide a first-class service in responding to the needs of the client and the professional design team. This includes preparation of competitive tender, site organisation and manning, procurement of materials, handling sub-contractors and liaison with main contractors – and cost control right through to handover."
Robert Chisholm, Principal, Cameron Chisholm Dawson, Chartered Engineers
"The HVCA’s inspection and assessment approach is in line with our desire to have independent verification of all the contractors we employ. The scheme is akin to the council’s approach of using contractors that will add value and exceed our expectations. We are moving towards a position where we will only employ contractors that have been independently assessed."
Terry Whitlock, Technical Services Manager, Kent County Council
"The companies that are involved in our projects are usually HVCA members. This demonstrates that they have the appropriate level of skills needed to tackle major projects. We know that we can rely on HVCA members to deliver quality and expertise."
Eddie Radford, M&E Manager, Bovis Lend Lease
"We applaud the HVCA's decision to implement independent inspection and assessment of its members. This is an excellent example of best practice that reinforces the high standards we have come to expect from HVCA contractors."
Charles Lever, Director of Building Services, Taylor Woodrow Construction
"We view HVCA independent member inspection and assessment as a very positive step forward as it will provide proof of contractor competence and technical ability. To deliver on quality, programme and cost, we want to work with contractors who are members of a relevant association because that will establish a set of minimum quality standards."
Steve Vickers, General Manager, Urban Design, Birmingham City Council
Applying for membership
To learn more about HVCA membership:
click here to complete our online enquiry form and receive our membership information pack;
or click here to download our membership application form (PDF); or
click here to e-mail to our membership services manager, who will arrange for one of our membership team to contact you. Call Val O'Reilly on 020 7313 4907.
Affiliation
Affiliate status allows organisations that are not eligible for HVCA membership to enjoy a close relationship with the Association.
Potential affiliates are vetted by the HVCA Membership Committee and required to adhere to the Association’s Code of Fair Trading and other codes of conduct.
The package of benefits available to HVCA affiliates comprises:
- access to the Association's regional, regional branch, specialist group and group branch network, in order to arrange promotions, presentations, seminars and other joint activities;
- complimentary copies of Association publications, including HVCA Newslink (six per year) and The Specifier's Guide (published annually);
- listing in the annual HVCA Directory of Members;
- purchase of HVCA technical and specialist publications at reduced member rates;
- attendance at HVCA training and management courses at reduced member rates;
- use of the prestigious HVCA Affiliate logo.
The initial registration and annual subscription charge for HVCA affiliation is £500 + VAT.
Applying for affiliate status
click here to download our affiliation application form (pdf)
or
click here to email our affiliate development adviser, or call Jim Gould on 01636 678081.
