CIBSE gears up for EPC rush

About 100 assessors for energy performance certificates have been trained under CIBSE’s Low Carbon Energy Assessor Scheme, and 300 more will be ready by July.

Originally any building for sale would have needed an EPC by 6 April, but last month the government eased the requirement. If the building was on the market before 6 April, it does not need one until exchange of contracts, or for six months, whichever occurs first. But if it went on the market after 6 April, it needs an EPC right away.

Despite months of warning of the deadline, some commercial property owners say there were not enough assessors available in the run-up to 6 April.

The engineering sector also voiced concern that the analytical software for the certificates was not ready until a few weeks ago.

Even with enough assessors, clients could wait weeks for a certificate if they don’t have their energy information readily at hand, warns Andrew Tee, technical director of consultant CNP.

“For new buildings M&E data should be available in the O&M manual. In a perfect world, an EPC could be done in a week,” he said.

But producing an EPC for an older building could require weeks of legwork, to chase managing agents, get hold of floorplans or have them drawn up.

The requirement for EPCs will outstrip the availability of assessors in the short term, Tee predicted. “There’s going to be a bit of a rush on assessors.”

In a CNP survey of attendees at regional EPC information events last month, 51% of developers, landlords and occupiers said they were not ready for the 6 April deadline; 44% said they were part-prepared and only 5% described themselves as fully prepared.

“Given the lack of preparation, there may be a short-term scramble to ensure compliance, particularly as only accredited organisations can register EPCs,” Tee said.