How to verify a Roofer / Tinsmith CV — official standards
Roofer and tinsmith CVs (ISCO 7121 and 7213) are hard to assess because most of the work is invisible on paper. Two candidates can both write "roof work, 8 years" while one has fitted safety hooks to EN 517 on pitched tile roofs and the other has only handled flat-roof membranes. Job titles, roof types and training names also differ from country to country.
Official reference points do exist: Directive 2009/104/EC for work at height, EN 516 and EN 517 for roof safety elements, EN 612 for gutters and downpipes, plus vocational routes such as NPK krovec / klepar (SI) or Dachdecker / Klempner Geselle–Meister (DE). A rigorous check maps every claim to one of these — WorkerProof verifies each CV three times against the documents supplied.
What a strong CV must contain
A valid work-at-height certificate under Directive 2009/104/EC is mandatory for roof work. The CV should name the certificate and its issuing body, not just state "height-safe".
Look for concrete experience with walkway and step products (EN 516) and safety hooks or anchor points (EN 517), including where the candidate clipped in on real projects.
Tinsmith work should reference gutters and downpipes to EN 612 — sizes, materials and joining methods used, not only "gutter installation".
Expect a named qualification such as NPK krovec / klepar (SI) or Dachdecker / Klempner with Geselle or Meister level (DE), with school or chamber, year and document number.
Strong CVs list roof types worked on — flat, metal, tile — per project. This is the fastest way to see whether experience matches the roofs you actually hire for.
The listed skills should be verifiable: recognising signs of wood rot, interpreting 2D plans, roofing techniques, roof maintenance, ergonomic working and following safety procedures at heights.
⚠️ Red flags to watch for
Questions to ask the candidate
- 01Which work-at-height certificate do you hold under Directive 2009/104/EC, who issued it and when?
- 02On your last pitched roof, which anchor points or safety hooks to EN 517 did you clip into, and were EN 516 walkways or steps installed?
- 03Describe a gutter and downpipe installation you completed to EN 612: materials, dimensions and how you handled joints and outlets.
- 04Which vocational qualification do you hold — NPK krovec / klepar, or Dachdecker / Klempner at Geselle or Meister level — and can you show the certificate?
- 05Split your last three years by roof type (flat, metal, tile) and tell me how you spotted signs of wood rot in the substructure on one of those jobs.
The official standards behind the score
WorkerProof checks every CV against this verified matrix.
- Directive 2009/104/EC — work at height (mandatory certificate)
- EN 516 / EN 517 (roof safety elements)
- EN 612 (gutters & downpipes)
- NPK krovec / klepar (SI)
- Dachdecker / Klempner Geselle-Meister (DE)
- Roof-type references (flat, metal, tile)
Frequently asked questions
Which standards apply to roofer and tinsmith work?
Work at height falls under Directive 2009/104/EC, which requires a certificate. Roof safety elements are covered by EN 516 (walkways and step products) and EN 517 (safety hooks and anchor points), while gutters and downpipes follow EN 612.
What is the difference between EN 516 and EN 517?
EN 516 covers walkway and step products on roofs — the surfaces workers move on. EN 517 covers roof safety hooks and anchor points, meaning the fixings workers clip into. Together with the work-at-height rules they define professional roof work.
How do I compare foreign roofer qualifications?
Compare the documented vocational route: NPK krovec / klepar in Slovenia, or Dachdecker / Klempner at Geselle or Meister level in Germany. WorkerProof verifies the documents and claims behind these titles; it does not grant or confirm legal recognition of a qualification.
Is a work-at-height certificate really mandatory?
Yes — under Directive 2009/104/EC the certificate for work at height is mandatory for roof work. Treat a CV without it as incomplete and request the document before any site assignment.
How does WorkerProof check a Roofer / Tinsmith CV?
Each CV is checked against the official standards matrix for ISCO 7121 and 7213 — Directive 2009/104/EC, EN 516, EN 517, EN 612 and the vocational routes — and against ESCO skills such as roofing techniques, interpreting 2D plans and recognising wood rot. Every CV is verified three times, and the first check is free.
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