Domestic BER

What is a BER certificate and how is it calculated?

BER designates your building energy performance using a scale from A to G where A represents the most and G the least energy efficient building. The rating is expressed in kWh/m²/year and indicates how much primary energy each meter square of a dwelling annually needs to satisfy the occupants with certain levels of indoor temperature, domestic hot water and fresh air.

When BER is required?

A BER is obligatory for:

- all newly constructed buildings

- existing buildings offered for rent or sale

- application for energy upgrade grants through e.g. SEAI National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme or Better Energy Homes

For other residential buildings a BER is not mandatory, however, it is a good starting point when you consider thermal improvements to a home. It will give you the information on where your house is on a BER scale. The advisory report that accompanies the BER certificate will list the possible improvements to make your house more energy efficient. For most of the measures retrofitting grants are available. For more information or/and quotation please contact us.

Types of BER certificates

- Provisional BER at the design stage. This type of BER is prepared at the building design stage based on architectural/engineering drawings and material specification, such: materials used for the building envelope (walls, floors, roofs), type of space and water heating system, type of ventilation etc. The point of a provisional BER is to give an indication of what rating to expect after the building is completed.

- Final BER for new built after the constriction is completed.

- BER for existing buildings. The most common BER, carried out in cases of buildings for rent/sale, and SEAI grant applications. It is based on a building survey within which the assessor gathers information about the heating, ventilation, domestic hot water systems and takes measurements of the area, windows, doors. To ensure that the survey goes seamlessly, it is advisable for the homeowner to prepare the MPRN number and the construction year of dwelling. The survey is non-invasive, however, the assessor needs to access all parts of the dwelling.

- Post-BER. This BER is needed after retrofitting works using grants is completed. It used as an evidence that the retrofitting works are completed and the grants can be released.