Skip to main content
Guide

Solar PV survey checklist for UK installers

A practical solar site survey checklist for what to capture on site so design can progress without repeated questions.

Related: solar survey reports · solar panel survey · roof assessment guide · deliverables guide · sample report online

A good PV survey isn’t “more photos” — it’s the right evidence, labelled so people can move forward confidently.

1) Roof + array context (what designers need first)

  • Roof faces: which elevations are suitable (and why/why not).
  • Pitch + orientation: note any unusual angles or split roofs.
  • Obstructions: vents, skylights, chimneys, dormers, valleys, parapets.
  • Shading context: nearby trees/buildings and when shading is likely (morning/evening).
  • Access constraints: scaffold access, fragile roofs, conservatories, shared access routes.

2) Loft + structure notes (keep it factual)

  • Loft access + headroom (if accessible): what can be seen safely.
  • Any visible constraints: water tanks, tight routes, limited fixing space.
  • Cable routing options: tidy routes that avoid bedrooms/finished spaces where possible.

3) Electrical evidence (minimum set)

  • Electricity meter (clear and readable)
  • Cut-out/service head area (context + close-up)
  • Consumer unit (context + clear internal layout where appropriate)
  • Potential inverter location(s) (wide + close-up showing clearances)
  • Earthing/bonding evidence where relevant (capture what’s visible; don’t guess)

Related: electrical evidence guide.

4) Inverter + battery siting (make the decision easy)

  • Candidate locations with pros/cons (temperature, access, routing).
  • Clearances: show nearby doors, shelves, pipework, and ventilation constraints.
  • Noise/occupancy: avoid placing near bedrooms where possible (note if unavoidable).

5) Photos: how to capture evidence (so it’s usable)

  • Wide shot for context → close-up for detail
  • Make text readable (meter labels, CU labels) — avoid glare
  • Use consistent naming: Roof / Loft / Routing / Electrical / Inverter / Battery
  • Put the note next to the photo in the report (not buried in a paragraph)

6) Common failure modes (what causes follow-up calls)

  • Roof obstructions not shown clearly (design has to guess spacing)
  • No routing narrative (where does cable enter, where does it terminate?)
  • Consumer unit photos are too dark / unreadable
  • Proposed inverter location has hidden constraints (cupboard depth, heat, access)

Next step

If you want PV survey reports that flow cleanly into design and install, we’ll confirm scope, coverage, and deliverables before anything is booked.

Disclaimer: This is general guidance to improve survey evidence quality. Always follow your scheme/provider guidance and project-specific requirements.

Practical use

How to use this page on a live job

Use this guide as a decision check, not as a generic reading page. The useful question is whether the evidence behind solar pv survey checklist for uk installers is strong enough for an installer, designer, or homeowner to move to the next step without another round of avoidable questions.

Before booking

Confirm what evidence is missing

For solar survey evidence, the weak point is usually not the headline requirement. It is the missing photo, document, measurement, or site note that stops the next person from trusting the job record.

During survey

Capture the detail once, then label it properly

A survey report should show what was seen, what was measured, what could not be accessed, and what still needs a design or installer decision. That keeps assumptions visible instead of hiding them inside a photo set.

After delivery

Use the report to reduce internal handover friction

The office, design, and install teams should be able to open the same report and understand the evidence path. If the page helps you spot what to ask for before survey day, it has done its job.

For a live project, pair this guidance with the sample report, deliverables, and guide price builder so the job is reviewed against the same standard Vertex uses for survey delivery.