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Commercial properties whether being designed and built as new, existing properties being sold or newly rented out will need an Energy Performance Certificate.

Roy Judge uses software produced by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) to assess and measure energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

This new (2008) office building passed with flying colours and achieved a brilliant air tightness test result

When are Energy Perfomance Certificates required? is constructed, sold or rented o

It is the responsibility of the person selling or renting a building to have a valid EPC to show to prospective buyers and tenants. The EPC must be given to the eventual buyer or tenant.

The certificate requirement is being phased in in stages

• from 6 April 2008 when buildings with a total floor area of more than 10,000sq m
• from 1 July 2008, this extends to buildings with a total floor area greater than 2,500sq m.
• from 1 October 2008 all remaining commercial buildings over 50 sq m in floor area will require an EPC on sale, rental and all buildings upon construction.

The certificate is valid for ten years, or until a newer EPC is prepared.

For a building to fall within the requirement for an EPC it must:

• have a roof and walls and use energy to condition the indoor climate (i.e has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation) then you will require an EPC.
• A building can either be the whole building or part of a building designed or altered to be used separately.

The sale and let of commercial buildings can be complex with floors let to different tenants, and with a mixture of retail, office and residential accommodation. The EPC required for any space you offer for sale or let must reflect the accommodation on offer.

Selling or letting a building as a whole

You can prepare an EPC for the whole building, even if that building has parts designed or altered to be used separately with separate heating systems.

Selling of letting part of building, where the building has a common heating system

If a building has a common heating system, then the seller or prospective landlord can prepare (or make available) an EPC for the whole building or for a part designed or altered to be used separately.  The EPC will be based on the energy consumption of the building apportioned in relation to the area of the accommodation being offered.

Buildings with separate parts and separate heating systems

An EPC should be prepared (or made available) for each part of a building that is being offered separately for sale or let.  The EPC should reflect the services in those part(s) being offered for sale or let and will include a portion of the energy consumption of any common areas that exist solely or mainly for access to the part.

Residential accommodation

Any separate residential accommodation that is self-contained will require its own EPC (using SAP or RdSAP as appropriate). Residential space that can only be accessed via commercial premises (i.e. a house with a shop in a downstairs room or a shop with accommodation where the access is through the shop) will be assessed with the commercial premises as a single building (where SBEM is more appropriate).

Modifications to a building

If a building is modified to have more or less parts that are designed or altered to be used separately and the modification includes the provision or extension of heating, hot water, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation then an EPC for the building must be provided on completion of the work.o purchase orders

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