When Buildings Require a Commercial EPC?

Since the introduction of the energy performance certificate (EPC) scheme any commercial building that is being sold, rented or being constructed requires an EPC. A building can be either the whole of a building or part of a building, where the part is designed or altered to be used separately.

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Voluntary EPCs

Voluntary EPCs can be instructed by owners or landlords for the purpose of identifying energy efficiency measures that can improve the energy performance of their property to help reduce energy costs.

How long is a commercial EPC valid?

The EPC is valid for ten years from the date of certification.
Should a new EPC be issued for the property this becomes the only valid EPC for the property.

Commercial EPC - Shop

Exemptions

  • Places of worship, temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less, industrial sites, workshops, buildings due to be demolished.
  • Stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2.
  • Buildings and monuments officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historic merit in so far as compliance with certain energy efficiency requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.

For further information please complete the contact form or e-mail at info@energysavingcerts.co.uk

Survey Procedure and Data Collection

Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) must be produced by a qualified and accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA). The NDEA will visit your commercial building to carry out a survey. This can take between 1-3 hours depending on the size of the building being assessed; during the visit the assessor will require access to every individual space including plant room.

The NDEA will be required to take measurements, property photographs, record site notes and floor plan to produce an EPC. The assessment is non-invasive; the assessor will be required to gather evidence to support assumptions relating to, for example:

  • The construction of the building
  • Occupancy profile
  • Heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water systems
  • Lighting

What Level of Assessment is Required?

The following process is to be applied to all buildings and or parts of buildings within a particular energy assessment.

A Level 3 assessment is required if a building includes frequently occurring characteristics such as:

  • Simple heating systems (total boiler systems < 100 Kw). Where the heating system is not from boilers, refer to the size of the individual heater.
  • Simple natural ventilation. To mean opening windows and basic mechanical ventilation.
  • Small comfort cooling systems (up to 12 Kw). To refer to the total for more than one unit (as per boilers). So Level 3 includes split systems cooling one room or one shop with display and store room cooled by one unit.

A Level 4 assessment is required if any of the following Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) supply / distribution types are present to any degree within the building.

    • Medium temperature hot water (MTHW).
    • High temperature hot water (HTHW).
    • Steam distribution.
    • Variable air volume (VAV).
    • VAV -dual duct.
    • VAV-indoor packaged cabinet.
    • Fan coil systems-2, 3 or 4 pipe and changeover or non-changeover.
    • Induction systems.
    • Constant volume systems (CAV)-fixed or variable fresh air rate.
    • Multi-zone(hot deck / cold deck) systems
    • Constant volume systems-terminal reheat.
    • Constant volume system-dual duct.
    • Chilled ceilings or passive chilled beams plus displacement ventilation.
    • Active chilled beams.
    • Water loop heat pump systems, e.g. versatemp.
    • Air conditioning system present that incorporates centralised air supply as an integral component.
    • Mechanical ventilation system present, supply and extract, served by a centralised air handling unit.
    • Assessment is being undertaken for Building Regulation purposes, e.g. new build.
    • Night ventilation strategy.
    • Demand control ventilation.

A Level 5 assessment is required if any of the following features are present to any degree in the building:

  • Ventilation with enhanced thermal coupling to structure.
  • Automatic blind control.
  • Atria.

For further information please complete the contact form or e-mail at info@energysavingcerts.co.uk

What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

The purpose of an EPC is to indicate the energy efficiency of a building. The EPC will provide an energy efficiency rating from A to G, where A is the most efficient and G is the least efficient. The better the rating, the more energy efficient the building and the lower fuel bills are likely to be.

Each energy efficiency rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself (the fabric) and its services. This type of rating is known as an asset rating. The asset rating will reflect the age and condition of the building.

The EPC includes recommendations on how the energy performance of the building can be improved (to reduce running costs), together with an indication of the payback period. There is no statutory requirement to carry out any of the recommended energy efficiency measures stated on the EPC.

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