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SAP Calculations

What are SAP Calculation?

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the Government approved method of assessing the energy efficiency of a dwelling along with its CO2 emissions.

SAP is also used to produce the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which is required on completion of a build.

 

When do I need a SAP Calculation?

New Dwelling SAP Calculations (New Build & Conversions)

In essence, for New Build properties, the carbon emissions from the assessed property (Dwelling Emission Rate or DER) should not exceed a target (Target Emission Rate or TER). The property should also comply with various other minimum standards such as fabric and heating efficiencies.

Conversion SAP calculations assess properties in a slightly different way to new buildings. The principles are the similar, but don’t usually include a carbon target.

 

The Design Stage (As Designed)

The design of the property is assessed against Building Regulations standards. If the design does not comply, advice is provided to show how compliance might be achieved.

It is important to have this assessment carried out to avoid expensive, retrospective improvements to properties once they have been constructed.

 

As Built SAP Calculation and Energy Performance Certificate 

Ideally this is an update of an ‘As Designed’ assessment. This will take into account any alterations in specification since the design stage. It is also possible to have ‘As Built’ assessments carried out without the ‘As Designed’ assessment, although this can result in expensive improvements to the property, as it isn’t possible to know whether or not a new build design will pass if it hasn’t been assessed. 

 

Extension SAP

This assessment is necessary where an extension is to be constructed on a dwelling which doesn’t meet prescribed insulation values or exceeds the prescribed area of glazing.

In essence, the efficiency of the existing dwelling, along with the proposed extension is compared with the existing dwelling plus a ‘notional’ extension, which has been constructed to the prescribed insulation values and glazing area. 

To comply with the regulations, the CO2 emissions of the dwelling with the proposed extension should be no greater than the CO2 emissions of the dwelling with the notional extension. 

If your property doesn’t comply, advice will be provided to show how it could.

Energy Performance Certificate

An Energy Performance Certificate is required when a property has been constructed. As well as providing a visual guide on the running costs for prospective owners or tenants, the EPC also proves to Building Control that the SAP assessment has been produced by suitably qualified individuals, who are subject to quality control.

Draft EPC or PEA (Predicted Energy Assessment)

Where a developer may wish to sell dwellings off plan, a PEA can be used for marketing purposes prior to the property being complete. The PEA should be replaced by an EPC once construction has finished.

Who should carry out a SAP assessment?

Quality assured SAP assessments and EPCs can only be carried out by qualified On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors, who registered with a relevant accreditation body. 

Our SAP assessor has been qualified since 1994 and has trained hundreds of other assessors in this time.

QUALITY ASSURED AND QUALIFIED SINCE 1994

NOT ALL SAP ASSESSORS ARE THE SAME
A good SAP assessor will help inform your building design rather than simply assess it for compliance. 

 

ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW ALTERNATIVE BUILDING DESIGNS CAN PASS PART L WITH LESS EXPENSE?
We don’t just assess your designs for Pass or Fail. 
We can provide you with feedback on alternative specifications to help you decide the most cost effective solution to Part L.

 

TESTIMONIALS

“Third Stone Limited make light work of dealing with Building Regulations. They always manage to find a way to make our designs comply which enables us not to be constrained by the ever increasing thermal requirements.”

Clive Voller Associates Ltd

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