How to check a UK installer's qualifications
Check the installer independently on the relevant register, confirm that their registration covers your work, and review insurance for the planned installation. Get written acceptance of the exact model, documents and site conditions before paying the factory. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate factory documents with its staff in China.
Check the register yourself
Ask for the contracting business's name, address, registration details and the names of those doing specialist work. For a home project in England, search the Competent Persons Register to check scheme membership. For electrical work, use Registered Competent Person Electrical. Compare the record with the quotation and contact the scheme operator if the identity is unclear.
For gas work, check the attending engineer's photograph and qualifications through Gas Safe Register. Ask to see their card and compare the person with the register entry. Save the search result and date, then check again if a different engineer attends. Keep factory checks separate: use our supplier verification guide.
Match registration to the actual work
Government guidance lists the types of work that can be self-certified under each competent person scheme. Ask the operator to confirm the installer's current scope for your proposed job. Describe the complete installation, including associated wiring, plumbing or structural fixing, rather than simply asking whether the business is registered.
A gas engineer's competencies are shown on the back of their Gas Safe Register card. Compare them with your appliance and proposed work. For other trades, request relevant qualification evidence and examples of comparable installations. Competent person scheme membership is voluntary, with a building control inspection route available; discuss that route with local building control where needed. For projects elsewhere in the UK, ask local building control which route applies.
Check insurance against your installation
Request current public liability insurance evidence and the relevant policy wording or schedule. Match the insured business to your contractor, check the cover dates against the planned work, and ask whether the policy covers the activities, subcontractors and customer-supplied fittings involved. Where the installer designs or specifies the system, also ask about professional indemnity cover.
Ask for written clarification from the insurer or broker if the wording is unclear. Check exclusions, excesses and how a claim would be reported. Record who pays for damage, removal, refitting and replacement materials in the installation agreement. Do not treat a registration badge or an insurance certificate alone as confirmation that your particular loss would be covered.
Get acceptance of the exact product
Before paying the factory, send the installer the exact model, drawings, dimensions, connection details, English instructions, product-specific test evidence and site photographs. Arrange a site visit or sample review where appropriate. Ask them to identify missing information and required changes. Use our test report verification guide to check the factory's evidence.
Obtain written acceptance naming the model and document revisions reviewed, the site assumptions, any outstanding checks, and the work they agree to undertake. Ask whether they will install buyer-supplied goods and what their workmanship warranty covers. A reply saying 'we fit imported products' leaves too much unresolved. Require renewed acceptance if the factory changes components, dimensions or installation instructions.
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Keep a purchase and installation approval pack
Keep the register checks, scope confirmation, insurance evidence, product acceptance and installation quotation together. Agree who handles any building control application or notification, testing, commissioning and handover documents. Ask the installer to name the certificates they expect to provide and any work excluded from their quotation.
Hold the order if identities do not match, scope remains unclear, insurance questions are unanswered or product acceptance is conditional on missing documents. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can help obtain factory information for the installer to review. Agree the response to product defects and installation faults before buying; see faulty home fitting installation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an installer is registered?
Search the relevant register yourself and match the business to the quotation. For gas work, also compare the attending engineer's photograph and qualifications. Ask the operator to resolve any mismatch.
Does registration cover every installation?
Check the exact work category with the scheme operator. Give them the appliance or fitting details and associated work. For gas work, compare the job with the competencies on the engineer's card.
What insurance should I ask my installer for?
Ask for public liability cover and relevant policy details. Check the insured name, dates, activities, subcontractors and exclusions. Ask about professional indemnity where they provide design or specification advice.
Will a UK installer fit products bought from China?
Ask before ordering. Send the exact model, instructions, drawings and test evidence, then obtain written acceptance covering site conditions, outstanding checks, installation scope and workmanship warranty.