When a property is fitted with Q-Bot premium plus underfloor insulation, the installation is lodged under the IAA structure for a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee. Here is what that means for property owners.
Meet the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA)
In retrofit and insulation, performance is only half the story. The real issue is risk. Risk of installing the wrong measure in the wrong building, risk of damp, ventilation problems or structural issues, risk of installer failure, risk of funding non-compliance.
The Installation Assurance Authority (IAA) exists to control that risk.
They are an independent oversight body operating within the UK retrofit sector. They do not install insulation and they do not manufacture products. They sit above the installer, providing governance, monitoring and long-term insurance-backed protection.
Importantly, the bar to operate within their framework is high.
Approval is not automatic. Installers must demonstrate:
- Structured quality management systems.
- Documented installation procedures.
- Competent personnel and training.
- Pre-install assessment processes.
- Record-keeping and audit readiness.
- The ability to operate under independent scrutiny.
Ongoing compliance is monitored. Authorisation can be removed if standards are not maintained.
When a Q-Bot installation is lodged under the IAA structure for a 25-year Insurance Backed Guarantee, it enters a controlled system. Suitability must be evidenced. Documentation must align with design. Quality standards must be met before the guarantee stands.
What benefits the IAA framework provides
For Q-Bot, the IAA provides 3 crucial controls:
- Pre-install scrutiny: properties are assessed for suitability and risks are identified before installation proceeds.
- Independent oversight: installations carrying the 25-year guarantee sit within a monitored framework with audit and compliance powers external to Q-Bot.
- Insurance-backed protection: the guarantee runs for 25 years and survives installer insolvency.
This matters across every market we operate in.
In publicly funded schemes such as SHDF, Warm Homes and LAD, 25-year guarantees are typically required for primary fabric measures. Without a compliant Insurance Backed Guarantee and structured governance, many projects are not eligible.
For social landlords and local authorities, the IAA framework provides:
- Asset-level protection across a 25-year lifecycle
- External accountability beyond the installer
- Stronger audit defensibility
- Reduced governance risk
For private landlords and homeowners, it provides:
- Confidence that the property was assessed properly before installation
- Independent scrutiny of the installation process
- Long-term insurance protection if the installer ceases trading
Without the IAA structure, we offer a company guarantee. With the IAA structure, we operate inside a high-threshold, independently overseen and insurance-backed system that checks suitability, enforces standards and protects installations for 25 years.
It is structural governance built into the installation.
How a standard installation compares to a Q-Bot IAA-backed installation
| Area | Typical Installer | Q-Bot with IAA 25-Year IBG |
| Pre-install checks | Varies. Often basic survey only | Structured suitability assessment required |
| Design validation | Internal only | Must align with documented standards |
| Quality control | Installer marks own work | External oversight framework applies |
| Evidence retention | Sometimes limited | Documented and auditable |
| Independent review | Rare | Installation sits inside monitored system |
| Guarantee type | Company warranty | 25-year Insurance Backed Guarantee |
| If installer fails | Warranty usually ends | Insurance protection remains |
| Public funding eligibility | Not always compliant | Aligned to PAS 2035 & funding schemes |
| Governance level | Low to moderate | High threshold, monitored framework |
For more information about the IAA and our 25-Year Insurance-Backed Guarantee, get in touch with our specialised team.