Building a new house.
If you applied for planning permission after January 1st 2007, you need a BER cert.
If you are selling a house from plans, a provisional BER cert should be shown to any prospective buyer.
Speak to your architect about the energy performance of your planned house.
A new dwelling which meets the minimum standards as set out in Technical Guidance Document L to the Building Regulations Part L, 2008 (applicable from July 2008, with up to one year transitional exemption) is likely to score the following ratings:
House: B1
Apartment: A3
If you would like to improve your planned home's energy rating, start thinking about early in the process; it could be extremely difficult and expensive once the house is built.
Send me your plans and proposed specification, i.e. type of insulation, heating and hot water system, glazing, solar panels etc.
Use our checklist to ensure all details are covered.
You can download the checklist for a new build by clicking here.
With this information we can produce a provisional BER cert which is valid for 2 years; and advise you of any possible improvements by means of an Advisory Report.
For details of grants available to install solar panels etc, click here.
The final BER cert is issued when the building has been built to the specifications as given. Any improvements made to this must be verified by inspection and a signed declaration from the builder that an improved specification has been used and that the building is still conforming to Building Regulations.
You do not have to act on our advice on improvements to your energy rating, once Building Regulations are complied with.
But if you wish to maximise the energy efficiency of your new home and achieve a good BER rating, then it is vital that changes are made at a very early stage: while it is still on paper.
We then inspect the building and produce the final BER cert taking any improvements made into account .
The final BER cert is valid for 10 years.
Steps to take to obtain your BER Cert:
1. Contact me to obtain a BER checklist or download here.
2. Return your plans, specifications, completed checklist, site plans etc.
3. I will complete the BER assessment; advise you informally of the outcome and forward you an invoice.
4. On receipt of the fee payment (which includes the SEAI fee) your official BER cert and Advisory Report will be released and the BER assessment will be registered on the SEAI database.
5. A Provisional BER cert is issued while the house is in the process of being built. The full BER cert is issued on completion and inspection.
If you need a BER cert for an existing house, click here for more information.
