NetRet Group Ltd Limited is an independent certification body for PAS 2030, BIM, Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management systems to recognised international and national standards.
We operate under the direction of a Governing Board in compliance with ISO 17021, ISO 17065 and associated EAC Guidelines and our procedures are administered in a non-discriminatory manner.
Scope and Competency of Certification Bodies
NetRet Group Ltd shall undertake certification activities of only those PAS 2030-related EEMs in relation to which it has been accredited in accordance with BS EN ISO/IEC 17065.
NetRet Evaluation of Installation Process Management
Retrofit Installer General
You the Retrofit Installer agree that your procedures and processes ensure that:
Assessment and Certification Requirements
These conditions are binding on both parties, and you must advise us if you are struggling to meet our conditions so that we can review, support you and take the necessary actions.
Terms & Definitions
For the purposes of this PAS, the terms defined in BS EN ISO/IEC 17065 and PAS 2030 together with those provided in this clause, apply.
PAS Certification & TrustMark Registration Fees
Separate quotations are provided for the various stages of certification which will include:
Initial Certification
Surveillance Visits
NetRet ensures all Contractors who provide Retrofit Energy Efficient Measures, in accordance with PAS 2030:2019 have a risk rating assessment dependent on the measure itself. Under the current and most relevant PAS, using an approved system, NetRet calculates the overall risk for site surveillance requirements.
Note: Cancellation of site surveillance with less than 48 hours' notice will incur a day rate charge of £500. Your change of date will be included in the charge.
Increase of Surveillance Visits
Refer to table (inspection rates by tier) page 6
Extension of Scope
In the event of the client cancelling any planned visits within 30 days of the appointment the full amount will be payable.
Evaluation Requirements
This shall be done by audit of retrofit installer records and standard procedures and processes, taking account of the number and scale of retrofit installer activities (e.g. number and geographical spread of offices, number of installation operatives and range of measure applications). NOTE Compliance with the requirements of PAS 2030 implies knowledge of PAS 2035 as this is referenced in PAS 2030. Therefore, certification bodies should include understanding of PAS 2035 in their audits.
EEM Installation Delivery Evaluation
NetRet Group shall confirm the delivery of a sample of the installation through at-location inspection of pre-installation building inspection activity and of installation activity both during and after completion, in relation to each of the measures for which the installer has applied for certification. This can be on the basis of inspection undertaken by NetRet Group Ltd or inspection already undertaken by another certification body accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17065 or an inspection body accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020, that also meets all or some of the requirements of PAS 2031. In the event that the other inspection used does not meet all of the requirements of PAS 2031, NetRet Group Ltd shall undertake direct inspection of the retrofit installer’s activity, in respect of the missing requirements. If, at the time of initial evaluation, the retrofit installer has not undertaken installations claimed to comply with PAS 2030 for the measures under evaluation, the inspection shall be carried out on analogous work or if a suitable example is not available by examination of capability and available competence. Where one or the other of these alternatives are applied, NetRet Group Ltd shall require that the retrofit installer notify it of the first instance of installation of a relevant measure to PAS 2030 and provide opportunity for retrospective inspection and evaluation.
Surveillance Evaluation
Installation process evaluation
You will allow NetRet at least annually access to the recorded pre-installation building inspections and installation processes in relation to each of the measures for which you are certified, to establish whether those processes and their application comply with the core requirements of PAS2030 and the relevant measure-specific Annex(es) of that PAS 2030.
EEM Installation Delivery Evaluation
NetRet Group Ltd shall undertake at-location inspection of the retrofit installer’s pre- installation building inspection activity and installation activity both during and after completion, in accordance with the schedule provided in 5.2.3 in relation to, and representative of, the range of measures for which the retrofit installer has been certified. Where not otherwise specified, the choice between inspection during or after installation shall be on the basis of random selection but can be influenced by previous non-conformity, complaint or feedback.
NetRet Group Ltd shall select at least five installations at random for each measure type. If it is not possible to visit any of the first five selected installations, NetRet Group Ltd shall select another five at random and the process will continue until the required number of inspections have taken place within the accepted time limit.
Inspection shall be carried out on at least one physical measure of each type registered under certification every 12 months or, if a suitable example is not available, by examination of capability and available competence. Where one or other of these alternatives are applied, NetRet Group Ltd shall require that the retrofit installer notify it of the first instance of installation of a relevant measure to PAS 2030, providing opportunity for retrospective inspection and evaluation.
If the installer still has no PAS 2030 work for a particular measure after a second consecutive certification cycle, NetRet Group Ltd shall consider withdrawal of certification for that measure. Such action shall be considered on a case-by-case basis and a decision to continue certification shall be justified and recorded.
This will be of at least five installations at random for each measure type. (Unless otherwise determined by the NetRet Risk Matix). If it is not possible to visit any of the first five selected installations, NetRet shall select another five at random and the process will continue until the required number of inspections have taken place within the accepted time limit. (As determined by the NetRet Risk Matrix)
NOTE 1 The risk assessment may be conducted more frequently than the surveillance cycle in 5.2.4 subject to a minimum period of three months between risk assessments.
NOTE 2 The determination of inspection rates is not dependent on the version of PAS 2030 to
which the retrofit installer has been certified.
You will allow these inspections for each measure type registered under certification every 12 months.
NOTE Certification bodies may undertake such inspection directly through the use of their own resources or through the subcontracting of an inspection body accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020 or BS EN ISO/IEC 17065.
Installation Delivery Evaluation Schedule
If the retrofit installer has been certified for less than one surveillance cycle, the inspection rate shall be the standard inspection rate for the relevant measure tier in Table 3. At the conclusion of each subsequent surveillance cycle the risk assessment Table 1 shall be used to determine a risk score for the retrofit installer. The total risk score from Table 1 shall be used in conjunction with Table 2 to identify the inspection rate. The inspection rate from table 2 will be applied to each measure tier via Table 3 to identify the percentage of
inspections to be carried out for each measure subject to a minimum of one inspection per included measure.
You will allow NetRet to undertake at-location inspections of the retrofit installer’s preinstallation building inspection activity and installation activity both during and after completion, in accordance with the schedule provided in relation to, and representative of, the range of measures for which the retrofit installer has been certified.
If the Retrofit Installer still has no PAS 2030 work for a particular measure after a second consecutive certification cycle, then NetRet will consider withdrawal of certification for that measure.
NetRet will be based on a case-by-case basis and a decision to continue certification shall be justified and recorded.
NetRet are allowed to undertake such inspections directly using their own resources or through the subcontracting of an inspection body accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020 or BS EN ISO/IEC 17065.
Please note:
The determination of inspection rates is not dependent on the version of PAS 2030 to which the Retrofit Installer has been certified.
NetRet and the Retrofit Installer agree that the surveillance evaluation of each type of certified EEM installation process and delivery shall be undertaken in surveillance cycles of approximately 12 months but not exceeding 16 months from the date of certification or the previous surveillance evaluation.
(At-Location) Inspection
Examination of pre-installation building inspection and/or EEM installation activity at the building in which installation is to be, is being or has been, undertaken, either before, during or after its undertaking.
NOTE This inspection will be at a level of detail sufficient to assess compliance of the installation with the relevant requirements of PAS 2030, and in conjunction with evaluation of the installation process used.
The installation process management
You agree as a Retrofit Installer to provide NetRet with the address and all relevant details of all properties where a (PAS compliant) measure will or has been installed and shall maintain a record of a minimum of guarantee period for the specific measure.
You agree that as a Retrofit Installer you will not commence the installation of an EEM without being in possession of the relevant location specific retrofit design for the complete package of measures to be installed as part of that project (PAS 2030, 5.1)
You agree as a Retrofit Installer to look through the design and feed back any obvious error or emissions to the retrofit designer, in accordance with PAS 2030, 5.2.
You agree as a Retrofit Installer prior to commencement of any installation, prepare a dedicated installation method statement in accordance with PAS 2030, 6.1 and has undertaken a preinstallation building inspection meeting the requirements of PAS 2030, 7.2.
You as a Retrofit Installer agree that any installation, testing, commissioning and handover of an installed EEM will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant installation method statement and the relevant installation process elements of PAS 2030, 6.2 to 6.11.
You agree as a Retrofit Installer that when you undertake and complete EEM installations, you will routinely maintain oversight procedures in accordance with the requirements of PAS 2030, 7.1, 7.3 to 7.7 and 7.9
You agree as Retrofit Installer to keep and maintain records of current capability, training and vocational competence for preinstallation building inspectors and installation operatives meet the requirements of PAS 2030,6.5, including the provision of evidence supporting the vocational competence of personnel employed and any subRetrofit Installers as well as demonstrating that competence ratios relevant to the specific measures installed are routinely complied with by both.
You agree as a Retrofit Installer that pre-installation building inspection records (7.2.6) and installation process records are routinely prepared, maintained and made available to NetRet as required in PAS 2030, 7.8.
Retrofit Installer Service Capability
You as a Retrofit Installer agree that you have a complaints procedure, confirming that the retrofit installer has in place and operates a in accordance with PAS 2030 (8.1), and that records in respect of complaints are maintained in accordance with that PAS (7.1); PAS 2030, 8.2
As a Retrofit Installer you confirm that you have in place procedures to instruct operatives with regard to their responses to clients in accordance with PAS 2030 (8.3).
To progress to certification 100% of the invoice costs should be settled.
PAS 2030 certification are detailed below.
OR
*Annual fee starts 1 year from the day of certification*
Payment Due Dates: Payments are due within 30 days from the date of invoice unless otherwise stated in the agreement.
Late Payment Penalties: Late payments may incur interest charges as specified in the agreement.
Refund Policy: Refunds, if applicable, are subject to the terms outlined in the agreement.
Confidentiality: All financial transactions and client information are treated with strict confidentiality.
Legal and Contractual Obligations: The certification body and the client must adhere to the legal and contractual terms specified in the certification agreement.
These terms ensure transparency and consistency in the certification process, aligning with the requirements of the PAS 2030 standards.
Cooling off Period
As long as an assessment has not been confirmed or began (if so refer to our Cancellation Policy), you can cancel this agreement within 14 days under our cooling off period and you are entitled to a full refund.
Post 14 days and if you have not booked in or begun the assessment process and decide not to proceed at this stage, we will hold monies within credit ready for when you do wish to progress your application for certification.
Certification
Following a satisfactory assessment, technical inspections, verification of the assessment report, and completion of any corrective actions, we shall issue a certificate, which is valid for one year.
Subsequent yearly certificates are issued subject to continued satisfactory performance being achieved through surveillance assessments, which shall be carried out on 1-10% of your installations.
If a major non-conformance is found during the initial assessment process a recommendation for certification shall not be made until either corrective action has been verified by a site visit (which may be chargeable) or appropriate documentary evidence of corrective action has been submitted and approved by us.
If a major non-conformance is found during surveillance assessment you shall be required to carry out corrective action within an agreed timescale, which shall normally be no greater than 21 days following the assessment.
Where there are a high number of non-conformances (i.e., more than 5), there will be additional charges to review these due to the time it takes for additional assessment.
NON-CONFORMANCE
Types of Non-Conformity
Defined in BS EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 as non-fulfilment of a requirement, a non- conformity shall be expressed factually and objectively in language that clearly and concisely identifies the nature and extent of the non-fulfilment and the action necessary for its correction, in a manner that is recognisable by other assessors. Statement of the non-conformity shall be uniquely identifiable, related to the clause number of the relevant standard and categorized as one of the following:
NOTE Further details on actions in the event of non-conformity are given in BS EN ISO/IEC 17065, 7.11.
Where a non-conformity is not corrected within 12 weeks of the evaluation date, NetRet Group Ltd may suspend/withdraw the certificate of the retrofit installer, subject to appeal, or impose additional sanctions, which can include the imposition of additional evaluation and/or inspection.
NOTE Circumstances under which non-conformity resolution may exceed 12 weeks where supported by evidence that the non-conformity is being addressed. This could include evidence of alternative dispute resolution or legal action.
Non-conformance is the absence or failure to implement and maintain one or more requirements of the reference standard under assessment.
There are two grades of non-conformance:
Major Non-Conformance
The absence or failure to implement and maintain one or more requirements of the management system reference standard, or a situation which would, based on objective evidence, raise significant doubt as to the capability of the system to achieve the policy and objectives of the system.
A major non-conformance would also be raised if the organisation breached a legal requirement.
Certification shall not be granted or continued to be certified until all major non-conformities have been corrected and the corrective actions verified.
Minor Non-Conformance
A vague or unrevealing element of the management system, which may result in a small discrepancy that could be corrected with minimal organisational, operational, or technical change and within a reasonable time frame, (as opposed to a major non-conformance where the facility has not addressed or adequately addressed the criterion).
Action in the event of non-conformity
Where installer non-conformities are identified or reports of installation failure are received by NetRet Group Ltd, NetRet Group Ltd shall require the retrofit installer to provide evidence of correction, including action taken to prevent reoccurrence, within eight weeks of the evaluation that identified the non-conformance and inform the installer of the implications of non-correction by 12 weeks from the date of the evaluation.
NOTE Further details on actions in the event of non-conformity are given in BS EN ISO/IEC 17065, 7.11.
PAS 2030 Surveillance Visits Agreement
It is part of the PAS 2030 requirement that Surveillance Visits commence as soon as your initial certification is granted. These are calculated as a % of your total number of installs, which will be between 1-10% dependant on your score.
These must be completed before your next yearly head office assessment.
As part of your certification agreement, you must:
It is a contractual requirement with Green Deal Orb that you submit your weekly installation figures to your Certification Body. Failure to do this could lead to both PAS 2030 Certification and TrustMark to be suspended.
Special Assessment Visit
We reserve the right to make an additional chargeable Special Assessment Visit in the following circumstances:
TrustMark Applicants
Any applicants wishing to gain TrustMark registration are advised to read their downloadable guidance found via this link to ensure the scheme requirements are fully understood. Please note all applications will be audited against its standards to confirm compliance before registration is granted:
Helpful Information, Guidance & Advice for Work Done Around Your Home (trustmark.org.uk)
Any installer who does not declare their outstanding Technical Monitoring fails during the application process, runs the risk of being automatically removed from the TrustMark scheme.
Installer of Interest Assessment Plan
Where there is an occasion that TrustMark have highlighted a high percentage of fails via their Technical Monitoring we reserve the right to move the organisation onto our “Installer of Interest Assessment Plan”.
We have designed this programme to provide Installers who have been identified as problematic with a chance to improve so that they can retain certification if they demonstrate improvement, rather than move to an immediate removal of their PAS 2030 and TrustMark registration.
You as a Retrofit Installer agree that any non-conformances found, you will provide evidence of corrections, including action taken to prevent reoccurrence, within eight weeks of the evaluation that identified the non-conformance and NetRet will inform the installer of the implications of non-correction by Twelve weeks from the date of the evaluation.
Where a non-conformity is not corrected within 12 weeks of the evaluation date, NetRet may suspend/withdraw the certificate of the retrofit installer, subject to appeal, or impose additional sanctions, which can include the imposition of additional evaluation and/or inspection.
NetRet will keep Records of PAS 20230 Retrofit Installer evaluations for a minimum of six years and of certification, suspensions or withdrawals for a minimum of 25 years.
Evaluation of Client Service Capability
The evaluation of client service capability shall be undertaken as part of both initial evaluation and surveillance evaluation and shall include:
Customer Complaints about your organisation
If we receive a complaint about your organisation, we have a process in place that will need to be followed:
The complaint will be logged on our system and we will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 72 hours to the complainant.
As part of your certification agreement, we reserve the right to:
PAS 2030 Certification & TrustMark Registration Agreement
How Long Certification Takes
There are many factors that impact the certification timeline, these are largely on our customer side as we have set timeframes that we work within that ensures we provide the excellent customer service and to manage your expectations.
The time frames are detailed below:
The above time frames will be longer for the following reasons:
Appeals
In the event of a dispute or because of an unsuccessful application, you have the right of appeal. The appeal must be sent to the NetRet Group Ltd to review.
NetRet Group Ltd’s procedure for complaints, disputes and appeals can be made available on request.
USE OF OUR MARK OF REGISTRATION
NetRet Group Ltd have the right to exercise the control the use and display of licenses, certificates, marks of conformity, and any other mechanisms for indicating a product is certified.
Incorrect references to the certification scheme, or misleading use of licenses, certificates, marks, or any other mechanism for indicating a product is certified, found in documentation or other publicity, shall be dealt with by suitable action.
Full details on our logo and use of mark policy can be found here
UKAS accredited organisations, and in the case of certification bodies their certificated clients, are able to benefit from visually identifying their status through the use of the national accreditation symbols. In doing so however the organisation displaying them shall not mislead anyone; devalue or degrade the symbols; use them illegally (they are protected trade marks); or use them contrary to the recognised accreditation standards and/or associated guides. For further details click the link.
How to use the UKAS accreditation symbols - UKAS
CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES
Cancellation of a booked assessment within 48 hours of the assessment
Cancellation of a booked assessment two – thirty days prior to the assessment
Application withdrawal within 14 days of application being accepted
The installation materials have not turned up, delaying the installation.
SAFETY
Safety is important to us, and we ask that you tell us about safety requirements prior to the initial visit.
Should protective equipment be required then you must supply it to us for the purposes of our work at your premises.
CLIENT CHANGES
The client will inform us in writing, without delay of matters effecting the capability of the managements system to continue to fulfil the requirements of the standard used for certification.
These include, for example:
CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND YOURS/OUR CONTROL
NetRet shall be relieved of liability should either or both parties become unable to carry out their obligations because of any matter beyond their reasonable control and which was not to be reasonably foreseen.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All information obtained by either party because of our mutual involvement in the certification process shall be held as confidential and not disclosed to any other party unless required as part of the certification process and agreed by both parties.
This confidentiality undertaking shall continue for 90 days after termination of this agreement.
HEAD OFFICE ASSESSMENT AND TECHNICAL INSPECTIONS
For initial certification or a scope extension, technical inspections MUST be conducted within 90 days of the head office assessment to ensure that the validity of the assessment is maintained for the chosen measures.
Where the technical inspections have exceeded the 90-day period from the head office assessment, the head office assessment will need to be repeated and is chargeable to the installation organisation.
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
Both parties shall have the right to terminate the agreement at any time by giving three months’ notice in writing, or immediately should:
SUSPENSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF CERTIFICATION
The Certificate may be withdrawn or suspended for any of the following reasons:
In the event of withdrawal or suspension of certification the customer shall discontinue any reference to their certification across their platforms.
The customer shall return all certification documentation to our offices. NetRet will make public to all interested parties the status of the certification.
Minimum Service
This agreement entails a minimum three (3) - year service commitment, strategically designed to ensure the optimal delivery of your PAS 2030 certification & TrustMark Registration. The technical inspections, integral to this certification process, will play a pivotal role in achieving excellence.
Upon the conclusion of each annual term, you will have the opportunity to choose between two service options: continued support or a basic level of service.
Estimated time of Achievement
When estimating an achievement date for a company audit, there are several factors to consider. The exact number of factors may vary depending on the specific circumstances, but here are some key factors to take into account:
Audit Scope: The size and complexity of the audit, as well as the number of locations or subsidiaries involved, can significantly impact the time required.
Internal Controls: The strength and effectiveness of the company's internal controls can affect the efficiency of the audit process.
Industry and Measures: Different industries have varying reporting requirements and complexities, so industry-specific factors may come into play.
Historical Data: Availability and quality of historical financial data and audit trails can impact the audit timeline.
Cooperation and Preparedness: The company's willingness to cooperate, provide requested documentation, and resolve any issues promptly can affect the audit's efficiency.
Quality of Management System Reporting: The accuracy and completeness of the QMS submitted for audit can impact the time required for verification.
External Factors: External factors like changes in auditing standards, unexpected economic events, or the availability of key personnel can also impact the audit timeline.
Client Specifics: Each company may have unique characteristics or challenges that affect the audit timeline.
Auditor's Workload: The availability and workload of the audit firm or auditor may affect scheduling.
Estimating an achievement date for an audit involves a careful assessment of these factors to ensure a realistic timeline that meets both the company's and the auditor's expectations. It's important to maintain open communication with the audit team to manage expectations and address any potential delays.
Your auditor will give you a rough estimate for achievement which you will be informed of.
Conformity evaluation activities, for which conformity with PAS 2031 is claimed, shall be identified by the inclusion of reference to this PAS in associated documentation.
Links
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us for assistance.
Sustainable Energy Centre, Old Compton Place, Corporation Rd, Newport, NP19 4AD
