A short note on Energy Performance Certificates

EPCs are a legal requirement when any commercial building over 50m² is built, sold or let.

An EPC sets out the energy efficiency grade of a commercial building by rating it from A (most efficient) to G. This is based on the performance potential of the building itself (i.e. the fabric) and the services (i.e. HVAC and lighting).

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There are three levels of buildings under the EPC requirements which relate to the complexity of the
building and will affect the type of EPC assessor needed.

Level 3: simple buildings similar to domestic premises in terms of fabric and services. These buildings can be assessed using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) software.
Level 4: larger, more complex buildings with fabric and services installations that are not found in domestic buildings.
Level 5: complex buildings, featuring advanced energy saving technologies (e.g. Daylight dimming controls, night cooling, etc) and require the use of Dynamic Simulation Modelling software.

Austin has the in-house capacity of creating and lodging EPCs for building of all levels, as it employs a registered CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessor for levels 3, 4 and 5.

epcfoot

  • architecture
  • mechanical
  • electrical
  • structural
  • public health
  • construction
  • management