BaltEco Consulting Engineers were selected by SEAI to act as Auditors of the BER Quality Assurance Scheme and for the duration of this work will not be carrying out BER ratings. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but thank you for your interest in our company.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that when a building is offered for sale or rent, a Building Energy Rating (BER) detailing its energy consumption be made available to the prospective buyers or tenants. A BER gives an objective scale of comparison for the energy demands and energy performance of a building. Similar to the rating system currently used for electrical appliances, each building will be rated on a scale from A to G, with A representing the most energy efficient and G the least. The BER scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), a statutory body set up by the government in 2002 with the remit of promoting the development of sustainable energy. For more information refer to www.seai.ie. A BER may only be produced by trained BER assessors who are registered with SEAI.
Our assessor at BaltEco Consulting Engineers is not only trained and registered as prescribed by SEAI, but also has a depth of experience and practical knowledge in the use of renewable and sustainable technologies. We provide guidance on the impact of dwelling design, fabric standards and renewable technologies on the energy rating of new or provisional dwellings. For existing dwellings, we offer energy audits and advise on the most cost effective improvements to optimise the BER rating and reduce overall energy consumption.
There are three kinds of BER rating for domestic dwellings:
Since January 2009, a BER rating is required for all domestic dwellings offered for sale or rent. This involves a building survey to establish
The BER rating is calculated from the information gathered, as well as defaults basedon the age of the dwelling and assumed occupancy patterns. Where SEAI grants for upgrades to insulation, heating systems or controls or installation of renewable systems are being sought a BER rating may be required before and after the measures. Information on grants available for existing dwellings is detailed on http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/ (2011). The completed BER file is forwarded by the assessor to SEAI for issue of the official BER certificate, which is valid for a period of ten years. An advisory report is also automatically generated, advising on upgrades which may improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling.
A New Final BER certificate is also required for new buildings once construction is complete. This may be an update of a provisional BER to reflect the as-built situationor a new rating. Fabric element U-values are calculated and compliance with Building Regulations is checked based on the installed situation. Early involvement of the assessoris best to allow the evidence required for the BER calculations to be gathered during construction for elements which may be difficult to verify later e.g. the thickness of insulation under the concrete floor. Timely involvement allows any compliance issues which may be present to be identified during the build. As with existing dwellings, a BER for a new final dwelling is valid for ten years.
As a BER must be presented to prospective buyers at the point of sale, builders and developers who offer units for sale before or during construction will require a BER for each individual unit. In this case a Provisional BER rating is calculated from the plans and the specifications and is valid for a period of 2 years. It is advisable to have provisional BER ratings completed early as there may be adjustments to room layouts, heating system, or fabric elements which could confirm compliance with Building Regulations Part L, improve the rating and thus the saleability of the unit. We work closely with the builder/developer to calculate the U-values which will be achieved based on the dwelling specification; consider measures required to comply with current building regulations, including renewable energy options; and present the most effective adjustments to improve the dwelling rating. Provisional ratings must be updated to full BER ratings (new final) to reflect the as-built situation once construction is complete.