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Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) Terminology

Please feel free to browse our list of EPC Terminology descriptions

AR
Advisory Report

CEA
Commercial Energy Assessor

DEA (SAP)
Domestic Energy Assessor (Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure)

DEC
Display Energy Certificate is valid for 1 year and must be displayed at all times. Public buildings such as town halls, libraries, courts, hospital of 1000m2 or more must renew their DEC each year.

DSM
Dynamic Simulation Modelling is a software tool that models energy inputs and outputs for different types of building over time. In certain situations, SBEM, will not be sophisticated enough to provide an accurate assessment of a buildings energy efficiency. In these cases Government approved proprietary dynamic simulation models may be used. Communities And Local Government will provide such an approval.

Energy Assessor
An energy assessor is an individual who is a member of an accreditation scheme.

Energy Assessment
This refers to the preparation and issuing of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and the accompanying Recommendation Report (RR) and the carrying out of any inspections undertaken for the purposes of issuing the EPC or RR.

EPBD
European or Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

EPC
Energy Performance Certificate

HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning

OR
Operational Rating

OCDEA (SAP)
Open Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (Standard Assessment Procedure).

NCM
National Calculation Methodology

NDEA (Level 3,4 or 5)
Non-Domestic Energy Assessor will produce an NDEPC.

NDEPC
Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years and must be carried out by a NDEA (Level 3,4 or 5) with the correct qualification for the building type. It is required when a commercial building is sold or let.

NOS
National Occupational Standards are standards for Energy Assessors that are approved by the United Kingdom Coordinating Group of National Occupational Standards Boards, as amended from time to time.

RdSAP EPC
Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure Energy Performance Certificate is software intended for use by Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) in producing energy assessments for existing dwellings where plans and other constructional details are unavailable. Only approved versions of RdSAP software may be used. It comprises the SAP calculation engine with an input system that enters default data based on an energy assessor’s observations from a visual inspection, although data from other sources may be acceptable.

RR
Recommendations Report

SAP EPC
Standard Assessment Procedure Energy Performance Certificate is the national calculation methodology for determining energy use for heating, hot water and lighting for dwellings. They are valid for 10 years and are assessed by Open Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (Standard Assessment Procedure) or OCDEA (SAP).

SBEM
Simplified Building Energy Models provide an analysis of the energy consumption of buildings other than dwellings, used in support of the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The calculation method is also used in determining CO2 emission rates for new buildings for compliance with the new Part L of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) and equivalent Regulations in Scotland and N Ireland. The Register is the central databank, created and maintained by the Secretary Of State’s approved contractor, to lodge the Energy Performance Certificates and recommendations reports. Each document entered onto the register must be registered under a unique reference number, and shall not be altered once registered. Any document or data entered onto the register must be kept on the register for a period of at least 20 years beginning on the date on which the document is entered onto the register.