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BER - Building Energy Rating
A BER (Building Energy Rating) is standard calculation of the energy performance of a building, produced by a qualified assessor using procedures including calculation method and software approved by SEI and including a survey of the building where required by direction of SEI. It is rather like the mpg or l/km rating for a motorcar or the A to G rating for a household electrical appliance.
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BER Certification
A BER (Building Energy Rating) is standard calculation of the energy performance of a building, produced by a qualified assessor using procedures including calculation method and software approved by SEI and including a survey of the building where required by direction of SEI.� It is rather like the mpg or l/km rating for a motorcar or the A to G rating for a household electrical appliance.
BER Phased Introduction
The requirement to provide a BER is being introduced on a phased basis as follows:
New dwellings: The regulations apply to new dwellings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st January 2007. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new dwellings for which planning permission is applied on or before 31st December 2006, where the new dwellings involved are substantially completed on or before 30th June 2008.
New Non-Domestic Buildings: The regulations apply to new dwellings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st July 2008. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied on or before 30th June 2008 provided the new non-domestic buildings involved are substantially completed by 30th June 2010.
Existing Buildings (dwellings and other buildings) when offered for sale or letting on or after 1st January 2009.
Providing a BER Assessment
Building Energy Rating (BER) is a requirement of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (2002/91/EC of 16 December 2002), which has now been transposed in Ireland by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 666 of 2006)
The building owner is required to provide the BER to prospective buyers and tenants. BER will, therefore, make the energy performance characteristics of the building transparent to prospective buyers and tenants. As a result, buyers and tenants will be able, for the first time, to take energy performance into consideration in their decision to purchase or rent a building.
Overall, the message in a market context is: �information is power�. BER is about equipping the consumer with information and the consequent power to act in their own best interests.
Provisional BER Certification
A Provisional BER Certificate must be produced by the vendor to potential buyers or tenants, when the new dwelling is offered for sale off plans. This certificate is based upon the pre- construction plans. When the relevant new dwelling is completed, the vendor is obligated to arrange for a new BER certificate to be supplied to the purchaser, based on the plans of the dwelling as constructed (to take account of any design changes during construction).
Self Built Dwellings
A BER certificate must be procured by the person commissioning a dwelling for their own use, prior to taking up occupation of the dwelling.
What happens if a building gets a relatively low BER?
There is no legal penalty for getting an inferior BER for an existing dwelling. However, new dwellings must comply with the �Conservation of Fuel and Energy� Part L provisions of the Building Regulations. The impact of a lower BER on the marketability of dwellings offered for sale or letting will depend on overall housing supply, demand and other property market factors and on the availability/ price of domestic fuels.
Improving Building Energy Performance
Building energy performance options might include measures such as:
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insulating the hot water cylinder and pipework
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increasing the insulation in the walls/ attic/floor
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installing advanced energy efficient glazing
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replacing an old or inefficient boiler with a more efficient boiler
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installing modern heating controls
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installing certain types of renewable energy heating systems
For this reason, the advisory report will be a key document in relation to existing dwellings. It may be particularly useful to those who have just purchased an existing dwelling which they plan to improve or remodel in their early stages of occupation.
How long will a BER remain valid?
A BER for a building will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue, unless there is a material change in the building in the meantime which could affect its energy performance - for example an extension to the building, a significant change to the building fabric or a change in the heating system or fuel used. Therefore if a property which has received a BER is placed on the market within 10 years of that BER being issued, and the property has experienced no relevant alteration in the meantime, then that same BER may be used by the building owner for the purposes of meeting their obligations under the Regulations.
What is the BER methodology?
The national methodology for the BER of new dwellings was published in June 2006 and is called the Dwellings Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP). The DEAP method will be used to demonstrate compliance with certain provisions of Part L of the Building Regulations and also to produce a BER.
My home doesn't need a rating under regulation. Can I get one done anyway?
You can get a BER assessment done for your dwelling to establish the energy rating it would achieve. The result can not be uploaded onto the national database and hence you will not get an official BER Certificate for your dwelling but we will advise you on alterations and improvements to help you achieve cheaper running costs.
