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Flexi-Orb Heat Pump Scheme: A Game-Changer for the UK's Heat Pump Industry

Mars · 2025-08-13T19:39:51Z

The UK’s heat pump industry has just been handed one of its most significant shake-ups in years. Flexi-Orb, the alternative certification scheme developed by Certi-fi Schemes Ltd, has officially had its Heat Pump Scheme recognised as fit for the purpose of accredited conformity assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), putting it on an equal accreditation footing with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for heat pump installations. For more than a decade, MCS has been the sole UKAS-accredited certification scheme recognised for government-backed renewable heating incentives. That monopoly is now over (at least in principle) with the arrival of a competitor that promises a fresh approach, greater installer support, and improved consumer outcomes. A New Era of Choice Flexi-Orb has been designed to address what many see as deep-rooted problems with the way heat pump certification has been handled under the existing system. For years, industry insiders and homeowners alike have voiced frustration over inconsistent quality, poor accountability, and a lack of meaningful performance benchmarks. David Lindsay, Managing Director of Flexi-Orb, told Renewable Heating Hub: “We’re delighted to have secured UKAS Heat Pump Scheme recognition, which is the precursor to the formal UKAS ISO/IEC 17065:2012 assessment process, but this is just the start. Our mission has always been to put consumers first while making the compliance process fairer, clearer and more effective for installers. We’ve built Flexi-Orb with input from right across the industry, from manufacturers and installers to consumer advocates. This isn’t about lowering the bar; it’s about setting the bar in the right place and ensuring it’s achievable for those committed to quality. Now that we have UKAS recognition of the Heat Pump Scheme, we can move forward with the UKAS assessment process with real confidence.” That industry collaboration has been key to shaping Flexi-Orb’s Heat Pump Code of Practice, which covers every stage from design and noise calculations to aftercare and performance monitoring. Mark Nelson, Certification Director at Flexi-orb, who has been involved in the scheme’s development, believes the arrival of a second accredited scheme is vital for raising standards: “Certification shouldn’t be a tick-box exercise. It should be a living, breathing process that keeps installers sharp and protects consumers from poor workmanship. Flexi-Orb’s model brings real-world practicality into the standards, without losing sight of technical rigour. That combination is what the industry has been missing.” Unlike the revised MCS process, which has stepped back from certain office-based assessments, Flexi-Orb insists on them. That means checks aren’t limited to what an inspector sees on-site, but also extend to the paperwork, permissions, and aftercare infrastructure behind each install. The scheme also includes clear assessment checklists (something many installers have long called for) so everyone knows exactly what’s being measured and why. Why This Matters to Homeowners The introduction of Flexi-Orb as a UKAS-approved scheme could mean: Greater consumer choice: Homeowners will now be able to select installers certified under either scheme. Healthy competition: With two schemes in the market, both will need to continuously raise their game. Better accountability: Flexi-Orb’s feedback mechanisms and practical design focus could lead to fewer underperforming systems. For a sector that has suffered from a stubbornly low average SCOP of around 2.7, when well-designed systems should regularly achieve 3.5+ – this could be the jolt the market needs. Why This Is Big News I’ve spent years hearing from UK homeowners on the Renewable Heating Hub forums, and I’ve lost count of the stories involving MCS-accredited installations that were poorly designed, badly executed and left consumers fighting through a bureaucratic maze to get anything fixed. From systems that can’t heat a house in winter, to oversized buffer tanks destroying efficiency, to heat pumps short cycling themselves to death, these aren’t rare exceptions. They’re patterns. And the oversight structure has been failing to break those patterns. That’s why Flexi-Orb’s UKAS approval is a huge deal. Not because it guarantees overnight change (it doesn’t) but because it finally breaks the monopoly that has allowed complacency to thrive. However, there’s still a major hurdle: DESNZ. Right now, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and other government-backed funding streams still require MCS certification for eligibility. That means even with UKAS approval, Flexi-Orb-certified installers can’t access the same grants unless DESNZ updates its rules. If MCS is allowed to remain the sole gateway to taxpayer-funded heat pump installations, then we’re back to the same problem, a monopoly, just dressed in new clothes. And given that MCS themselves have publicly stated they want that monopoly, ...

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Mars

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Topic starter 25/09/2025 8:25 pm

@toodles, for company you should gone with "The Toodles".

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Toodles

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25/09/2025 10:37 pm

@editor 😃

Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.

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JamesPa

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26/09/2025 9:45 am

Signed

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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Majordennisbloodnok

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26/09/2025 9:55 am

Yup, signed.

105 m2 bungalow in South East England
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"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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Morgan

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26/09/2025 2:56 pm

Signed.

Retrofitted 11.2kw Mitsubishi Ecodan to new radiators commissioned November 2021.
14 x 500w Monocrystalline solar panels.

2 ESS Smile G3 10.1 batteries.
ESS Smile G3 5kw inverter.

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Judith

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27/09/2025 9:03 pm

Signed

2kW + Growatt & 4kW +Sunnyboy PV on south-facing roof Solar thermal. 9.5kWh Givenergy battery with AC3. MVHR. Vaillant 7kW ASHP (very pleased with SCOP >4) open system operating on WC

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JamesPa

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31/10/2025 4:40 pm

Thishas just been released by Government

MCS will become the sole certification scheme for

Boiler Upgrade Scheme;
• Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund;
• Warm Homes: Local Grant;
• Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4)

There is reference to a wider review of the consumer protection landscape and acknowledgement of concerns expressed about MCS, but this doesnt appear to have affected the outcome

Not sure where this leaves flexi-orb

The response says

"However, to mitigate the potential risks we are taking steps to increase oversight of MCS. This includes placing a DESNZ observer on the MCS Service Company decision-making board and putting in place a memorandum of understanding between the department and MCS. The MCS Consumer Protection Oversight Panel will also publish an annual report on their consumer protection performance. We will keep this arrangement under review, and consider if further measures are needed to ensure adequate oversight."

This post was modified 8 months ago by JamesPa

This post was modified 8 months ago by Mars

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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Majordennisbloodnok

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31/10/2025 4:52 pm

Yes, I’ve had a read of the Government response and their decision to go ahead with MCS as the sole certification scheme is despite them noting the concerns about monopolies and despite an overwhelming majority of respondents arguing against just using one scheme.

As I expected, the decision to go ahead ignored the input from the general public. If they’re going to ignore us, why ask us in the first place? Why not be honest and say “We do not value your opinion and won’t listen”?

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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JamesPa

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31/10/2025 4:56 pm

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

↑

As I expected, the decision to go ahead ignored the input from the general public. If they’re going to ignore us, why ask us in the first place? Why not be honest and say “We do not value your opinion and won’t listen”?

Most likely because they have a legal duty to consult and to consider responses, but not to follow them.

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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Majordennisbloodnok

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31/10/2025 5:09 pm

Posted by: @jamespa

↑

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

↑

As I expected, the decision to go ahead ignored the input from the general public. If they’re going to ignore us, why ask us in the first place? Why not be honest and say “We do not value your opinion and won’t listen”?

Most likely because they have a legal duty to consult and to consider responses, but not to follow them.

Oh, I understand they don’t HAVE to follow the comments but surely going against that weight of opinion makes it difficult to claim the exercise actually constituted “considering”.

I wonder if an FOI request would elicit the meeting minutes…

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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JamesPa

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31/10/2025 6:28 pm

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

↑

I wonder if an FOI request would elicit the meeting minutes…

Thats a thought. There is a contact point given.

Having experienced making FOI requests on my LPA in relation to heat pumps there is a pretty wide ranging get out because these are handled under EIR not FOI. I suspect this get out will be used.

This post was modified 8 months ago by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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Mars

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Topic starter 31/10/2025 9:51 pm

I must say I'm very disappointed by this decision. I have not yet read or processed the document. I'll reserve that as light bedtime reading in the next hour or so.

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