SEAI SPV Inspections

Wiggy

I read in the SEAI Contractor Technical Bulletin 2022_08 that less than one third of active companies in the scheme have an inspection pass rate above 90%.

They also say the intend to "call out the names of the top performers" from autumn onwards.

That information would be very useful to someone like me, considering a range of quotes for a system. However, I can't find that information anywhere.

Anybody else have any luck with that?

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058290635/seai-spv-inspections

It's an interesting avenue they are going there with publishing the stats, but in truth......it doens't really matter. Now you may be going, "WTF! Of course it matters!" and the analogy I'd use is like passing your driving test. Sure everyone wants to pass first time, but at the end of the day, if you fail and are told why you failed and then fix that and redo the test and pass, you've met the bar and can go about with your life.

Sort of the same deal here. SEAI will come out, have a look and go "Ohh don't like that conduit there" or "Those panels are too close to the edge" etc and won't release the money until they are fixed. Happened to me, few bits-n-bobs......some anal like a missing label on a breaker (which to be fair is useful) failed the inspection, my supplier came out with the snag list, fixed everything with photos, and bobs your uncle.

Course if they passed first time - that would have been less work, but in truth it doesn't really matter that much. (Not giving suppliers a free pass, just calling out that I wouldn't be basing my decision on a supplier on pass/fail). It'll be on price, responsiveness, how easy they are to deal with, etc.

Wiggy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120427046#Comment_120427046

Fair point bullit_dodger. And in fairness to the installers, the most common reason for failure is documentation. And apparently a common cause for that is a householder not being able to find the documents that the installer provided. That is apparently so common that the SEAI now have opened a portal for installers to upload copies of the documentation they provided to the customer.

So a related question then: If an installation fails inspection due to a physical issue, and the installer does not remedy the issue (at their own expense) to enable a pass, does the customer have any recourse?

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120427654#Comment_120427654

Been though the grant process for solar pv in jan 2021 and may 2022 and other than the initial application it's been all supplier done, we don't have do to anything

Scoobydoobydoo101

If the grant is paid, do SEAI perform retrospective inspections? If they do, is there a cut off?

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120427654#Comment_120427654

Well in my case the supplier was getting the grant paid directly to them, so they had a vested interest in getting it approved as the money was going to them! I would imagine though that most/all suppliers would have to abide with the SEAI snag list or they'll find themselves in trouble. Not sure, again for me they were on the hook - which I'd say is probably the case in 50% of suppliers that they get the money directly. Guessing.

DC999

The installers will play ball or they risk being removed from the list if SEAI solar installers. So there is a 'sticky there

pad406

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120427949#Comment_120427949

Yes they can, getting one myself in 2 weeks (7 months after installation). I don't believe there is a cut off.