Air conditioning systems can account for 50% of the energy used in a building, and are therefore specifically targeted in the new legislation. EPC (Midlands) Limited are here to help you comply with this aspect of EPBD and the new Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.

The aims of the inspection are to:

• Provide building owners/operators with information about system performance, and
• Identify opportunities to reduce your CO2 emissions and save energy and money

The output of the inspection will be a report highlighting measures which, if adopted, will have the potential to save energy and money within a reasonable payback period. Inspection reports will remain valid for five years, after which the system will require another inspection.

Which systems require inspection?

An air conditioning system is defined within the regulations as “a combination of all the components required to provide a form of air treatment in which the temperature is controlled or can be lowered, and includes systems which combine such air treatment with the control of ventilation, humidity and air cleanliness”. The regulations are being adopted in two phases. The first phase applies to systems with a rated cooling capacity above 250 kW and the second phase for the remaining systems over 12 kW. The cooling capacity of an air conditioning ‘system’ is further defined as “the sum of all individual cooling units under the control of one building owner or operator”. It may therefore include smaller ‘window-box’ and split units which are considered to be part of the ‘system’. 

When will the Regulations apply?

• First inspection of all existing systems over 250 kW cooling capacity must be completed by 4 January 2009.
• First inspection of all existing systems over 12 kW must be completed by 4 January 2011.
  
• New systems over 12 kW installed after January 2008 must be inspected within 5 years of being put into service.

Who can inspect air conditioning systems?

Air conditioning system inspections can only be completed by a qualified and accredited commercial energy assessor.

It is envisaged that the inspections will be undertaken parallel to associated routine activities such as maintenance and F-Gas inspections for economy.