What is a Competent Person?

A 'Competent Person' is a firm that has been deemed to be sufficiently competent to self-certify that its work complies with the Building Regulations.

A Competent Person must be registered with a scheme that has been approved by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Schemes authorised by the DCLG are listed on its website.  The list of schemes can be viewed by clicking here.

A Competent Person is not required to notify a building control body of its proposals to carry out electrical installation work before it begins. However, on completion of the work, a Competent Person must certify that it complies with the Building Regulations by reporting appropriate details of the work carried out to the Competent Person Scheme. In addition, the person or organisation ordering the work may require a duly completed Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.

If a firm wishes to become a Competent Person it must first be assessed to ensure it meets the conditions of registration, including the required levels of competence. In the case of the ECA's Electrical Energy Efficiency Scheme the minimum requirements are as follows:

• the firm must be able to demonstrate it has achieved a successful assessment against the requirements of the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme (EAS) or equivalent;
• the firm must employ at least one individual who is qualified to work as the firm’s Energy Supervisor

Annual monitoring visits are required to ensure ongoing compliance with the requirements - these will include site visits to completed installations.