Energy Assessment Commercial Buildings

Energy Assessment of Commercial Buildings requires a different approach to the assessment of energy usage to their domestic counterparts, the energy certificate also requires the calculation of a carbon index for the property or industrial building.

Energy Ratings for dwellings which are deemed "New Build" will require an EPC using the SAP energy rating system see also SAP calculations, commercial buildings which are existing structures will adopt the SBEM method developed by BRE.. For New Build Commercial and Industrial units energy assessment can be calculated dynamically using a computerised software model this known as SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) will be the preferred method used on large commercial/industrial scale buildings. SBEM has been developed by BRE, again this is a computer software based model to establish energy ratings for the production of energy performance certificates. Refer to information required to conduct SBEM Calculations.

For extremely large complex structures a system known as DSM (Dynamic Simulation Model) has been developed by BRE.

EPBD - Commercial Buildings

All buildings will be assessed using these models, SAP energy ratings will apply to most new build property requiring an EPC.

In most instances the assessor can calculate the ratings using plot plans of the structure and the material used in its construction by supplying the assessor with a bill of materials used in the buildings construction, so calculations can be finalised off-plan. SBEM Energy Assessment will be used for the majority of existing commercial buildings. Property managers refer to Business Energy Saving Measures to reduce overheads and improve your buildings energy rating.

Commercial EPC specialists are available on this website who can assist in the require calculation of energy usage and ratings for commercial property. For SAP ratings and the role of energy assessors please refer to Energy Assessors for newly constructed dwellings

Display Energy Certificates DEC are required for public buildings. These buildings can be assessed for energy usage and a rating applied by using one or in part al of the methods described above.

Property managers must decide if the new legislation applies to the building they own, manage or lease. Further information regarding "Do I Need a Commercial EPC" is available in a flow sheet to offer advice on which buildings are affected. If you have no energy rating for your asset, you have no asset rating for your building as defined under the Government scheme.

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

Newly Constructed Dwellings:
Energy Assessors for newly constructed dwellings

Public Buildings:
Energy Assessors for Public Buildings (Display Energy Certificates)

Non-Dwellings:
Energy Assessors for non-dwellings (Existing Buildings)

Air conditioning systems will be subject to inspection by an accredited commercial energy assessor.

To find out more please refer to Air Conditioning Equipment and Boiler Systems. Further information is available at: Commercial Property Energy Assessors. For inspection of air conditioning systems please refer to: Air Conditioning Inspectors
Further information is available at:

Commercial & Industrial Property EPC
Display Energy Certificates For Public Buildings
SAP Assessors
SBEM Energy Assessment
Commercial Buildings Energy Ratings
Commercial Energy Assessors

On-Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA)
An energy assessor who is qualified and accredited to calculate energy ratings for New Build Homes (Dwellings). SAP (standard assessment procedure), is the approved method and software for producing on-construction EPCs off plan.

Commercial (Non-Domestic) Energy Assessor (CEA)
An energy assessor who is qualified and accredited to calculate energy ratings whether working off plan or using data collected from the building. This inspector is commissioned if you require an energy inspection for on construction, and sale or rent of all commercial (non-domestic) buildings.

There are three different levels of competence of commercial energy assessor (CEA):

Level 5 - uses dynamic simulation modelling (DSM) software to produce EPCs for very complex buildings, including those with large amounts of glass and those which are curved
Level 4 - uses SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) software to produce EPCs for complex buildings without those special features listed above.
Level 3 - uses SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) software to produce EPCs for simple buildings

Operational Ratings Assessor (ORA) (Production of Display Energy Certificates)
An energy assessor who is qualified and accredited to calculate energy ratings and issue Display Energy Certificates (DEC) for public buildings.

Air Conditioning System Energy Assessor (ACSEA)
An energy assessor who is qualified and accredited to calculate energy ratings and provide reports for air conditioning systems, there are 2 levels of competence for such systems:

Level 4 - for inspection of complex/central air conditioning systems
Level 3 - for inspection of simple/packaged air conditioning systems

For more details about which systems are inspected and reporting procedures please refer to Air Conditioning Energy Assessors

Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - Existing Buildings
An energy assessor who is qualified and accredited to calculate energy ratings and issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for existing Homes and Dwellings.

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.

Commercial Buildings Energy Assessment

Commercial Property Energy Assessment - SBEM SAP Assessors