solar industries

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.

 

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 and SIA accreditation application form is available by clicking here.

 

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.

 

EECA and the Association have established with the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) a training short course for solar water heating installers and installation managers. This leads 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 provided by Wintec in Hamilton, CPIT in Christchurch and Weltec in Wellington and is being aligned with the NZQA Unit Standard 24305 - Install, test, commission and maintain SWH systems here. Utilitech in Auckland will be providing Unit Standard around NZ from February 2008.

Contact people for the courses are available here and the expected dates for the weekend hands-on component are available here.

The Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlaying Indyustry training organisation is in the process of developing a more advanced National Certificate in Solar Water Heating Installation (for plumbers) and installation Managerment (for non plumbers). This course is expected to commence in April 2009. An outline of the qualification structure is available here with the draft specific Unit Standard outlines available below.

SLR1 - Demonstrate knowledge of SWH safety, regulatory compliance and design here.

SLR2 - Manage installation and commissioning of a SWH system here.

SLR3 - Select and specify SWH systems here.

SLR4 - Demonstrate knowledge of consumer and contract legislation applicable to traders here.

 

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The Association keeps statistics of the New Zealand solar water heating market. Click here for a summary of the annual sales data.heating market.

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.

 

Any concern or problem with a installed system should be raised with the supplier. The supplier who sold the system is responsible for all aspects of the system specification, supply installation and commissioning 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 complexities 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 has dealt with their concern or problem, may lay a complaint with the Association. If the supplier is not an accredited member of the Association, the Association will advise the customer on appropriate action. If the supplier is accredited the complainant should notify the SIA Executive Officer who will try and assist resolution of any problem between the supplier and the customer. If the problem can not be resolved 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.

Points for a problem free system Purchase only from an Accredited Supplier. An Accredited Supplier is a solar specialist. Supplier to specify, supply, install and commission the system. Don't allow other trades to "assist". Get the supplier to put in your contract what the energy performance is that you should expect. Suppliers can provide reference energy performance data based on AS/NZS 4234:2008 Get the supplier to obtain your building consent. Check references of other systems they have installed - talk to the owners. Check that the installer is properly trained by an SIA recognised training provider. Check that the system is a complying system to AS/NZS 2712:2007 Remember that you are purchasing a complex solar system with collectors, tanks, controllers and pumps. These should have been optimally designed as a packaged system for optimal energy performance. Don't get your plumber to just purchase some components as what you get won't have been optimally designed for peak energy performance.

 

 

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) .

 

The Association is managed by an eleven person Executive Committee comprising the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, two elected members and currently 6 co-opted members. Regular monthly Executive Committee meetings are held by teleconference to deal with matters of policy and agree the Action Plan items.

The Executive Committee welcomes contact from members and in particular with regard to how SIA can assist them grow their business or the SWH sector in general.

Members receive monthly updates (SolarFlash) on the industry and in particular what is happening with regard to technical standards or government assistance programmes. A quarterly Newsletter is produced and circulated to members and their Approved Installers.

Annual planning days are held at the time of the AGM which is generally held around the end of July. All members are encouraged to attend.

Chair:	Mike Van Skiver (Heating Partners)
Treasurer:	Max Earnshaw (TH Solar)
Secretary:	Roy Netzer (Solar Group)
Committee Members:	Ian Sumner (EcoSolar)
	Glen Harvey (SolarPeak)
Co-opted Committee Members :	Barbara Elliston (Azzuro)
	Geoff Paynter (Thermocell)
	Mike Isaac (Sunz)
	Scott Noyes (Infinergy)
	Dean Lusty (NZ Solar)
	Dudley Maritz (Nova Energy)
Executive Officer	Brian Cox
Website and Membership Administrator	Anne Phiri
Newsletter Editor	Dana Darwin
Marketing Sub-committee	Barbara Elliston (Azzuro)
	Scott Noyes (Infinergy)
	Geoff Paynter (Thermocell)
Technical Sub-committee	Ian Sumner (EcoSolar)
	Mike Isaac (Sunz)

 

The Association Executive Officer manages the day to day affairs of the Association and undertakes tasks as appropriate. Members are encouraged to contact the Executive Officer on any solar matter whether relating to their specific solar business or to industry matters. The Executive Officer:

• Assists members grow their SWH business
• Assists members establish best practice supply and installation processes
• Represents SIA at public meetings and to the media
• Handles enquiries from the public
• Takes complaints from the public on SWH performance matters
• Represents the industry on the development of technical standards
• Works with training providers on the establishment and delivery of training courses
• Works with government agencies on the establishment and delivery of government SWH incentive programmes
• Manages the association website and delivery of informtion on best practice supply and installation of SWH systems to members and the public
• Is the Administrator of the association's Supplier Accreditation Scheme
• Maintains web based listings of Accredited Suppliers, Approved Installers and complying SWH Systems.

 

If you have any query about SWH or the association contact the Executive Officer

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 327kb).

For an application form to apply for associate membership click here (pdf 65.6kb).

 

For a copy of the Association Constitution click here (pdf 69kb).

 

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 26kb).

 

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.