Solar Industries Association

About SIA

The Association

The New Zealand Solar Industries Association (SIA) was established in 1996 to promote and coordinate the development of the solar water heating industry in New Zealand. The Association provides a central focus point for liaison with Government agencies, the dissemination of information amongst the industry, and the long term positioning of solar water heating in New Zealand's energy system.

Members include anyone with a commercial interest in solar water heating, manufacturers, suppliers, installers, energy researchers and consultants.

The Association provides members:

an accreditation system for products and installation;
latest technical and market information;
an avenue to influence market policies and issues;
collective market development activities;
shared costs of research and promotion; and
a coordinated voice for the industry.

Accreditation

The Association in association with EECA has established an accreditation system to assist customers assurance that when they purchase a system from an accredited SIA member it is expected to meet specific quality standards. The SIA Executive Officer acts as the independent SWH Accreditation Administor to adminster the accrediation system on behalf of EECA and the industry. Customers should check their supplier is accredited by clicking here.

Accreditation may be held to:

supply and installation complying SWH products and/or
design full systems and supervise installation

Accreditation can be held in either or both of these categories and a person or company may be accredited.

To gain accreditation an applicant must satisfy the SWH Accreditation Administer that equipment meets the relevant performance standard AS /NZS 2712, and the applicant has an acceptable level of competence as a designer / supplier / installer.

Product must be manufactured to comply with the standard AS/NZS2712. The process of obtaining certification is outlined here.

There are three ways to demonstrate basic competence:

through recognition of prior experience in the Industry;
by completing training through a SIA recognised training system; and
by completing ongoing personal development / training with the Association.

Systems are to be installed to meet the requirements of the NZ Building Code by complying with standard AS/NZS3500.4 and the SIA "Code of Practice for the Manufacture and Installation of SWH Systems in NZ".

Accredited suppliers only are entitled to display the Association logo on promotion material. You should only purchase from suppliers displaying the Association logo.

An accredited member of the Association must also at all times abide by The Code of Conduct and Responsibility of the Association.

A full description of the SIA accreditation is available by clicking here.

Approved Installers

Suppliers of SWH systems may name Approved Installers. These are installers that the supplier is satisfied meets the installation standards expected by accreditation and necessary for proper compliance of the NZ Building Code. Ensuring an installer has the competence and experience to be a named Approved Installer is the responsibility of the supplier.

SIA will list named Approved Installers after nofication to SIA by the supplier that the installer has met the supplier's appropriate standards. SIA will list the named Approved Installer on this website only on notification of competence by the supplier. SIA has indicated that after November 2007 installers will only be listed if they have also attended the "Wintec" training course.

Installer Training

EECA and the Association have established with the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) a training course for solar water heating installers. This will lead to a Certificate in Solar Water Heating Installation for registered plumbers, and a Certificate in Solar Water Heating Installation Management for non registered plumbers . The course is based on a distance learning module plus a weekend hands on training. For information on the course click here .

The course is currently being extended to be provided by Unitec in Auckland, CPIT in Christchurch and Weltec in Wellington.

Customer Assurance

Where an accredited SIA member supplies or installs a solar hot water system all supervisory staff or staff approving designs and installation will have to personally meet the suppliers installation quality standards. So that the customer can establish who is responsible for the design or installation of their system, a Certificate of Compliance warranty will be provided to the customer on completion of the installation. The Certificate of Compliance must be signed by the accredited person approving the design, and the accredited person supervising the installation.

Accredited suppliers may have installers who have been approved by them to install their products. For a full list of supplier approved installers click here

Because some customers may buy direct from a supplier and use their own installer they should be clear on the respective responsibilities of the supplier and installer.

Complaints and Disputes Procedure

Any concern or problem with a installed system should be raised with the supplier or installer. The supplier or installer who sold the system is responsible for all aspects of the system installed and under New Zealand law are responsible for ensuring that the product performs adequately for the purpose for which it has been sold. Recommended procedures for dealing with complaints are provided here.

Purchasers of systems should note that where the supplier has not been responsible for installation then problems can arise on establishing who is responsible for resolving the problem.

Any purchaser of a solar hot water system who has a concern or problem about their system and is not satisfied how the supplier or installer has dealt with their concern or problem, may lay a complaint with the Association. If the supplier or installer is not an accredited member of the Association, the Association will advise the customer on appropriate action. If the supplier or installer is an accredited member the complaint will be forwarded to the Complaints Committee of the Association who will investigate and determine the action that should be taken. A response will be provided to the complainant within four weeks of receipt of the complaint.

The Association will not accept any responsibility for fixing problem systems, but wishes to ensure that suppliers and installers meet the appropriate standards. The Executive Officer will provide guidance and independent advice to the complainant and try and facilitate resolution. Complainants should note however, that if they can not resolve problems to their satisfaction then they should put their complaints to the Complaints Dispute Tribunal.

The SIA Complaints Committee has five members, three of whom will be elected annually by the SIA members at an AGM, plus a representative of customers (to be appointed), and a representative of government (EECA). The Complaints Committee is supported by the SIA Executive Officer who will liaise with the complainant.

Action Plan

The Association has adopted a three year market transformation programme which has the goal of increasing the number of solar hot water systems installed each year to 10,000 by the end of 2010. This will represent 30,000 m² of new panel area being installed each year. For information on the Action Plan contact the Executive Officer. You can also download a summary of the action plan here (62kb) .

Management

The Association is managed by a three person Executive Committee comprising the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Because of the small size of the membership, regular Association meetings are held by teleconference to deal with matters of policy and agree the Action Plan items. All members of the Association are encouraged to participate in these meetings.

The Association Executive Officer manages the day to day affairs of the Association and undertakes tasks as appropriate.

Chair Roy Netzer roy@solarindustries.org.nz

Treasurer Lindsay Richards

Secretary Nick Schofield

Executive Officer Brian Cox brian.cox@solarindustries.org.nz

Membership

Full Members

Full membership of the Association is open to any person, firm or company, engaged in the manufacture, or importing of solar equipment or components designed specifically for use in solar equipment, and whose product is currently available on the open market, and who meets the criteria for accreditation of the Association.

Associate Members

Any other person, firm or company (including installers, consultants and researchers), who wishes to become a member of the Association is an associate member.

Specifically, associate membership of the Association is open to any person, firm or company engaged in the design or installation of solar equipment, and who meets the criteria for accreditation in these categories or is working towards accreditation.

For a list of Members click here (pdf 232kb).

For an application form to apply for associate membership click here (pdf 21.7kb).

Constitution

For a copy of the Association Constitution click here (pdf 69.2kb).

Code of Conduct

All members of the Association are expected to meet the Association's Code of Conduct. For a copy of the Code of Conduct click here (pdf 26.2kb).

Membership Fees

The following annual membership fees apply

Full Members $1000 plus GST

Accredited Associate Members $1000 plus GST

Associate Members $250 plus GST

The financial year ends on 30 June of each year.

In addition Full Members pay a levy for each solar water system sold on the increased area of sales for any 6 months compared to the similar period for the 2003 year at $3/m².

The income received from the levy is used on SIA management and industry wide promotion activities.

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