Energy Surveys


Energy Assessment Surveys and Reports.

Services offered.

Under Part L of the current Building Regulations, “Energy assessments and reports” also known as Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) reports, are required for new build dwellings.

Similarly energy assessments “are also required for certain extensions when the glazed area required by the client is more that the current 25% of floor area rule". For example when a proposed conservatory is to be erected without a separating door between it and the dwelling. It is then considered as to be an extension and therefore comes under the building regulations, which with the large amount of glazing usually involved, requires an energy assessment of the ‘U’ value of the entire dwelling, before building regulation approval can be obtained.

A similar situation can also arise if an extensively glazed Garden/sun room is proposed. In all cases full building regulation approval is not usually given without the “energy report” being provided to building control.

In the case of new build dwellings the report is in two parts - Target Emission Rate (TER) and Dwelling Emission Rate (DER). The TER is calculated from the plan drawing specification at which point advice can be given in order to attain the required approval under Part L.

The ‘As Built’ DER and Energy Performance Certificate can only be provide after the new building is completed and has had a satisfactory ‘Air Permeability and Pressure Test’ report issued, both of which are required before the new dwelling can have a ‘Completion ‘ issued by building control.

Returning to conservatories. As previously stated these do not usually require building regulation approval but as more and more householders find them desirable, there is always the possibility of them being brought under the wing of local authority building control departments. Plus of course the growing concern about global warming and the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2).

Sound insulation although a concern for building control in the case of conventionally built extensions. It is not a consideration taken into account with the building of a conservatory, although rain and hail falling on the roof can produce a drumming effect of varying degrees of decibel loudness. A double glazed Argon gas filled glass roof is probably the best for both reducing noise and heat loss, helping to improve the ‘U’ Value of the construction.

Good ‘House Insulation’ can be achieved by using any of a great variety of products currently on the market today, these are also always being updated, driven by both government legislation and the desires of the consumer. These include ‘blown insulation’ such as mineral wool or ‘foam insulation’ injected into the cavities of the dwelling as well as the more widely use ‘fibre glass’ insulation bats installed during the normal building process.

Roof insulation varies depending on where the insulation is placed, rafter level, ceiling joist level or external to the roof void in the case of a ‘warm roof’ construction method being used. Again there are various products available from fibreglass rolls, rigid insulation sheets and multi-foils, etc. The required ‘U’ Value for floor insulation is also gradually being increased under government building regulations, as is the improvement in thermal insulation for window and door frames and glazing.

Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

1st June 2007 will bring the arrival of the governments proposed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which must be included by estate agents with the particulars of the property details. These EPCs are intended to supply consumers with better access to information and help them make ‘new green choices’ by being able for the first time to compare energy costs including CO2 emissions between various homes on the market.

My aim is to offer a reliable service to provide energy assessments inside a time frame previously agreed with you, my prospective client, and at a reasonable cost.

The energy assessments are provided using government approved software for architects and for builders as an approved authorised energy assessor by Elmhurst Energy Systems Limited, a member of FAERO.

An on site survey for private domestic properties are also offered to supply a quality assured Elmhurst Energy Systems Limited. SAP Certificate and its associated report.

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