In an industry as safety-critical and technically demanding as roofing and cladding, you’d be forgiven for assuming a rigorous system of regulation and accreditation is already in place. But you’d be wrong.
Yes, Buildings and Fire Safety Regulations apply – but when it comes to the competency of contractors and their standard of workmanship, the situation is far less clear-cut.
In fact, there is no statutory regulatory framework that governs the skills, training, or track record of those installing roofing and cladding systems. While contractors may seek accreditation with professional bodies and choose to follow their guidelines and codes of practice, there is no statutory framework – no national register of competent installers. This has serious implications not just for clients, but also for the many professional firms striving to raise standards on an uneven playing field.
The Client’s Risk – Poor Workmanship, Hidden Costs and Long-Term Consequences
For clients, the risks are real. Without a transparent mechanism to differentiate between reputable, experienced firms and those operating with inferior training and expertise, it becomes far too easy to make the wrong choice – and the consequences of poor installation can be costly and ongoing.
Roofing and cladding systems are critical to a building’s performance, safety, and longevity. When corners are cut or standards are compromised – whether through poor detailing, incorrect fixing methods, or a disregard for manufacturer guidelines – the resulting risks can include water ingress, structural degradation, thermal inefficiency, and even increased fire risk.
It’s a false economy that can leave building owners facing expensive repairs or full-scale replacements, long before the end of a system’s ideal lifespan.
Penalised for Professionalism – The Cost to the Contractor of Doing It Right
But the problem isn’t limited to client outcomes. The current lack of a robust regulatory framework also undermines the professionals seeking to drive up standards.
Firms like ours at Tek Clad – who invest in training, accreditation, high safety standards and in-house equipment – can be undercut by operators who don’t share the same values or make the same commitments. Without an enforced benchmark for competency, it isn’t easy for a client to recognise the difference between the two – all they will see is a difference in price.
We’re proud to be members of multiple professional bodies – including the Institute of Roofing, NFRC, RIDBA and, most recently, the MCRMA. These organisations do important work, providing guidance and supporting best practice. But in the absence of national regulation and robust oversight of industry standards, even these respected memberships can be misunderstood, overlooked, or ignored by the market.
What the Industry Needs
What’s needed now is a bold step forward – a properly regulated system that sets standards of skills, training and workmanship and actively assesses and recognises those who meet them. This could be led by government or an empowered industry body, but it must go beyond optional accreditation.
We believe a centralised register of compliant companies, regularly audited and independently assessed, would be a game-changer for our industry. Competency standards, as defined by bodies like the MCRMA, could be formalised and consistently upheld.
System manufacturers, who have a vested interest in ensuring their products are installed to the highest professional standards, could be involved, with their engineers potentially inspecting installations and remove non-compliant firms from recognised lists of trusted installers. Whatever form it takes, we need a statutory system which gives clients real confidence – and gives professional, quality contractors the recognition they deserve.
Why Tek Clad Is Doing Things Differently
At Tek Clad, we’ve never waited for regulation to raise our standards.
Our directly-employed team brings 100+ years of collective experience and has the highest self-imposed standards – perfectionism is our trademark! In 2025, we celebrated our 15th year with a £340k investment in telescopic handlers, allowing us to carry out all lifting operations in-house with greater safety, efficiency and precision.
We’re accredited by SafeContractor, Constructionline Gold, and are proud to hold SafePQQ Gold Standard approval. Our recent membership of the MCRMA places us among a select group of UK installers recognised for their technical competence and commitment to quality.
But we want to go further and elevate our sector and help shape a system where the best in the industry are visible and supported. It’s time for change – and we’re ready to help lead the way in building a better, safer, and more professional future.
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