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EPC or DEC for building compliance

May 2009

EPC or DEC for Building Compliance - why, who and how

Buildings are responsible for almost 50% of the UK's energy consumption and carbon emissions. This means that even small changes in energy performance and building usage could affect energy costs, carbon emissions and our commitment to deal with climate change.
TAG Farnborough Airport, a private building, for which BSRIA were appointed to produce the final EPC on behalf of Kingpin Maintenance Provider

That is why the legislation requires that commercial buildings have their carbon emissions and energy rating assessed and demonstrated as EPCs or DECs.

This can also be a driving force for designers to design more efficient buildings and ultimately it can have a wide scope by influencing and improving the way we design, construct and use our buildings.
 

EPC or DEC?

If you are designing, constructing, buying, selling or renting a commercial building you require an energy assessment as part of planning applications and an EPC for Building Regulations compliance.

As an example of a building requiring an EPC is TAG Farnborough Airport for which BSRIA were appointed to produce the final EPC on behalf of Kingpin Maintenance Provider.

Not all buildings require EPCs. Exceptions are: places of worship, temporary buildings, stand alone buildings of less than 50sqm that are not dwellings, buildings due for demolishing, industrial workshops, some non residential agricultural buildings.

Public buildings are also covered with the legislation through Display Energy Certificates (DECs).

DECs are required for all public buildings in England and Wales with a total useful floor area >1,000m2 which are frequently visited by large numbers of persons such as: central government, local authority, healthcare, and education. Some privately owned buildings that provide services from public funds such as leisure centres, museums and theatres.
TAG Farnborough airport

At the design stage, commercial buildings must be checked for building regulations compliance and have assessment of carbon emission rates, energy usage and rating. At that stage also EPCs can be generated with a watermark.

What does it involve?

To produce an EPC or a DEC requires a qualified assessor to visit the building to conduct a survey and gather information on the building size, construction, usage, type of heating, lighting and insulation.

A building owner or a client is required to supply the building drawings or, if not available, they can be produced by the assessor.

EPCs and DECs are issued as standard with accompanying Reports giving simple, cost-effective recommendations for improvement. They are lodged on the governments' centralised register and the client is able to retrieve the report using a unique report reference number.

EPCs are valid for 10 years and DECs need to be updated annually. However the Reports are valid for seven years.

How to make improvements?

The reports accompanying the EPCs and DECs provide recommendations that can help:

  • Improve energy efficiency of existing buildings 
  • Reduce fuel bills 
  • Influence the sale or rental value 
  • Encourage potential buyers and tenants

However, obtaining the Report is just the starting point for improving energy efficiency.

BSRIA brings a proven track record in energy efficiency consultancy. Using computer modelling, site monitoring and surveys, we can evaluate the most effective and appropriate initiatives to make improvements.

How to get DECs and EPCs?

BSRIA has Accredited non-domestic energy specialists and experienced engineers who are qualified to produce:

  • Energy Performance Certificates
  • Display Energy Certificates
  • Part L2 compliance
  • Recommendations and hands-on consultancy for making improvements

These in-house skills are a natural progression and additional to our existing in-depth knowledge and experience in assessing and improving environmental, engineering and energy conditions in any type of commercial buildings.

Contact BSRIA:

Tel: +44 (0)1344 465664
Email: microclimate@bsria.co.uk
 

Contact

Commercial EPCs and energy assessment
Tel: +44 (0)1344 465600