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About EPCs
Running a business from any commercial space? Your property likely needs a Non-Domestic EPC to comply with regulations.
What is a Commercial EPC?
A Commercial (Non-Domestic) EPC rates the energy efficiency of a commercial building on a scale from A+ to G, with A+ representing net zero energy use and G indicating the lowest performance.
These ratings are based on the estimated carbon emissions of the building; this is different to EPCs for domestic dwellings which are based on the property’s estimated running costs.
The EPC will also display:
- The property’s energy performance breakdown
- Any recommended improvements
When is a Non-Domestic EPC Required?
A Non-Domestic EPC is required when constructing, selling, or renting out a non-domestic property.
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), landlords in the private rented sector must have an EPC rated E or above before granting a new lease on a property. You don’t need a new EPC each time a property is sold or let, as long as the existing certificate is less than 10 years old.
Scottish Regulations
Just like in the rest of the UK, in Scotland a Non-Domestic EPC is needed to build, sell, or lease a commercial property. At present, there are no minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented commercial buildings in Scotland, but these are anticipated to be introduced in the near future. An EPC in Scotland is valid for 10 years.
Commercial buildings exceeding 1,000 m² in floor area are governed by Section 63 regulations. These rules come into effect when the property is sold or leased to a new tenant, requiring an EPC to be completed along with an additional assessment to create an ‘Action Plan’.
The Action Plan outlines goals for enhancing the building’s carbon and energy performance, along with strategies for achieving these goals. It must be made accessible to potential buyers and tenants.
Where Do I Find an Existing EPC?
Finding an existing EPC is simple, just search for the postcode on the following sites:
Property in England, Wales or NI: https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
Property in Scotland: https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/
How Do I Read an EPC?
The first part of a commercial EPC shows the property’s energy rating, address, certificate number, and the expiry date of the certificate.
Lower on the certificate, the energy rating and numerical score are shown. The score ranges from 0 to 150, where a score below 0 indicates net zero performance, and anything above 150 reflects very poor energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is rated on a scale from A+ to G, where A+ indicates the highest efficiency and G the lowest. In Scotland, the EPC also displays a potential rating—showing the energy performance the building could achieve if all suggested improvements are made. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the current rating is shown prominently at the top of the certificate.
Suggestions for improving the property’s energy performance are provided in the recommendation report. Recommended improvements are organized based on how long they are expected to take to pay back their cost. The assessor may also include extra suggestions. Each recommendation is labelled as low, medium, or high to indicate its potential impact on lowering the property’s carbon emissions.
The assessor’s details, along with the accreditation scheme they belong to, can be found at the bottom of the EPC.
What is Involved in a Commercial Energy Assessment?
To obtain a commercial EPC, you should reach out to an accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA). The assessor will then visit your property to gather data such as room dimensions, lighting, building orientation, insulation levels, and heating systems. For a new building, the EPC can be created using similar information, but it won’t require an on-site visit.
The assessor will require access to all areas of the building to take measurements and photos for their evaluation. Landlords can rest assured that the non-domestic energy assessment is non-invasive, with no need for drilling or hammering into walls. The duration of the assessment depends on the size and complexity of the building.
In Scotland, EPCs are usually printed and given to you, whereas in the rest of the UK, the EPC will be provided through an online link.
Levels of Non-Domestic EPCs
There are three EPC levels for Non-Domestic buildings: Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5. These levels represent the varying complexity of commercial buildings. A simple description of the building type for each level can be seen below:
Level 3
These are existing commercial buildings with common characteristics and a simple air-conditioning system.
Examples: restaurants, small shops.
Level 4
These are commercial buildings with uncommon characteristics and typically a more complex Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system(s). This level also includes any new build non-domestic building.
Examples: Large office buildings, supermarkets, large shops.
Level 5
These are commercial buildings with more specific features like atriums, complex ventilation and automatic blind control. In depth modelling software is needed for these buildings in order to establish their energy performance.
Examples: Airports, Skyscrapers, Shopping Centres, Sport Stadiums.
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