Any property over 10,000m² coming onto the market after 6^th April requires an EPC at first day marketing. 

Any property over 10,000m² which was already being actively marketed before 6^th April will need an EPC by 1st October at the latest.  If it is sold or rented out in the meantime, an EPC must be commissioned and then handed over as soon as reasonably practicable.

Similar changes have been made to the other implementation dates as follows:

From 1st July 2008 properties over 2500m² will require an EPC but again owners have until 1^st October to obtain it for any property being actively marketed before the 1st July.  Properties marketed after the 1st July require the EPC at first day marketing.

From 1^st October all properties of 50m² gross internal floor area or larger will require an EPC before first day of marketing.  Transitional arrangements come to an end for larger properties.

The Commercial EPC can only be prepared by an accredited Commercial Energy Assessor.  Brear Associates provide that service along with residential EPC's.

What does the Assessor do and what is taken into account when preparing the Certificate?

The CEA will assess the building based upon the use of each area.  The building is divided into zones based upon use, lighting, area of windows, services etc.  Even a small building may have many zones.  Each wall area, floor area and ceiling area is calculated.

Details such as window shading, type of light fittings including the exact type of fluorescent tube , light switching, heating details, air conditioning system details are all taken and entered into the standard software model.

This assesses the building against a notional building and an enhanced energy model of the building to generated an EPC rating for the property.  A rating from A+++ to G is given for the energy efficiency of the building is its current form and use.

The recommendations report sets out various recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of the building in terms of short, medium and longer term paybacks periods.  This allows a building owner or tenant to consider ways of reducing their carbon footprint and ultimately energy and occupancy costs.