Produce and explain Energy Performance Certificates relating to domestic property
Overview
This standard covers the activities undertaken after the domestic property inspection is completed, with the production and communication of an Energy Performance Certificate in accordance with the prescribed format. The Energy Performance Certificate details the property's assumed ratings and its forecasted fuel costs based on standard occupancy, the assumed performance of each element of the property (e.g. walls, heating, lighting) and recommended potential measures to improve the property's energy performance.
The standard involves collating all the information you have obtained on the property, using approved software to determine energy performance ratings and generating energy efficiency measures to improve the property's energy performance. You should ensure that the data input is correct and entered in accordance with the relevant requirements.
You must also use approved software to produce and lodge the completed Energy Performance Certificate and inform the customer that it is available. You are required to explain the Energy Performance Certificate's content to your customer, including any differences from previous Energy Performance Certificates. You should respond to requests for clarification on aspects of the Certificate or its associated energy efficiency measures. You must also maintain your own internal records in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements and data protection legislation, including code of practice and the auditing requirements of relevant Accreditation Scheme.
Note that the term 'assessment' is used throughout the standards to refer to the overall process of completing the inspection and entering the information into the relevant national calculation methodology, via the Government Approved software interfaces, whereas 'inspection' is used only for on-site inspection of the property and its features.
You must understand and work to the requirements of each devolved nation.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Produce Energy Performance Certificates
- assemble and collate information from the on-site inspection and from relevant additional sources
- use the approved software, following the provider's instructions, to determine energy performance ratings and potential recommendations, confirming that data is entered to the required standards
- check that the Energy Performance Certificate matches the critical property features and the data is complete and accurate before finalising the Energy Performance Certificate
- prepare an Energy Performance Certificate that meets the relevant devolved nation's codes of practice and standards, including the recording of the date prepared and the relevant property address
Issue Energy Performance Certificates and explain their contents
- lodge Energy Performance Certificates on the relevant national register on completion
- inform the customer that the Energy Performance Certificate has been completed and how it can be accessed
- explain information that has been used as evidence to support the outcomes and potential recommendations on energy efficiency measures
- explain all the component parts of the Energy Performance Certificate and signpost customers to sources of additional information and support
- explain the energy efficiency recommendations in the EPC that could potentially be applied to the fabric of the building, taking account of its geographic location and available fuel supplies
- explain to customers that predicted savings from energy efficiency measures are based on ‘standard occupancy’ and may not be achieved in practice
- inform customers that the data collected during the inspection is recorded on the relevant national register and the circumstances where relevant organisations, including researchers, local authorities and environmental organisations may access it on a restricted basis
- answer queries from customers about the Energy Performance Certificate and provide clarification of the contents, when required
- draw the customers’ attention to the Energy Performance Certificate complaints procedure and advise them how to access it
- maintain internal records in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements and data protection legislation, including code of practice and the auditing requirements of your Accreditation Scheme
- identify potential health, safety and security risks with the property and the environment
- prepare to take action to minimise or mitigate risks
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the range of potential impacts of climate change on buildings
Produce Energy Performance Certificates
- how to establish the customers’ understanding of the Energy Performance Certification process and their expectations as to outcomes
- the consequences of how the methodology models the building, using standard assumptions, ‘standard occupancy’ and default values, ‘U-values’
- the limitations of using non-intrusive visual based inspection
- the consequences of the methodology not taking into consideration the condition of the building fabric, services and ventilation
- the interaction between the building fabric, building location and building services and their impact on the energy assessment process and potential energy efficiency measures
- where the incorrect choice of values will affect the accuracy of the Energy Performance Certificate
- the relevant devolved nation's format and content of an Energy Performance Certificate
- the relevant devolved nation's conventions used in the national calculation methodology energy assessment, and the implications for results when these change
- the role of the devolved nations' Scheme Operating Requirements for Accreditation Bodies
- the awareness of implications for listed buildings and conservation areas
- the range of energy efficiency measures that could be included in the Energy Performance Certificate
- how to use the relevant devolved nation's software to produce Energy Performance Certificates
- the circumstances in which items can be recorded as 'unknown'
- the importance of checking the Energy Performance Certificate to confirm that it meets the relevant devolved nation's codes of practice and standards
- the importance of undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in line with relevant nation’s requirements
- the importance of updating competence to operate in accordance with any future changes to Energy Performance Certificates, including metrics and regulations in line with relevant nation’s requirements
Issue Energy Performance Certificates and explain their contents
- the components and outcomes of the energy assessment process and typical customer queries about them
- the relevant devolved nation's approved software for the production and lodgment of completed Energy Performance Certificates
- how to lodge and retrieve Energy Performance Certificates from the relevant devolved nation's register
- how to provide the required audit evidence to the relevant devolved nation's Accreditation Scheme or Body
- the importance of informing the customers when and how to access the Energy Performance Certificate
- how to interpret the ratings and energy efficiency measures provided in the Energy Performance Certificate for the customers
- the types of construction of older and traditional buildings and the materials used, including local and regional variations.
- the performance characteristics of older and traditional buildings compared to those of modern construction.
- how to explain the component parts of the Energy Performance Certificate and their implications to the customers within your competence and role as an energy assessor. It is not a condition report and uses standardised assumptions about occupancy and heating patterns.
- the circumstances where the data recorded on the prescribed database may be accessed by researchers, local authorities and environmental organisations on a restricted basis
- how to respond to queries from the customers regarding the Energy Performance Certificate and provide clarification of the contents within your competence and role as an energy assessor
- the types of advice regarding energy efficiency that can be provided to customers during inspection that are within your competence and role as an energy assessor
- the sources of information and advice about energy performance to which customers can be referred
- the sources of information and advice about older and traditional buildings and heritage protection to which customers can be referred
- how customers can access complaints procedure as set out by the relevant devolved nation with regards to Energy Performance Certificate
- the reasons and methods for maintaining your internal records in accordance with devolved nation's requirements and the relevant data protection legislation and the minimum period of time for which records must be retained
- the relevant health and safety legislation and guidance
- how to identify, respond to and report any potential health, safety and security risks with the property and the environment
- the actions taken to minimise or mitigate risks
Scope/range
Critical property features:
- type and age of dwelling
- dimensions and extent of dwelling
- extensions
- alternative walls, sheltered walls, party walls
- rooms in the roof
- wall, roof and floor construction
- ventilation and air tightness
- retrofitted insulation
- unseparated conservatory
- areas and types of windows and doors
- habitable rooms
- space heating (main and secondary)
- water heating (including solar water heating and heat recovery systems)
- lighting
- photovoltaics, wind turbines and small-scale hydro
- energy storage (electric batteries and thermal stores)
- electricity tariffs and metering types
- any other features that, when incorrectly identified, will have a significant detrimental effect on assessment accuracy
Energy efficiency measures:
- energy performance improvements listed in the relevant national calculation methodology
- any other improvements that may be supported by UK Government policy or that of the Devolved Administrations, as listed in relevant legislation or guidance
Relevant information and documentary evidence to record:
- legible site notes
- clear site sketches (plan, elevation) to give an accurate records of the inspection for audit purposes, including measurements and calculations
- clear photographs containing mandated data (e.g. time and date) appropriately staged and annotated, where necessary
- legibly completed survey forms (handwritten and digital)
- records of web searches or other research
- any other information considered necessary to support decisions
- any other information required by Scheme Operating Requirements
Component parts:
- the estimated fuel costs and headline savings messages
- headline metrics
- the breakdown of the property’s energy performance energy efficiency rating (current and potential) and score per metric
- the impact of energy efficiency ratings on bills
- top actions
- the current features table
- low and zero carbon sources
- energy efficiency measures
- energy efficiency advice
- choosing a package
- the Environmental Impact rating
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Accreditation Body
Accreditation bodies for Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) in the UK are government-approved organisations that verify the competence of professionals to produce valid Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). They provide necessary training, software, and quality assurance auditing.
Building Services
These are the essential systems—heating, ventilation, lighting, plumbing, and security—that make buildings functional, safe, and comfortable. These technical components include MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems, fire safety, and energy management, designed to improve efficiency and occupant experience.
Data Protection
Data protection legislation controls how your personal information is used by organisations, including businesses and government departments.
Anyone responsible for using personal data must make sure the information is:
- used fairly, lawfully and transparently
- used for specified, explicit purposes
- used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary
- accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date
- kept for no longer than is necessary
- handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage.
Domestic Energy Assessor
Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) is a qualified professional who carries out assessment of the energy efficiency of existing dwellings in accordance with relevant national calculation methodology to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
Energy assessment
Energy assessment is used to refer to the overall process of completing the inspection and entering the information into the relevant national calculation methodology via the relevant Government Approved software.
Energy Efficiency Measure (EEM)
Planned work undertaken to improve the energy performance of a building by saving or generating energy.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) refers to the lodged outcome of an inspection that has been undertaken by an energy assessor.
Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC)
The Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC), denoted measures the rate of heat transfer between inside and the outsides per degree difference in temperature, expressed in (, watts per metre square Kelvin.
National Calculation Methodology
The National Calculation Methodology (NCM) is a framework that is defined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in collaboration with the Devolved Administrations. It provides a standardised method for calculating the annual energy use of a proposed building and comparing it with a 'Notional' building that meets specific energy performance criteria. This methodology is crucial for demonstrating compliance with the Building Regulations for domestic buildings and is used to produce Asset ratings for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
Thermal Bridge
A point in an element or the building envelope that allows heat to pass through more easily.
Traditional Building
Buildings with a vapour permeable construction that both absorbs moisture and readily allows moisture to evaporate. Examples include but not limited to traditional timber-framed external walls with any infill and those built with wattle and daub, cob or stone, brick and constructions using lime render or mortar.
U Value
A measure of the thermal transmittance of a structure, as single material or a composite, in standard conditions. It is calculated by dividing the rate of transfer of heat through the structure by the difference in temperature across it, expressed in (, watts per metre square Kelvin.