Why join us?

&ES membership is open to UK firms engaged in the design, installation, commissioning and/or maintenance of heating, ventilating, refrigeration, air conditioning, ductwork, plumbing, facilities services and energy management systems.

All B&ES members are subject to regular third-party competence assessment. Currently, BESCA administers this process using the services of BM TRADA a recognised certification body with a sound track record in the construction industry.


Read here why this gives B&ES members a business edge.

Potential members must undergo independent competence assessment prior to admission – and this complete inspection will take place for the first two years thereafter. Assessment is then repeated for all members every year with a full site inspection at least every three years.
 
The assessment will cover commercial capability – including such matters as administrative and business systems, financial and training records, insurance arrangements, and health and safety, environmental and equal opportunities policies and their application.
 
Additionally, it is designed to evaluate technical competence. This takes place on-site and involves the inspection of work in progress against a broad range of standards, devised and simplified by the B&ES in collaboration with the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA).

A badge of quality

B&ES independent competence assessment means that B&ES members: are enabled to satisfy tender conditions relating to health and safety in respect of:

• can automatically register with the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), enabling them to satisfy tender conditions relating to health and safety in respect of most work undertaken for public and private sector clients and main contractors;
• are assisted in qualifying for membership of a Competent Persons scheme operated by Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd (BESCA), and so are able to self-certify work they carry out in relation to Parts F,G J and L of the Building Regulations;
• are pre-qualified for registration under the Government-inspired TrustMark scheme in England and Wales, and by the Construction Licensing Executive in Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• receive a discount on their subscription to Constructionline, the Government-backed national register of contractors competent to undertake public sector projects.

Industry alliances

In the wider context, the B&ES is itself a member of:

• the Specialist Engineering Contractors' (SEC) Group, which provides a united voice for engineering specialists;
• the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB), which brings contractors together with manufacturers, consulting engineers and specifiers;
• GCI-UICP, the European umbrella body for the hvacr and plumbing industries;
• CEETB, the principal European organisation representing all engineering specialists in construction;
• the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA).

To join the B&ES click here.