BER Certification

Bolger Quantity Surveyors is a multi disciplinary professional company providing a range of construction expertise.

At Bolger Quantity Surveyors we pride ourselves on providing professional service incorporating over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Our experience has allowed us to work with a wide variety of Clients including Government departments and bodies etc.

Along with the BER certificate, Bolger Quantity Surveyors will also issue an Advisory Report which will help you to identify how you might improve the energy performance of your home. With our construction cost expertise we can advise the most cost efficient ways to improve your dwelling’s rating.

For a no obligation consultation please free to contact us on the following:

WHAT IS A BER?

A BUILDING Energy Rating or BER is similar to the energy label on your fridge with a scale of A-G. A rated homes are the most energy efficient and |G the least efficient.

From 1st January 2009, a BER Certificate will be compulsory for all homes being sold or rented.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO A BER?

A seller must provide a BER to prospective buyers or tenants when a home is constructed, sold or rented under the following circumstances:

• New homes where planning permission was applied for on or after 1st January 2007;
• All homes for sale or rent on or after 1st January 2009. There are exemptions for certain categories of buildings, e.g. protected structures and certain temporary building (Ref. S.I. No. 666 of 2006).

There are fines of up to €5,000 for non-compliance with the regulations.

HOW IS A BER CALCULATED?

A BER is based on the characteristics of major components of the dwelling (wall, roof and floor dimensions, window and door sizes and orientations) as well as the construction type and levels of insulation, ventilation and air tightness features, the systems for heat supply (including renewable energy), distribution and control, and the type of lighting. It covers annual energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting and associated pumps and fans, calculated on the basis of a notional standard family with a standard pattern of occupancy.

The energy performance is expressed as:
(a) primary energy use per unit floor area per year (kWh/m2/yr) represented on an A to G scale (see BER certificate); and
(b) associated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions in kgCO2/m2/yr (see BER Certificate)

A BER is only an indication of the energy performance of a house. Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A BER?

A BER makes the energy performance of a home visible to prospective buyers and tenants and enables them to take energy performance into consideration in their next house purchase or rental decision.

WHO CARRIES OUT A BER ASSESSMENT?

BER assessments are carried out by registered BER assessors who have been trained under the National Framework of Qualifications and have registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). All registered assessors must adhere to the BER Assessors Code of Conduct.

HOW LONG IS A BER VALID FOR?

A BER is valid for up to 10 years provided that there is no material change to the dwelling that could affect its energy performance. The maximum term of validity of a Provisional BER is 2 years.