Energy
Assessment of New Build Property - EPC
Current new laws now
define the requirements for Energy Assessors for New Build Homes &
Dwellings
SAP - or Standard
Assessment Procedure is the current method used to obtain energy rating
for new build homes or dwellings. The procedure is used to determine
heat losses and thermal characteristics of the property by examining
the building's plans, the construction materials used in the build and
additional factors including space and water heating.
SAP ratings are scored on
a scale from 1 to 100 where 1 is the worst and 100 will indicate no
heating/hot water cost. It is therefore based on the annual energy
costs for space and water heating.
Target Emission Rate
A Target Carbon Dioxide
Emission Rate (TER) has to be calculated within the Standard Assessment
Procedure (SAP). The Carbon Index is on a scale of 0.0 to 10.0, based
on the annual CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating.
SAP Ratings are used to demonstrate compliance with building
regulations for dwellings - Part L (England and Wales). To produce the
required energy rating you will need to appoint a qualified SAP
Assessor. SAP is based on a notional dwelling built to the 2002
standards with a target reduction of 20%. The actual Dwelling Carbon
Dioxide Emission Rate (DER) must then be no worse than the TER. The new
SAP 2005 incorporates all these calculations.
Communities &
Local Govenment (CLG)
The CLG authority has
stated the following:
From the 6 April 2008 all
new homes will require an EPC and Recommendation Report when physically
complete.
The EPC will be based on
the SAP rating which is currently required to comply with Building
Regulations. This demonstrates that new homes meet the targets for
energy performance that are part of the Building Regulations.
The EPC must be produced
by an Energy Assessor who is accredited for On Construction
Energy Assessment. The EPC is based on SAP rather than RdSAP
which is used for existing homes.
When the home is
physically complete, an EPC should be produced and given to the owner
of the home. Building Control will not issue a completion
certificate until they are sure this has been done.
How does this affect
you...
If you are marketing a
home off-plan, you will need to have a PEA (Predicted Energy
Assessment) in the HIP to provide to potential buyers. Once the home is
physically complete the PEA in the HIP should be replaced with an EPC
and Recommendation Report.
PEAs should be based on
the predicted SAP rating for the home. This will be available from
calculations done at the design stage and is a number between 1 and
100. A spreadsheet template is available to be able to represent the
rating in a graphical form for potential buyers.
Each building within a
development will require its own EPC (although reports can be cloned
for identical dwellings and will not need to be inspected individually).
An On Construction
Energy Assessor will not need to visit the property to produce
an EPC. The EPC will be the result of the As Built check which is an
extension of the SAP calculation needed for Building Control.
Find Out More...
MDEA are able to offer an
off-plan service Nationwide and are also able to assess dwellings under
slightly differing regulations in Northern Ireland and Scotland.To find
out more about how MDEA can help you to obtain all neccessary On
Construction Building Energy Performance Certification, anywhere within
the UK, please go through to our Contact page.
