BS 7671 and solar electrical installation

A standard, not an installer accreditation badge

BS 7671 is the UK electrical installation standard co-published by the IET and BSI. It is not an installer membership or accreditation scheme. A company’s reference to the standard should lead to questions about the design, inspection, testing and documentation for your work. The IET explanation of BS 7671 provides the official starting point.

Ask what the electrical assessment includes

Give the contractor details of existing solar, batteries and other electrical equipment. Ask who assesses the installation, which requirements apply to the proposed work and how any necessary upgrades are identified. Request a clear distinction between work included in the quotation and work that can only be priced after inspection. Do not use a directory description as a substitute for a qualified assessment of the property.

Agree testing and handover documents

Ask which inspection, testing, commissioning and completion records you will receive and who supplies them. If several contractors are involved, clarify responsibility for the electrical work and the final handover. Keep the documents with the system manuals and warranty records. For a battery retrofit or inverter replacement, ask how changes to the existing installation will be documented.

Check qualifications and company claims separately

A reference to BS 7671 does not establish that a business belongs to a particular scheme or is authorised by a manufacturer. Verify those claims through the relevant official organisation. Confirm equipment experience, postcode coverage, aftercare and the exact legal business carrying out the work. The directory category below preserves an existing recorded reference to the standard; it is not independent certification. Our battery guide and repair guide provide project-specific quotation questions.

Guide reviewed 19 September 2026. Official sources are linked above.