SBEM calculations are a Government approved method to satisfy Building Regulations requirement for all new commercial buildings and some extensions. SBEM assesses the energy efficiency of a building along with its CO2 emissions.
SBEM is also used to produce the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which is required on completion of a build.
When do I need an SBEM Calculation?
New Commercial Properties (New Build & Conversions)
In essence, for New Build properties, the carbon emissions from the assessed property (Building Emission Rate or BER) should not exceed a target (Target Emission Rate or TER). The property should also comply with various other minimum standards such as fabric and building services efficiencies.
Conversion SBEM calculations assess properties in a slightly different way to new buildings. The principles are the same, but don’t usually include a carbon target.
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 SBEM 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 if a design will pass if it hasn’t been assessed.
Commercial extensions
This assessment is necessary where an extension is to be constructed which doesn’t meet prescribed insulation values or exceeds the prescribed area of glazing.
In essence, the efficiency of the existing building, along with the proposed extension is compared with the existing building 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 building with the proposed extension should be no greater than the CO2 emissions of the building with the Notional Extension.
If your property doesn’t comply, advice will be provided to show how it could.
Large commercial extensions
Where the proposed extension is more than 100m²and greater than 25% of the total useful floor area of the existing building the work should be regarded as a new building. Therefore the extension will have to be assessed against New Build standards.
Who should carry out an SBEM assessment?
Quality assured SBEM assessments and EPCs can only be carried out by qualified Level 4 Non-Domestic Energy Assessors, who a registered with a relevant accreditation body.
CREDENTIALS
Our SBEM assessor qualified on the first Building research Establishment (BRE) SBEM training course in 2006, is a Low Carbon Consultant with the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) and has trained other assessors.
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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