Gareth Andrews BA (Hons) MArch RIBA :

Royal Institute of British Architects
Member of the 
Royal Institute of British Architects



Registered as an architect 
under the Architects Act 1997



Energy Assessors Certification Scheme

Certificate Number BREC300066


 

Energy Assessment

Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) & Energy Performance Certificates (EPC):

For a new dwelling there are two important stages of energy assessment to comply with current legislation:
  1. Design Stage SAP - as part of the application for Building Control Approval.
  2. As-Built SAP & EPC - as part of submission for Building Control Completion Certificate.
As detailed in the bottom section, new dwellings in the UK must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) prepared by a qualified On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA) at the point of completion. 


Gareth Andrews, On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA):
  • Gareth Andrews is a member of the Building Research Establishment (BRE) accreditation scheme, and is qualified to produce EPCs for new dwellings constructed anywhere in the UK. 
  • Energy Assessments and Ratings are calculated from architectural drawings / specifications, and therefore no site visits are required.
  • As an experienced Chartered Architect, Gareth knows the difficulties and opportunities in designing and constructing dwellings to meet increasingly challenging requirements and aspirations for higher energy ratings and cost-effective energy savings. 
  • With experience and expertise in delivering projects from inception to completion, Gareth can work with clients and architects to progress energy assessment from a mere 'tick-box' requirement to a genuine collaborative design tool that can assist and inform responsible, low-energy architectural solutions.
  • GA Design NI can therefore help to reduce costs and add value to projects.
Our service comprises:
  1. Design Stage SAP Assessment based on information that you provide, and incorporating all reports needed for submission to Building Control.
  2. Consultancy can be provided at this design stage on cost-effective measures to improve energy efficiency.
  3. As-built SAP Assessment is calculated at Practical Completion, incorporating air-pressure results and any amendments since design stage.
  4. Energy Performance Certificate & Recommendation Report are produced from this assessment and are lodged with the government's registration system. 
Fees for Energy Assessment and Consultancy:
  • Fees are payable in two stages (Design Stage and at As-built Stage). 
  • Fees for energy assessment are highly competitive and are dependant on the size / type of the house.
  • Volume discounts are available for housing developments. 
  • All lodgement fees are included in quotations. 
Please contact us via the website or email us here for more information or for a quotation.

Summary of  Current Legislation for New Dwellings - EPC & SAP:

Legislation as of 6 April 2008 states that all new dwellings must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at the point of completion, which meets the requirements of the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) 2002/91/EC (2003). Failure to provide a valid EPC can lead to fines and failure to provide adequate SAP can lead to Building Control Rejection.

Article 10 of the EPBD requires the energy performance of new dwellings to be calculated on the basis of a national calculation methodology (in the UK this is the Standard Assessment Procedure, SAP) and these calculations must be “…carried out by qualified and/or accredited experts, whose independence is to be guaranteed on the basis of objective criteria…”

To comply with the EPBD the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) requires that all EPCs are prepared by a member of an On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment Scheme. 

SAP2009 is the Government's current Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings for England & Wales, is published by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and relates to Building Regulations Approved Document L 2010 (in England & Wales) and Technical Booklet Part F 2012 (in Northern Ireland).