EPC Connect | Energy Performance Certificates and Assessment

Welcome to our new website

karen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:57:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new EPC Connect website.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPC)

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:36:22 +0000

How energy efficient is your building? Are your assets underperforming? Does your building cost you more money than it’s worth? Energy assessors have determined that commercial buildings are responsible for almost 50% of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Fuel costs have almost doubled in recent years. An energy performance assessment by an accredited energy assessor can help commercial property owners to save money and benefit the environment with improved energy efficiency.

To compete in the modern marketplace, owners and asset managers are beginning to see that saleability is intrinsically tied to energy efficiency. More businesses are factoring in the energy efficiency of buildings when it comes to leasing or buying commercial property. Buildings with poor energy performances are inefficient to operate, whilst buildings with ‘greener’ credentials are more cost-effective and minimise their impact on the climate. By going ‘green’ and complying with EPC legislation you will see the benefit that energy efficiency has on the value of commercial buildings.

An EPC is required following the EU’s Energy Performance of Building Directive (January 2003) that buildings reduce their CO2 emissions. It is a means of recording the building’s energy efficiency (measured in CO2 emissions) on a colour coded scale from A to G. EPC’s are accompanied with a recommendation report containing cost effective means for improving the building’s energy efficiency.

With effect from 2008, property developers, landlords, occupiers and the public sector could face severe consequences if they are not properly prepared or fully aware of what is required with regards to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs).

A commercial EPC provides an energy rating for a building which is based on the performance potential of that building. Services such as lighting, heating and ventilation) are taken into account as well as the way in which these services are controlled. The now industry standardised A - G energy rating given on the certificate will reflect the intrinsic energy performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark. This rating could then be used by potential buyers or tenants to make comparisons between properties. The commercial EPC is accompanied by a secondary report that provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced, together with an indication of the payback period. These recommendations are provided in four categories relating to the payback period.

The time to review your building energy performance is now. Our Energy Assessors will determine the current operational and asset performance of your building and model it against proposed changes in building construction and utilities.

DISPLAY ENERGY CERTIFICATE (DEC)

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:34:35 +0000

As part of the government’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive effective 1^st October 2008, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Advisory Reports (ARs) are required for all public buildings where the floor area exceeds 1000m2.. Public authorities and institutions that provide public services or occupy buildings that are frequently visited by the public must display a certificate that shows the building’s energy performance.

The DEC is the outward demonstration of a public building’s energy and asset rating. It needs to be displayed in a prominent position at all times, clearly visible to the public. The DEC is valid for 12 months and must be renewed each year, and will incorporate an advisory report valid for seven years on the measures available to improve the energy rating of a public building.

Display Energy Certificates (DECs) show the actual energy usage of a building, the Operational Rating, and help the public see the energy efficiency of a building. This is based on the energy consumption of the building as recorded by gas, electricity and other meters.

Types of buildings that are affected by the legislation include:

Central government and local authority buildings
libraries
public sports facilities such as leisure centres
education centres such as schools, universities and colleges
NHS trusts and hospitals
Police, court and prison buildings
Armed forces buildings
MOD property

Air Conditioning Reports

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:32:11 +0000

In accordance with the EPBD (European Performance of Buildings Directive) all air conditioning systems in England and Wales, with a rated output of 250 kW or greater, had a legal requirement to be inspected by 4th January 2009. Air conditioning systems account for a large proportion of the energy used in a building, and have therefore been specifically targeted in the new legislation. The aim is to provide building owners and occupiers with information about the systems performance and identify opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions thus saving energy and money.

Building owners and facilities managers who control the operation of air-conditioning systems have statutory obligations and duties of care in the operation and maintenance of air-conditioning systems and are responsible for commissioning this report which, once issued, will be valid for five years.

What happens during an inspection?

Inspections will vary depending on the complexity of the installed system. An air conditioning system consisting of refrigeration equipment, air movement systems and their controls will be surveyed and all relevant documentation such as manuals, drawings, maintenance records, commissioning data and control strategies will be inspected. An assessment of the system will be undertaken to determine if it is suitably sized for the cooling loads in the treated spaces and the overall effectiveness of the system. The report will conclude with observations and recommendations on energy-saving opportunities to include:

the condition and state of maintenance of your air conditioning system
the adequacy of the installed controls and control settings, and suggestions for improvement
an assessment of the size of the installed system in relation to the cooling load
advice on improvements that could be made to your system’s energy efficiency
suggestions for minimising or avoiding the need for air conditioning

Although you are under no obligation to act on the advice in the inspection report, making the recommended changes is likely to reduce your energy consumption and costs.

Key dates

First inspection of all existing systems over 250 kW cooling capacity must be completed by 4th January 2009.
First inspection of all existing systems over 12 kW must be completed by 4th January 2011.
New systems over 12 kW installed after January 2008 must be inspected within 5 years of being put into service.

Ongoing management of air conditioning systems

As well as the mandatory inspections, you should manage your air conditioning system on an ongoing basis. You should keep a maintenance checklist, which includes information on the management of:

condensers
pipework insulation
fans, filters and air ducts
thermostat calibration
safety - keeping air conditioning equipment clean and free from legionella
refrigerant charge and leakage

You can improve the efficiency of your air conditioning system by:

ensuring your cooling and heating systems are not both in operation at the same time
switching off unnecessary electrical equipment
letting the building cool naturally overnight
placing heat-emitting equipment in separate, naturally ventilated areas
keeping windows closed when air conditioning is on
taking advantage of any external shading
setting controls correctly to reduce the need for cooling

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORTS

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:31:28 +0000

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 all employers have a legal obligation to:

manage health and safety
assess all significant risks
control any risks that cannot be removed.

Through our associated partners, we can provide consultancy ranging from a full health and safety audit and risk assessment of your premises, policies and procedures to risk assessments for specific people, activities or equipment.

All our services focus on achieving high standards of health and safety which contribute to your organisation’s business performance, while meeting your responsibilities for people and their working environment.

Benefits

Peace of mind - we will tell you how to meet your legal obligations in a practical, cost effective manner
Best practice - which formulates the latest guidelines, so you get the most up-to-date advice to improve your business performance
A co-ordinated approach - we are experienced in all areas of risk assessments. For example we can cover fire, display screen equipment and manual handling regulations as well as the latest thinking on access for the disabled in a single project.

Our approach

Practical, tailor made solutions to meet each client’s unique business requirements
Structured process, often using specifically developed checklists
Can include inspection, observation, interviews and document analysis
Clearly prioritised, practical and cost effective recommendations for action
Support and advice provided at different levels to encourage clients to develop internal skills ultimately leading to self-reliance.

Fire Risk Assessment Reports

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:25:17 +0000

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force 1st October 2006

A new regime of fire safety enforcement will affect employers and those who are responsible for, non-domestic, industrial, commercial and residential premises. Self-employed people and the voluntary sector will also be brought within this regime.

Employers need to:

Carry out a fire risk assessment.
Produce a written emergency plan.
Ensure that Employees know about the risks present in the workplace.
Ensure that they know what to do in the event of an Emergency.
Train your staff to know what to do in the event of fire.
Maintain the premises and any fire related facilities, equipment and devices.

Through our associated partners, EPC Connect can offer un-biased, sound professional advice in all aspects of fire prevention and fire protection.

Our Fire Safety Consultants have an average of over 30 years experience and are qualified to deal in all areas of fire safety in a range of industries. Our consultants are all high-ranking members of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and Fire Safety Managers.

We offer a comprehensive range of Fire Safety Training and Consultancy Services to cater for the needs of all employers and organisations in a variety of industry sectors.

Our Consultancy Services include:

Fire Risk Assessment
Fire safety advice
Fire engineering solutions
Dealing with local authorities / interpretation of legislation guides
Legal notices from the Fire Service and Associated Consultation
Arson prevention
Building Regulations consultation and registration
Fire investigation including fatal fires
Expert witnesses
Investigation and defence of civil liability claims by employees
Writing specifications, standards, technical papers
DDA accessibility audits

Asbestos Risk Assessment

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:23:59 +0000

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (Reg 4) introduced an explicit duty on those responsible (the duty holder) for any commercial premises to identify and manage asbestos containing materials that may be present in the property.

We can provide you with a comprehensive asbestos survey, asbestos report, asbestos risk assessment, compile asbestos registers and asbestos management plans for all types and sizes of premises to ensure your company complies fully with current regulation.

If you own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for non-domestic premises, which may contain asbestos, you will either have a legal duty to manage the risk from this material or a duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk. The person responsible for a building (The Duty Holder) is required to manage the risk from asbestos by taking reasonable steps to find asbestos on their premises and assess the condition of these materials; presuming that materials do contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not; preparing a record of the location and condition of asbestos, or presumed asbestos, materials and assess the risks from them; preparing and implementing a plan to manage those risks; and providing information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to disturb them.

Through our associated partners, we can undertake all types of asbestos surveys:-

Asbestos Survey Type 1:

Presumptive (Location and Assessment). The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in the building and assess their condition. This survey essentially defers the need to sample and analyse for asbestos (or the absence there of) until a later time (e.g. prior to demolition or major refurbishment). The duty holder bears potential additional costs of management for some non-asbestos-containing materials. All areas will be accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable (e.g. above false ceilings and inside risers, service ducts etc.) or must be presumed to contain asbestos. Any material, which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos, must be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to contain asbestos, there should be a strong presumption that it does. All materials, which are presumed to contain asbestos, will be assessed.

Asbestos Survey Type 2

Sampling survey (Standard sampling, identification and assessment). The purpose and procedures used in this survey are the same as for Type 1, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos, other similar homogeneous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos. Less homogeneous materials may require a greater number of samples.

Asbestos Survey Type 3

Pre-demolition/major refurbishment (Full access sampling and identification survey) This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible ACMs. This survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment, so the survey does not access the condition of the asbestos.

Disabled Access Reports

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:22:50 +0000

The Disability Discrimination Act

The aim of The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 is to end the discrimination that many disabled people face.

As well as having rights in the areas of employment and education, disabled people also have important rights with regards to accessing goods, premises and services. Service providers have an obligation to make reasonable adjustments to premises or to the way they provide a service. Sometimes it may need only minor changes to make a service accessible.

Access to goods, premises and services

The Disability Discrimination Act gives disabled people rights not to be discriminated against in the following areas:

* accessing premises for everyday goods

* accessing services such as land-based transport

* buying or renting land or property

* accessing or becoming a member of a larger private club

* accessing the functions of public bodies such as the issuing of licences

Every day services that should be accessible to disabled people include those provided by local councils, doctors’ surgeries, shops, hotels, banks, post offices, pubs, cafes, theatres, cinemas, hairdressing salons, places of worship, courts and voluntary groups such as play groups. Non-educational services provided by schools should also be made accessible.

Floor Plans

karen — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:21:01 +0000

Floor Plans

Floor plans can be used as a marketing tool for Estate Agents to show the layout and measurements of a property. They can be very useful for a prospective owner or tenant.

Research has revealed that many prospective buyers will often not view a property that does not have a floor plan as part of the sales particulars either in a brochure or on a website.

Lease plans are detailed drawings of the property that are required to form part of the lease.

BUILDING SURVEYS

A Building Survey is a detailed report on the condition of the property.

Unlike a Mortgage Valuation Survey or a Homebuyers Report, this is a comprehensive inspection which would outline structural defects that may require repair immediately or in the future. Certain defects could even make it very difficult to re-sell the property.

As well as drawing attention to any problems, recommendations for solutions can be provided.