The production of Energy Performance Certificates in Northen Ireland
Domeastic Energy Assessors in Northern Ireland have to be trained and accredited to the high standards set by the ne EPBD regulations. The following organisations have further detailed information on approved qualiifications and training courses. For details of training courses and approved qualifications please see:
www.abbeqa.co.uk/ (Awarding Body for the Built Environment)www.cityandguilds.com/cps/rde/xchg/cgonline (City and Guilds) and www.nfopp.co.uk (National Federation of Property Professionals).The only person who is able to produce an Energy Performance Certificate in Northern Ireland is an accredited DEA. To safeguard consumers Energy Assessors must be accredited. Accreditation schemes ensure Energy Assessors are competent and possess the appropriate skills to conduct these assessments. An individual is required to either have a recognised qualification from an awarding body or approved prior experience and learning equivalent to the National Occupational Standard requirements.The energy assessor is responsible for carrying out an energy assessment on your building with reasonable care and skill and for producing an EPC and recommendation report following the assessment. S/he is also responsible for entering the certificate onto the national register before giving it to the person who commissioned it.The energy assessor must use the latest version of the approved calculation methods software to produce the EPC and recommendation report. Energy Assessor Qualification and AccreditationTo protect consumers, certificates must only be produced by individuals with an approved qualification or competence. Accredited Energy Assessors must be suitably qualified or competent to produce these assessments. 'Suitably qualified' refers to an individual having either a qualification or approved prior experience and learning equivalent to the National Occupational Standard requirements relevant to the specific occupation for which the individual seeks accreditation.Energy Assessors will be responsible for carrying out key tasks related to the new energy efficiency measures. This will include producing certificates and inspecting air conditioning systems.While a number of organisations currently offer energy assessment services, Energy Performance and Display Certificates will only be able to be produced by an accredited Energy Assessor. What qualifications are required?An Energy Assessor will need to have both appropriate qualifications or competence and accreditation:- Energy Assessor Qualification. Energy Assessors should hold a current qualification in energy inspection.This is being developed as part of a National Occupational Standard in Energy Inspection. It will demonstrate technical competence to produce a certificate. The qualification will be approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency. Qualification bodies will develop assessment procedures that align with the National Occupational Standard.
- Energy Assessor Accreditation. Accreditation is the management arrangement that provides reassurance that someone who has the relevant technical experience is permitted to produce a certificate on an ongoing basis. Different accreditation schemes are likely for each sector requiring certificates. To be an Energy Assessor an individual must be a member of an Accreditation scheme. Membership of such a scheme will only last as long as an individual satisfies the accreditation requirements.
Qualification scopeQualifications awarded may cover specific areas of energy inspection (for example, the use of some, but not all, of the standard methodologies for assessing energy performance, or the use of a particular methodology in certain types of building but not other types).The Energy Assessor may only conduct inspections in areas covered by their current qualification and accreditation system.Qualifications awarded may be limited in further ways (for example, the qualification may only remain valid for a certain number of years, or may require the Energy Assessor to be supervised in some way during a probationary period). The Energy Assessor will only be able to conduct inspections in accordance with these limitations.For further information see:www.northgate-ispublicservices.com/page/view/northern_ireland