Building Energy Rating (BER) - Irish Home Energy Assessors in Ireland

A BER is a scale of comparison for the energy performance of a building ranging from A1 to G. Similar to A to G energy rating found on any household electrical appliance like your fridge. A-rated homes being the most energy efficient and G rating the least efficient. The objective of the Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings is to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the community.

For anyone selling or leasing a new home from 1st July 2008 a BER Certificate will be compulsory. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you may already be entitled to a BER, depending on when the planning permission was granted.

Legislation & implementation began 1st January 2007 for all new residential buildings for which planning permission was applied, these now require a BER certificate when offered for sale or for rent. BER certificates will also be required for all new non-residential (including public service) buildings from 1st July 2008. For all existing residential and non-residential buildings offered for sale or for rent from 1st January 2009.

A BER for any building will be valid for 10 years from the date of its being issued, 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.

The legislation does not apply to listed buildings, listed national monuments, places of worship, temporary buildings, industrial/agricultural buildings and small 'stand alone' buildings not exceeding 50m2. The fee for a BER for a new dwelling will be payable by the builder, whether that be an individual, a developer, a local authority or other housing provider.
When BER becomes compulsory in 1st January 2009 for all existing properties being offered for sale or letting, the owner, directly or through their agent, is responsible for any fees payable to the BER assessor.

A Building Energy Report can only be carried out by an approved assessor, registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). All assessors are specifically trained and must continually meet any further requirements set by SEI, one of which includes signing up to a Code of Conduct

* Certain actions in respect of BERs are offences punishable by fines and imprisonment. A full list of offences can be found in the regulations . For example, the following offences are punishable by a fine not exceeding €5,000;

"Failure by the owner of a building or the agent of such owner to produce and allow inspection by a building control authority or an authorized officer thereof of within 28 days a printed copy of a BER certificate required in respect of that building by the regulations"

"Making a statement for the performance of his or her functions to a BER assessor, to SEI or to an authorized officer that he or she knows to be false or misleading in a material particular or recklessly making a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular;"

"Failing to disclose a material fact particular to a BER assessor, to SEI or to an authorized officer for the performance of their functions"

B.E.R. Certificate

Article 7 of the EPBD indicates the requirements of an energy performance certificate. The BER certificate must be presented to the new owner, the tenant or by the owner to the prospective buyer. The certificate has been designed with comparability in mind, so that prospective builders, buyers and tenants can easily identify the energy consumption and resultant cost of heating the building.