NACOSS approved installers will be able to qualify to use the Government's new Quality Mark designed to help householders avoid the "cowboy" companies.
The Quality Mark has been set up to help consumers choose builders and reputable contractors who "produce quality jobs and who are reliable". It will also help reputable companies draw a clear line between themselves and the "cowboys".

Householders will have access to a register of local companies approved under the Quality Mark Scheme and will be encouraged to contact a call centre for their names. The Quality Mark will be awarded by certification bodies approved by the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR).

In the security systems sector, NSI (The National Security Inspectorate) is the only certification body licensed by the DETR to assess and audit companies in this way.

NACOSS is now part of NSI, therefore NACOSS companies are "deemed to satisfy" many (but not all) of the technical, financial, health and safety, liability insurance and management practice criteria required by the Government. NACOSS companies still have to satisfy the Quality Mark criteria, but inspection and audit results from NACOSS visits can be counted towards the Quality Mark.

NACOSS says it can keep additional costs to a minimum. A limited number of NACOSS firms registering for the Quality Mark during the pilot stage of the scheme will pay a reduced application fee of £200+VAT. Interested companies should contact Joanne Thompson-Pike at NACOSS (0870 20 50000) as soon as possible.

Alex Volossevich, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NSI said: "This is another accolade of which firms inspected by NACOSS can be proud".

The Quality Mark was due to be launched on May 22 by Construction Minister, Nick Raynsford.

Source

Security Installer