From start to finish, we get your site signed off! Done.
From start to finish, we get your site signed off! Done.
All dwellings constructed after April 2008 are required to have a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place before they are first sold or rented. This applies to completely new dwellings as well as to those that have been created by a material change of use, e.g. from commercial to domestic, and to those that have been created by splitting an existing dwelling into flats, or by merging two or more flats or houses into one.
As well as producing an EPC, the SAP calculation process is also used to demonstrate your buildings compliance with UK Building Regulations Part L1a, or in the case of conversions L1b. To do this your SAP EPC is accompanied by a compliance report, which building control will want to see showing a pass as part of the sign-off process.
Sound insulation testing, also known as acoustic testing, is a method of assessing how much noise is transmitted through party floors and party walls. This is done to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations Approval Document Part E UK. These tests are only required to be carried out in livable rooms such as bedrooms, living rooms/lounges,
open plan kitchen/living spaces.
There are two types of sound insulation tests that need to be completed to create a sound insulation report:
Airborne Test - This measures the level of sound which is transmitted through the air, to get an airborne result the party walls, floors, and ceilings between dwellings are assessed. Airborne noise can be created by TVs, music/radios, and people talking.
Impact Test - This measures the level of noise which is transmitted straight through walls or floors/ceilings of dwellings as a result of impact. Impact noise can be created by appliances working or heavy footsteps.
Air permeability testing, also known as air tightness testing or blower door testing, was included in Part L of the building regulations in 2010, as part of the government’s scheme to conserve fuel and power. A building with a high amount of air leakages is in danger of a vast increase in the rate which heat is lost from the property; on the other hand if there isn’t enough ventilation the air becomes stagnant increasing the chances of mould and damp, which can be potentially dangerous to occupants.
Approved document F defines airtightness as a descriptive term for how resistant a building’s envelope is to air escaping or entering the property, whilst all other ventilation is closed (ie windows, doors, vent systems). All new build commercial properties over 500m² and many new build or conversion residential properties are required to be tested to determine their air-tightness.
The size of the residential development will alter the amount of air permeability tests that you require, part L1a regulations state that developments with less than 4 properties require two tests of each dwelling type, between 5-40 require three tests of each dwelling type, and 41+ need at least 10% of each dwelling type tested, unless the first 5 tests successfully attain the required air permeability, in which case the testing frequency can be reduced to 8%. For individual dwellings an air permeability test is not a legal requirement, but may be required to achieve a pass on the SAP Compliance Report.
ollowing the method for testing required by building regulations as set out in ATTMA TSL1 (residential) and ATTMA TSL2 (commercial), all doors, windows and vents are closed or sealed, any flames in fireplaces will also have to be put out. Next a piece of equipment that comprises of a door holding a large fan is mounted inside the frame of an external door (generally the front door is used, providing it is “standard" size), when the fan is turned on it depressurises the building by extracting air from the property. The air permeability of the property is calculated using the difference between the internal and
external pressure of the building envelope.
All residential new builds and conversions need to achieve a minimum level of air permeability of (10m³/(h.m²)), this information is included in
your SAP calcs/EPC for building control.
Commercial properties require a minimum minimum
standard of ≤(10m³/(h.m-²)) at a pressure of 50 pascals.
Water usage calculations, also known as water efficiency calculations, have been part of building regulations since 6th April 2010; Approved Document G and similar enforcements are part of the government's action plan to ensure the UK is prepared for the future and whatever changes it may bring, including the forecasted increase in average summertime temperature and decrease in rainfall during the summer, estimated to be potentially dramatic as a 3.5°C-5°C increase by 2050. Due to these projections building regulations now include limitations for the usage of water per person per day for all newbuilds and conversions built post April 6th 2010.
The regulations state that properties must cap water usage at a maximum of 125L per person per day, local planning authorities also have permission to reduce this target to 110L per person per day, this practice is more common in London and southern areas. Failure to comply with the water usage limits can have a detrimental effect on your SAP calcs and EPC rating.
It is good practice to have water usage calculations completed prior to commencing work on the construction of your property, as you can determine whether your property will be compliant before spending any money on installing appliances and fittings, this means that if you are not compliant you need only change the plans, not the physical building. Here at Easy EPC we offer a full range of new build and conversion services, so that we can help you stay compliant from the design stage all the way through to completion.
SBEM stands for Simplified Building Energy Model and is the government approved way to check the energy performance of a commercial property. An SBEM assessment is required at the beginning and end of a construction project and is used to produce a building regulations compliance report and an On Construction Energy Performance Certificate (OC EPC).Before the build starts a Design Stage SBEM Calculation should be carried out and given to Building Control or the approved inspector at the same time as the Building Control Application is submitted.Once the build is complete an As Built SBEM Calculation needs to be carried out and a ‘pass’ certificate must be produced and given to your inspector to demonstrate compliance with the relevant Building Regulations.Following this, an up-to-date On Construction Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) can be produced.
In England the calculations have been required by building control since 2006 for all commercial new builds and may also be needed for conversions or extensions. The Building Regulations United Kingdom part L (BRUKL) report that is produced by carrying out SBEM calculations is used to demonstrate a new building is compliant with Part L2a of the UK building regulations, or Part L2b if it is a conversion or extension of an existing building.
In Northern Ireland SBEM Calculations are required for all commercial new builds over 50m2 and may also be needed for conversions or extensions. The Building Regulations United Kingdom part L (BRUKL) report that is produced by carrying out SBEM calculations is used to demonstrate a new building is compliant with Part F2 of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland), which closely mirrors the UK Building Regulations Part L2a for new builds and L2b for conversions and extensions.
In Scotland SBEM Calculations are required for all commercial new builds over 50m2 and may also be needed for conversions or extensions, and are used to demonstrate compliance with Section 6 of the Scottish Building Standards. SBEM calculations must be provided at the design stage and after construction (as built). The Building Emission Rate (BER) must not exceed the Target Emission Rate (TER) in order for the property to comply. Properties that are unheated, temporary or places of worship may be exempt.
There are three types of asbestos survey:
Under current UK legislation fire risk assessments are compulsory for business premises that employ more than five people.
We conduct Fire Risk Assessments on a nationwide basis within Schools, Licensed Premises, Offices, Warehouse/Factories, Residential Properties, Care Homes, Retail Outlets and all buildings which require them under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which includes common areas of flats.
Our assessors are highly experienced and knowledgeable offering compliance by delivering a top quality professional service. Our reports are comprehensive but easy to comprehend meaning the end user has a full understanding of their obligations.
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