SAP assessing
From 6 April 2008 it is law to provide an Energy Performance Certificate for all new and newly built homes that are completed after that date.
Energy efficiency and new homes
In 2006, the Government in England and Wales introduced new Building Regulations which raised the energy efficiency standards which new homes must meet. New homes that are built to meet these regulations save more energy, have lower carbon emissions and cost less to run. In order to meet the Building Regulations, builders need to make sure that any new homes they build meet a minimum target for energy performance
What does this mean in practice?
If you are a builder, you will most likely be working to the Building Regulations that were revised in 2002 and amended in 2006. As part of this you will be providing an energy rating to building control for your new homes using SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure). The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP 2005) is the Government’s approved method for calculating the energy performance and CO2 emissions rate for dwellings. The SAP calculation is the only way to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document L1A (New Dwellings), and Approved Document L1B (Existing Dwellings).
The range of factors considered in the calculation are:
- the size and orientation of the dwelling
- materials used for construction of the dwelling
- thermal insulation of the building fabric
- ventilation characteristics of the dwelling and ventilation equipment
- efficiency and control of the heating system(s)
- solar gains through openings of the dwelling
- the fuel used to provide space and water heating, ventilation and lighting
- any renewable energy technologies
For all homes that are physically completed on or after 6 April 2008, there is a requirement to provide an EPC to the owner, with evidence shown to Building Control.
When you finish your building work, Building Control ask you to submit a notice which includes an energy rating to demonstrate your building complies with the Building Regulations. By the same date on the notice, you must get an EPC from an accredited On Construction Energy Assessor, give the EPC to the owner of the building and tell building control that this has been done.
CCHI can provide the initial "design stage" submission and the "as-built" submission together with the "On Construction" EPC.
This is what you have to do under the Building Regulations, Approved Inspector Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, and Building Control will not give you a final completion certificate until they are sure that everything has been done.
If the completed home is being advertised for sale, the EPC is available to include in a Home Information Pack for potential buyers, for the next 12 months.
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1) New Build Design Stage SAP Assessments
The SAP assessment should be conducted before construction commences i.e. once the relevant design information becomes available, and will be required by the Local Authority Building Control Department as a part of the project approval to demonstrate compliance with Part L1A. At this stage the SAP assessment will indicate if the building is compliant. In the event of a non compliant assessment CCHI’s SAP Assessors will be able to advise and propose solutions to enable compliance to be achieved. Any such advice would need to be approved by the lead designer of the project for incorporation into the scheme.
2) Predicted Energy Assessments
(Providing information about energy for homes that have not been built yet – off-plan sales)
If you are selling a home before it has been built, you will need to provide information about the energy efficiency in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). This is simply the predicted SAP and Environmental Impact (CO2) rating from the SAP calculations we can do for you at the design stage, to check whether you will meet energy saving targets.
CCHI can create the graphics from the SAP rating. They do not need to have a Recommendation Report. The PEAs can be produced by our accredited On Construction Energy Assessor and are quality assured. Our accreditation board is NHER, the industry recognized leader in SAP assessing.
3) New Build Marketing on Completion - As Built Energy Performance Certificates
From 6th April 2008, on completion of the building an 'as built' SAP assessment will be required to take account of any changes which may have occurred to the original design. At this point the as built SAP assessment is used to produce an EPC which is a legal requirement for inclusion in the HIP required for the marketing of the property. If required by the local authority building control officer this calculation will need to include the results of an air pressure test. This is a physical test that measures the air leakage rate from the completed building.
How do I get an Energy Performance Certificate?
By law, Energy Performance Certificates can only be produced by an accredited On Construction Energy Assessor.* Our assessors who are currently providing SAP calculations to show that they meet Target Emission Rates as part of Building Regulations and have joined an accreditation scheme to allow them to produce On Construction EPCs.
For further assistance call Neil Bowles on 08451 302350 or email nbowles@cchi.co.uk
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