Air Conditioning Inspection - EPC Inspectors

What do Air Conditioning Inspections Cover?
Faq's - Frequently Asked Questions about Air Conditioning Inspection procedures and techniques. See What Systems Require Inspection as part of the EPC for commercial property.

Timetable If you are responsible for the operation and maintenance of an air-conditioning system from 4 January 2011 and you have not been issued with an inspection report, you must ensure the system is inspected within three months of taking over such control of the system. See also Operation and Management below

Note that all air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kw rating  must be regularly inspected by an Energy Assessor (Refer to Compliance, and the Directory to find an assessor). The inspections must be a maximum of five years apart.

How to obtain an air-conditioning inspection for commercial premises

Know your responsibilities for ensuring inspections are done. The following outlines the remit for obtaining an energy assessment of the installed air conditioning equipment.
The nominated person who controls the operation of an air-conditioning system affected by Regulations has the  responsibility to ensure that:

• The inspection has been done in accordance with the requirements
  and timetable of the Regulations in force.

• You have a duty to keep the most recent inspection report completed by an energy assessor for your system.

• You must give any inspection report kept by you, to any person taking over your responsibilities with respect to the control of the air-conditioning system in the premises that you occupy.

Air-conditioning systems control

"The person who controls the operation of the air conditioning system is the person who controls the technical functioning of the system, not someone who does no more than adjust the temperature within the premises." In addition it should be noted that "The owner of the system will usually control the operation of the system even where day to day operation is contracted out to another. Where a tenant takes total responsibility for a building and its services (e.g. full repairing and insuring lease), then the tenant will control the system."

Operation and Management

In cases where the operation and management of the system is carried out on a daily facilities management basis, or the enlisting of a service company that provides routine servicing and maintenance, the contract may specify the facilities manager or servicing company as the "controller" of the system with responsibility for ensuring that inspections are carried out as per schedule. "Depending on the terms of such a contract the facilities manager or servicing contractor may accordingly become responsible under the regulations also. Even in such cases, however, the landlord or tenant retains a parallel duty to ensure the air conditioning inspection has been done. Where air-conditioning systems are installed locally by a tenant, the responsibility will lie with the tenant as they own the system."

Why are air-conditioning inspections required?
Having your air-conditioning system inspected by an Energy Assessor is designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce the electricity consumption, (your energy usage) company operating costs and carbon emissions for your whole system. Energy inspections will highlight improvements to the operation of your existing systems or opportunities to replace older, less energy efficient systems or oversized systems with new energy efficient upgrades. The assessor will also be able to identify any hazardous asbestos present in building services of your premises.

Find an Assessor (Inspector)

Companies, Contactors and Surveyors of Air-Con Systems for energy assessment purposes as part of an EPC certificate can be located in our Directory, in many cases you can locate a suitably qualified assessor near to your local area. If you are in doubt as to whether an inspection is required as part of the legislation seek professional advice. You may be subject to a penalty or a fine for non-compliance with the regulations.

Refer also to Air Conditioning for further details regarding Refrigeration, cooling, design, engineers, service, installation, maintenance, repairs, inspection, installers, Variable Refrigerant Volume/Flow Systems VRV VRF, Heat Recovery, Ducted Systems, Climate Control Systems, upgrades of New and Existing Air Conditioning HVAC Heating Ventilation plant (AHU) Air Handling Units and controls.