BER Assessments
What exactly is a BER assessment?
‘BER’ stands for Building Energy Rating and is required for all new dwellings from July 1st 2008 and all existing dwellings from 1st January 2009. A BER gives an objective scale of comparison for the energy demand and energy performance of a building and is similar to the’ A to G’ rating for electrical appliances.
The BER is expressed in kilowatt hours per square meter floor area per annum (kwh/m2/pa) and transposed graphically in the form of performance bands A1 (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient). Its requirement came about as a result of dramatic and highly significant changes that were made to Part (L) of the Irish Buildings Regulations in 2007. These changes were initiated in order to fulfil Ireland’s obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). As a result of these changes a software package was created: the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure or DEAP software in order to specifically and accurately measure the compliance of individual buildings with the new BER.
Each Midlands Energy Assessor uses the DEAP software in order to produce the BER certificate required by the Home-Owner/Landlord/Commercial Enterprise.
