Product category:
Building Trade Associations and Institutes
News Release from: NHBC | Subject: Demand for energy assessors
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 March 2008
EPCs creating demand for energy
assessors
Energy performance certificates (EPCs) creating unprecedented demand for energy performance assessors which could leave many housebuilders unable to complete sales of their homes, according to NHBC.
NHBC is the UK's leading new home warranty provider NHBC estimates that up to 200,000 EPCs will be required during 2008 across the UK, a certification number which is likely to place unprecedented strain upon energy assessors
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 8 Jun 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
NHBC solution to mixed-use development
Mixed-use developments are increasingly becoming centrepieces of the UK's inner cities.
Improving standards of health and safety
A major drive to improve standards of health and safety in the Scottish house building industry has been launched.
After the 6 April deadline for England and Wales, if a property does not have an EPC, a 'no certificate, no completion' rule will apply which will mean that no building control completion certificate will be issued.
Housebuilders will also be required to provide a copy of the EPC for the property owner or tenant.
In Scotland if a completion is on a site where the building warrant was issued after 1 May 2007 an EPC will be required.
Northern Ireland will also introduce EPC requirements later in the year.
From 6 April 2008 in England and Wales, under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, all new homes will require an 'As Built' EPC and building control bodies will need a copy of the EPC before final certification can be granted.
The EPC should also replace the Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) in the HIP, if no buyer has been found during construction and the property is still on the market after completion.
Christine Smith, Head of Consultancy Services for NHBC, commented: "The house-building sector, big players and small, was slow to gear up for the introduction of EPCs at the end 2007 as many did not realise that EPCs were not covered by Home Information Packs (HIPs)".
"Simultaneously, the Government only issued its guidelines for accreditation schemes in December which has inevitably delayed the training and accreditation of assessors".
Smith continued: "The introduction of EPCs for new homes is a real opportunity to change energy usage habits and awareness amongst buyers of new homes, but housebuilders have to ask their usual energy assessor if they have been accredited and whether they will have the capacity to take on the extra work".
"They cannot just assume that their regular provider will be able to cope with the massive increase in volume we can expect from now on".
"We do not want to see a backlog in the system that will impact on sales and completions".
"We are confident the system will cope and the software will be ready but it will be tight.".
• NHBC: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
