What Certifications Do Roofers Need in the UK?
Understanding what certifications roofers need in the UK is important whether you’re starting a roofing business or looking to expand into commercial work. The certifications roofers need vary by type of work, client requirements, and materials used. This guide covers every relevant certification for UK roofers.
Do Roofers Need Any Certifications?
No certification is legally required to carry out roofing work in the UK in most cases. However, the certifications roofers need in practice depend on:
- Commercial vs domestic work: CSCS cards and NFRC membership required for commercial sites
- Specialist materials: Manufacturer certification for single-ply and GRP systems
- Listed buildings: Additional consents rather than certifications, but specialist knowledge is expected
Essential Certifications for Roofers
CSCS Card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme)
The certifications roofers need for commercial site access begins with the CSCS card. A Blue CSCS Skilled Worker card requires NVQ Level 2 Roofing Occupations and a passed CITB Health, Safety & Environment test.
NFRC Competency Cards
The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) issues competency cards to members who have completed NFRC training programmes. The NFRC Competency Card is recognised across the commercial roofing sector.
SMSTS and SSSTS
For roofers managing their own sites: – SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) – 5-day course, required or expected for site managers – SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) – 2-day course for supervisors
Specialist Manufacturer Certifications
For specialist roofing systems, manufacturer certification is typically required to offer the product warranty:
Single ply flat roofing: – Sarnafil approved installer – required for Sarnafil warranty – Firestone EPDM approved contractor – for Firestone systems – Bauder approved contractor – for Bauder systems
GRP/Fibreglass roofing: – NFRC GRP roofing training – Various manufacturer-specific courses (Cromar, Protex, Polyglass)
Lead work: – Lead Sheet Association (LSA) training – industry-recognised certification for lead sheet roofing
Frequently Asked Questions
What certifications do roofers need for domestic work? For standard domestic roofing, certifications are not legally required. However, the certifications roofers need commercially – CSCS card, NFRC membership, and manufacturer certifications – are increasingly expected even on domestic contracts over £5,000.
Is NFRC membership a certification? NFRC membership is a trade association membership rather than a technical certification. However, NFRC members must meet quality and training standards to join and maintain membership. NFRC membership is effectively a recognised competency mark in the roofing industry.
Do roofers need any health and safety certification? Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, roofers have legal health and safety obligations. While no specific H&S certification is required by law for self-employed roofers on domestic work, CSCS card applications require the CITB H&S test, and commercial site access almost always requires a valid H&S card.
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