Air Conditioning Energy Assessors

Air Conditioning Systems Energy Assessment & Inspection

Air Conditioning Energy Assessors also known as Air Conditioning Inspectors will be required to carry out inspection of existing Equipment & Systems, these systems can only be inspected by a qualified energy assessor who has received specific training in this field. The National Occupational Standards have now been announced for this sector of energy inspection.

Existing air-conditioning maintenance and repair companies would be best placed for application for training as an energy assessor for air conditioning systems as their personnel would already benefit from background knowledge associated with air conditioning equipment.

Energy Assessors in this field will require training in the operation of the following equipment and associated controls :

• Unitary packaged systems

• Split packaged systems

• Multi-split packaged systems

• Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems

• Centralised cooled air systems

• Centralised cooled water systems

Those assessors who have already gained qualification in energy assessment in the domestic sector would also be best placed to undertake additional learning in this field.

Definitions:

An Energy Assessor is an individual who is a member of an accreditation scheme.
An Energy Assessment means the preparation and issuing of an air conditioning Inspection Report, and the carrying out of any inspections undertaken for the purposes of issuing the Inspection Report.
National Occupational Standards are standards for Energy Assessors that are approved by the United Kingdom Coordinating Group of National Occupational Standards Boards

Scope Of Inspection:
Packaged air conditioning systems

Inspect simple / packaged air conditioning systems, generally applied where cooling is provided in conditioned spaces using indoor units that contain refrigerant to air heat exchangers and an integral air circulation fan. These may be either integral with outdoor units that contain the refrigerant compressor, refrigerant to outdoor air heat exchanger or circulation fan, or connected to the outdoor unit by refrigerant pipework.
Such air conditioning systems would include:
Unitary packaged systems
Split packaged systems
Multi-split packaged systems
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems
The scope of the inspection is to assess the efficiency and sizing of the system compared to the cooling requirements of the building. In turn, this will enable the production of a report, which advises the client on issues that affect energy efficiency and the use of installed air conditioning systems, and recommend improvements where required.
The criteria and method used in the assessment is CIBSE methodology.

The assessor needs to determine the design intent of the system installed, the type, features and location of the system installed, the size of the area served by the system, maintenance records relating to the system, and the energy consumption of the system

Complex / central air conditioning systems

Inspect complex / central air conditioning systems, applied to more extensive and more complex systems that are generally characterised by the use of water or air distribution systems to deliver cooling to conditioned spaces using a
variety of active (i.e. that contain air moving fans) or passive terminal devices. Generally such systems 
include more complex controls that may break down the conditioned spaces into zones where different control parameters can be applied, and that could be located remotely from the equipment, or incorporated into a building management system (BMS). The inspection of systems would
include:
Centralised cooled air systems
Centralised cooled water systems
Water loop / reversible heat pump systems
Additional systems i.e. where areas are served by packaged, split and multi-split packaged comfort cooling equipment, including variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment.
The inspection is to assess the efficiency and sizing of the system compared to the cooling requirements of the building. In turn, this will enable the production of a report, which advises clients on issues that affect energy efficiency and the use of installed air conditioning systems, and recommend improvements where required.

The assessor needs to determine the design intent of the system installed, the type, features and location of the system installed, the size of the area served by the system, maintenance records relating to the system, energy consumption of the system.

The criteria and method used in the assessment is CIBSE methodology.

The assessors report will contain where necessary, replacement of the system or parts of the system, rectification of faults, improvements (e.g. to maintenance plan, for system controls) and best practice.

The report will contain details of:

• the property inspected and the inspector

• details of the system inspected

• details of the results of the inspection, including recommendations

• the design intent of the system inspected versus its actual operating performance (taking

• account of any ways in which building usage has changed over time)

• any additional advice

For further information for building owners and or managers, including new build property developers on what information you must provide to assessors please refer to:

SAP Assessment - for new build "on construction" dwellings.
SBEM Assessment - for existing commercial buildings. Property managers refer to Business Energy Saving Measures to reduce overheads and improve your buildings energy rating.

Many buildings will be affected by the introduction of Commercial Energy Performance Certificates in the future and air conditioning inspection, these include:

• Energy Certificates for Retail Units

• Energy Certificates for New Build Homes

• Energy Certificates for Shops

• Energy Certificates for Industrial Units

• Energy Certificates for Hotels

• Energy Certificates for Offices and small business premises

• Energy Certificates for New Build commercial units - SAP/SBEM Commercial Buildings Assessors required.

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for such buildings can only be issued by a commercial energy assessor  

Commercial Energy Assessor Directory of SAP & SBEM Consultants - Commercial Property Energy Performance Certificates EPCs and providers of energy assessment will be required for all other properties in the future including energy certificates for Social Housing inspection and Rented Property sectors. A Commercial Energy Assessor Forum is available online, with discussion board with matters relating to energy certificates for commercial/industrial buildings.

Commercial Buildings EPC Energy Training - A guide for available courses and assessment centres for Energy ratings and calculations for non-residential dwellings.

Commercial Energy Performance Certificate DEC Provider, SAP Ratings Assessor, or SBEM Consultants?  Surveyors - Please refer to contact page and send your details to us for inclusion in the directory.