HVCA

Competent person training

Competent persons scheme

Revisions to the Building Regulations in England and Wales are currently being introduced on a phased basis. Of particular significance to the h&v sector is Part L of the regulations, which addresses a range of issues surrounding energy efficiency and fuel conservation.

Part L1, which relates to residential premises, and Part L2, which relates to non-residential buildings, both came into force on 6 April 2006.

In summary, the new Part L sets out mandatory standards aimed at conserving fuel and power, minimising heat loss and raising energy efficiency levels through the use of fuel-efficient materials and methods – and requires all work to be measured in terms of carbon emissions.

To ensure a high degree of compliance with the new regulations, the Department for Communities and Local Government is promoting the development of Competent Persons schemes that will allow suitably qualified firms to self-certify any work they carry out which is covered by the wider scope of the Building Regulations, thus avoiding the need for inspection by local authority building control departments.

These developments led the HVCA to create a new organisation – Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd (BESCA) – to develop and operate a Competent Persons scheme in relation to both Part L1 and Part L2, and to Parts F, G and J, which relate to the installation of central heating and domestic water systems in domestic premises.

The fact that it has successfully undergone HVCA independent inspection and assessment will assist an HVCA member in qualifying for membership of a BESCA Competent Persons scheme – provided that it employs one or more individuals who have received relevant self-certification training and can demonstrate an appropriate level of qualification and competence.

BESCA is also progressing applications to operate similar schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For further information on the Competent Persons schemes that may apply to HVCA members, click here to visit the BESCA website.

PDF Frequently asked questions 126KB

back to top of page

HVCA competent person training

HVCA has been appointed by BESCA as its sole training provider in respect of the latter's Competent Persons schemes.

This has led so far to the development of: (a) a series of half-day seminars designed to promote understanding of the new Building Regulations among directors and senior managers; and (b) a series of one-day seminars/ assessments designed to train and approve accredited certifiers to certify work on behalf of "competent persons".

All assessment in relation to the "approved training provider" seminars is undertaken by HVCA, which also issues the certificates confirming the successful completion of a self-certification assessment.

back to top of page

Accredited Certifier (Building Regulations) training

Courses are being scheduled; a list of current dates (by HVCA Region) follows.

HVCA Eastern Counties Region
Thursday 18 March 2010 Bury St Edmunds ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 20 April 2010 Romford ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 6 May 2010 Chelmsford ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 10 June 2010 Cambridge ESA Training Ltd
Tuesay 22 June 2010 Norwich ESA Training Ltd
Tuesay 29 June 2010 Romford ESA Training Ltd
HVCA East Midland Region
Thursday 11 March 2010 Peterborough ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 23 March 2010 Nottingham ESA Training Ltd
Wednesday 5 May 2010 Nottingham ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 3 June 2010 Nottingham ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 1 July 2010 Leicester ESA Training Ltd
HVCA London Region
Tuesday 16 March 2010 Central London ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 27 April 2010 Central London ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 18 May 2010 Watford ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 17 June 2010 Central London ESA Training Ltd
HVCA Northern Region
None planned at present    
HVCA North West Region
None planned at present    
HVCA Northern Ireland
None planned at present    
HVCA South East Region
Tuesday 9 March 2010 Dartford ESA Training Ltd
Monday 29 March 2010 Coulsden ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 30 March 2010 Reading ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 1 April 2010 Miltom Keynes ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 20 May 2010 Woking ESA Training Ltd
Wednesday 9 June 2010 Dartford ESA Training Ltd
Tuesday 15 June 2010 Reading ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 24 June 2010 Coulsden ESA Training Ltd
HVCA Scotland
None at present    
HVCA Wales and West of England Region
Wednesday 10 March 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 24 March 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 7 April 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 21 April 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 5 May 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 19 May 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 9 June 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 23 June 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 7 July 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 21 July 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 4 August 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 18 August 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 8 September 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 22 September 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 6 October 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 20 October 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 10 November 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 24 November 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 8 December 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
Wednesday 15 December 2010 Bristol Vital Resources Ltd
HVCA West Midlands Region
Thursday 25 March 2010 Wolverhampton ESA Training Ltd
Thursday 22 April 2010 Nuneaton ESA Training Ltd
HVCA Yorkshire Region
None planned at present    

Training providers and contact information

  • Alpha Building Services, Stratford, East London (Fred Hampton on 020 8221 0321);
  • Amba QA Ltd, the Midlands and Yorkshire - (Martin Glenny on 01926 885377 or Fax: 01926 313 945  or Mob: 0771 259 3482 email at mg@ambaqa.org.uk);
  • Ambient Controls, Hampshire (Tony Wootton on 01256 844 693);
  • Cannon Training, West Horndon, Essex (Paul McLeod on 01268 793 573);
  • Celsius, Yorkshire - (Stuart Ellis email at sellis@goosenet.net or info@celsius-training.co.uk;
  • ESA Training Ltd, London, E. Midlands; South East & Eastern England (Mike Malina on 01842 790009 or fax 070920 27657 or 07879 890 926 mike@esatraining.co.uk
  • Duel Safety Services, Cheshire - mobile (Mike Taylor on 07736 776 964);
  • Glenn Associates, Barking, Essex - (Rod Glenn on 020 8594 9008);
  • J C McDonald Associates, Yorkshire and North East - mobile (John McDonald on 01943 609 586 or email at jcmcdonald@btinternet.com);
  • Knowsley Associates, Knowsley, Liverpool (John Edmonds 0151 477 5760);
  • Coriolis International Ltd, Bury, Lancs; Ireland & Scotland - mobile (Mark Forsyth on 07831 377 215) Web www.coriolisinternational.co.uk
  • Piper Assessment, Swanley, Kent (Administration 01322 662 180);
  • SPS, Chatham, Kent – (Peter Sims on 01643 830 045); and
  • Vital Resources, Bristol (Scott Crump email at scott.crump@vital-resource.com or Ralph Preston on 0117 904 1250).

The delegate fee for the one-day course will be £150 for employees of HVCA members and £200 for non-members.

back to top of page