BER Cert Assessor
A Domestic BER is required on a dwelling when it is:
- Offered for sale off plans – A Provisional BER
- A new dwelling for occupation – New Final BER
- Offered for sale or lease – New Final or Existing Dwelling BER
- Claiming a grant from SEAI – Existing Dwelling BER
- Homeowner Knowledge
A Building Energy Rating or BER is an energy efficiency rating for a building. It indicates the level of carbon dioxide emissions and KWh/m2/yr of a property for a dwelling at the time of certification.
The BER will cover building fabric, energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting and standardised water usage. It is calculated on the basis of standard occupancy and will be valid for 10 years from the date of its being issued. It is expressed as primary energy use per unit floor area per year.
A-rated homes are the most energy-efficient and G-rated homes the least efficient.
Most houses built in Ireland before 1990 score a D3 rating or worse. This is particularly the case where there have been no upgrades or significant energy improvements. A dwelling built in Ireland post December 2019 most achieve an A2 rating or better.
Our prices start at €185 for a BER on an existing one bed apartment. Discounts will apply for multiply properties. Call our BER assessors Galway today to discuss your needs.
Domestic BER Cert
NON DOMESTIC BER
A Non Domestic BER is required on a building when it is:
- Offered for sale off plans – A Provisional BER – usually a shell & core building
- A new building for occupation – New Final BER
- Offered for sale or lease – New Final or Existing BER
- Claiming a grant from SEAI – Existing BER
- Building owner Knowledge
- Conveyancing
A Non Domestic BER is an indication of the energy performance of a building. It is an asset rating of a commercial unit. It covers energy use for space heating and cooling, water heating, ventilation and lighting calculated on the basis of standard occupancy. The certificate has a scale of A – G.
The Non Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) is the methodology used to generate the Building Energy Rating (BER) and advisory report for new and existing non- domestic buildings. NEAP calculates the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with a standardised use of a building. The energy consumption is expressed in terms of kilowatt hours per square meter floor area per year (kWh/m2/yr) and the CO2 emissions expressed in terms of kilograms of CO2 per square meter floor area per year (kg CO2/m2/yr).
The assessment takes into account the following;
- The geometry and age of the building
- Type and thickness of insulation materials in the building fabric
- Activity and particulars of each zone
- The heating systems in place
- Access to daylight – solar gain & shading
- The ventilation system used
- The type of lighting and controls
- Any renewable technologies in use
Our team have many years experience in both the energy and building sector and offer unrivalled expertise in this area.
All non domestic quotes are given on a case by case basis and are calculated based on floor area and the complexity of the building. Non Domestic BER prices start at €275 incl vat.
For more information please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Non Domestic BER Cert
Provisional BER
You are about to embark on one of the biggest investments you are likely to make. Many councils now require a provisional BER at planning application. Soon all planning departments across the country will require provisional BER’s to prove compliance with Part L.
It is therefore vital that you are fully informed of the difficult decisions you are about to make. Building an energy efficient and sustainable building is in everyone’s interest. A Provisional BER report will ensure that your building will have as high an energy rating as possible.
- Your home will be more comfortable
- Your space and water heating systems will be cost efficient
- You will be also making a vital contribution to reducing climate change
- A favorable rating will be an extra marketing tool when renting or selling
Who should get a Provisional BER Report?
Any individual involved in the building process can avail of a PBER. The plans would typically be sent to us. We will then identify ways in which the energy efficiency can be improved. The earlier you contact us the better, but we can help even if the build has commenced.
What will EcoEfficiency do?
- Agree on a goal for the project.
- Analyze all areas from site selection, building form and orientation.
- Calculate the provisional energy rating for your home using the official Irish method for calculating the energy performance of dwellings or non-domestic buildings. Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) Discover energy requirements.
- Research new products and technologies that are available and suitable for your home.
- Discuss the possibility of achieving grant aid.
- Make product recommendations.
- Implement and re-calculate the BER based on any changes and/or improvements made.
- Provide a list of different products and outline their effects on the energy rating of your building/home.
We provide practical, no nonsense advice on energy efficiency in your building/home.
How to find out more:
Simply contact us and one of our team will be more than happy to answer any query you have.
How does a building owner prepare for a BER – Commercial or Domestic?
- Full postal address plus Eircode of the building being surveyed.
- MPRN. This is your electric meter point reference number. This is an eleven-digit number on your electricity bill.
If available:
- Confirmation of year of build.
- Any layout plans, drawings, elevations, sections, schematics etc.
- Planning reference numbers for any extensions.
- Any receipts/invoices/certificates for energy related works done.
To achieve the most accurate rating, the BER assessor will require unambiguous substantiating documentary evidence of any fabric upgrades. This information must be in a format acceptable to SEAI and in line with the DEAP/iSBEM methodology. It can include a signed & headed Contractors/Engineers/Architect’s Declaration of Works detailing specifically each layer in the construction.
New windows & doors will require certified u-values and solar transmittance values from an accredited European test body, in English.
Any heating/ventilation/renewable system will require CE marked Declarations of Performance, be listed on the appropriate databases, or have the applicable certified EN test standards.
In the absence of acceptable documentary evidence, the BER assessor will have no choice other than to input ‘default values’ for those elements. For example, default values could be assigned to a building element such as an extension floor – if the build-up of the extension floor cannot be satisfactorily confirmed. The default u-value will be based on the age band of the original building, unless the age band of the extension can be satisfactorily confirmed. Default values are pessimistic and may result in a lower-than-expected rating.
The assessor will need access to every room in the building. Access may also be required to external buildings which directly affect the building being surveyed. Such buildings could be an adjoining garage/boiler house/shed/meter cupboard etc.
Floor area and other exposed surface areas such as windows, walls and doors need to be measured. The hot water cylinder needs to be measured. The insulation in loft areas needs to be measured.
Other items noted in the survey include information on lighting bulb types and quantity, heating controls for space and water and any other fixed services such as room heaters, ventilation systems, orientation, and angle of any Solar arrays etc.
A BER is a non-destructive survey. i.e. no building elements will be opened up to confirm a construction.
A BER survey on a standard 4 bed semi should be concluded within an hour. The information found on site then needs to be entered into the BER software, for domestic this is the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure. Various u-value/efficiency calculations are made, and any documentary evidence is then verified. Once all inputs are confirmed the BER is uploaded to a national administration system administered by SEAI. The assessor then publishes the BER certificate and sends to the client. An advisory report accompanies the BER cert.
A BER lasts for 10 years, unless there are any changes to the heating, ventilation, fabric, lighting or floor area of a building. Any changes to a building invalidate an existing BER. SEAI retain the right to audit any BER.
The cost of a BER will increase in line with the size/complexity of the building in question.
Additional BER Info.
- A Building Energy Rating is a visual representation of the energy performance of a building on an A to G scale.
- In Ireland, BER’s for buildings are required since 2007.
- An advisory report most accompany a BER.
- The DEAP software is used to produce a domestic BER data file in Ireland and to show compliance with the building regulations, Part L.
- iSBEM is the Non-Domestic software used in Ireland.
- Part L of the building regulations relates to the energy performance of a building.
- SEAI is the Issuing body responsible for the administration of the BER system in Ireland.
- Building Control in the Local Authority is responsible for the enforcement of the building regulations.
- A BER lasts for 10 years or until there is any change to the building fabric, its heating, ventilation, lighting, hot water system or renewables.
- A provisional BER lasts for 2 years.
- A provisional BER is carried out on a building bought of plans, shell & core or for a new build.
- A BER can typically be improved by upgrading the fabric of the building, the ventilation, heating, renewables, and lighting systems.
- Under S.I. No. 243 of the European Performance of Buildings Directive 2012, a penalty of €5000 and or an imprisonment term not exceeding 3 months are enforceable for failure to comply with the Issuing Authority or Building Control in relation to a BER or a DEC (display energy cert) when requested to do so!
