An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is intended to inform potential buyers or tenants about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their investment or business decision to buy or occupy that building.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates how energy efficient your building is using grades from A to G (with ‘A’ the most efficient grade).

For a building to fall within the requirement for an EPC, it must have a roof and walls and use energy to condition the indoor climate.

Where a building is expected to have heating, mechanical ventilation or air conditioning installed, it will require an EPC based on the assumed fit-out in accordance with the requirements in Part L of the Building Regulations.

You must have an EPC if:

• you rent out or sell the premises
• a building under construction is finished
• there are changes to the number of parts used for separate occupations, and these changes involve providing or extending fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems

You can be fined between £500 and £5,000 based on the rateable value of the building if you don’t make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant.

When you must display one

You must display an EPC by fixing it to your commercial building if all these apply:

• the total useful floor area is over 500 square metres.
• the public frequently visits the building.
• an EPC has already been produced for the building’s sale, rental or construction.

How much it costs

The cost of an EPC will depend on the building being assessed. All EPCs are valid for 10 years.

At Certified Technical, we use Simplified Building Energy Modelling to calculate the energy efficiency of commercial properties and produce the EPC and recommendation report. The software we use evaluates the energy demands of each space in the building per the activity conducted within that space (e.g., office space, kitchens, storage space, etc.).

The recommendation report will help owners and occupiers improve their buildings' energy efficiency. The recommendations only include those appropriate improvements for the building that has been assessed.

Our non-domestic energy assessors will need to understand the internal layout of your building and for what purpose it is used. We will need to validate (via plans and/or a physical survey) zone distances, thermal insulation, and building services.

Once our energy assessors have produced the EPC, it will be lodged on the central register. Lodging the certificate will generate a certificate report reference number which all valid EPCs must contain. The EPC will be provided to the person who has commissioned the EPC.

• Review the relevant information about the building.
• Survey the building if no information is available.
• Identify different zones of the building and their dimensions (either as verified from plans or as measured).
• Review the activities conducted within the zones, e.g. retail space, office space, kitchens, storage etc
• Identify heating and ventilation services for each zone, including type of system, metering, controls, fuel used, etc.
• Identify the lighting and controls used for each zone.
• Identify the construction of the fabric of the building and thermal efficiency of the materials used: roof, floors, walls and glazing.
• Enter the information into the UK government-approved software to assess the energy performance of the commercial buildings and produce the EPC and recommendation report.

Steven Hudson

Director, UK

For information concerning our non- domestic energy assessment services, please get in touch.

Air Conditioning Inspection  

5 Yearly Fixed Wiring & Test

Energy Survey