SAP Calculations

SAP calculation and PEA certificate (Predicted Energy Assessment)
 

We Provide predicted energy assessment (SAP as design), SAP calculations for flat conversions, extensions and refurbishment and SAP EPC for as built new dwellings.

From 6 April 2008 it will be law to provide an Energy Performance Certificate for all new and newly built homes that are completed after that date.

Table of Contents

1. What does this mean in practice?
2. Energy efficiency and new homes
3. Why do we need Energy Performance Certificates?
4. Providing information about energy for homes
6. What does a SAP contain?

 

What does SAP certification mean in practice?

Based on Building Regulations (2010) you will be providing an energy rating and report to building control for your new houses using SAP calculation (Standard Assessment Procedure) or new built EPC.

For all homes that are finished on or after 6 April 2008, there will be a requirement to provide an SAP-EPC certificate to the owner with evidence shown to Building Control.

If you perform any building work to your house that creates a separate dwelling that has heating, hot water or air conditioning, then you will need to provide an SAP calculation for your property. 

When you finish your building work, Building Control will ask you to submit a notice, which includes an energy rating calculation to demonstrate your building complies with the Building Regulations 2006-2010. By the same date on the notice, you must get a SAP certificate from an accredited SAP Energy Assessor, give the SAP calculation to the owner of the building and tell building control that this has been completed.

This is what you have to do under the Building Regulations, Approved SAP Inspector Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, and Building Control will not give you a final completion certificate until they are sure that everything has been done correctly and based on existing standards. If the completed home is being advertised for sale, the SAP certificate and SAP rating is available for potential buyers, for the next twelve months.

Energy efficiency and new dwellings

In 2006, the Government in England introduced new Building Regulations, which established the energy efficiency standards that new homes must achieve. New homes that meet these regulations save more energy and have lower carbon emissions (CO2) and cost less to run. In order to meet the Building Regulations, builders need to make sure that any new properties they build meet a minimum target for energy performance rating.

Why do we need SAP Energy Performance Certificates?

SAP Energy Performance Certificates inform owners and potential buyers and tenants about the energy efficiency and energy loss of a home and how it can be improved.

The SAP rating shown on the SAP calculation certificate is the same number as is needed for Building Regulations. But it is shown in a similar format to the energy labels and they are now used for appliances like fridge and washing machines. The Environmental Impact rating is shown in SAP calculation and this shows how much carbon emissions the home is expected to generate.

All SAP-EPC certificates come with a Recommendation Report, which includes advice and suggestions on improvements that you could potentially save money and energy. The SAP certificate will also show the rating that could be achieved if all the above recommendations are followed.

In the case of new dwellings, you will get a shorter Recommendation Report that contains more advanced energy improvements and energy saving suggestions such as wind turbines. This is because most cost effective improvements will have already been included in the design of the home.

Providing information about energy for homes that have not been built yet?

If you are selling a home before it has been built, you will need to provide information about energy efficiency in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). This is the predicted SAP and Environmental Impact (CO2) rating from the SAP calculations and SAP Report you derive at the design stage that checks whether you will meet energy saving targets and building regulations.

If the home is completed on or after 6 April 2008, you will need to give the owner a full SAP calculation and SAP certificate and Recommendation Report once the property is completed.

What does a SAP contain?

SAP certificate or energy performance certificate is an energy report which shows how energy efficient the building is based on the heating, electricity consumption and energy loss.

 

We are not just showing how much energy we use, as will also show how much energy we save by good insulation and efficient heating systems.

The energy certificate is dedicated to each property and in the first page shows the property address, report number, date of certificate, floor area and finally a graph showing the rating and compare it to the good practice.

The SAP certificate showing the performance based on terms of energy use per square meter of floor area, energy efficiency based on fuel cost and environmental impact based on carbon dioxide emissions.

Higher the rating, the more energy efficient the home will be and this will lower the fuel bills and have less impact on the environment and contribute lower CO2 emissions.

Always remember that fuel cost and energy rating are based on estimates and actual figures might be different.

SAP report is not based on meter readings and is not about household energy usage.

Estimated energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs are also shown in the SAP calculation to enable prospective buyers and tenants to compare these figures with another house. To enable this comparison the figures have been calculated using standard running conditions (heating
period, room temperature) which are the same for all homes.

Consequently they are unlikely to match an occupier’s actual fuel bills and carbon emissions in practice.

The figures will be provided for heating, hot water and lighting. The price will be based on the date of certificate and so it is unlikely to be accurate after couple of years.

Overheating Calculations

Overheating assessments are done to  dewellings in medium or high Risk zones when overheating is happenig as a result of lack of proper ventilation, excess glazing and too much sunlight.

Our calculations are based on Part O building regulations model to show complience with this criteria.