SAP Calculations
Under Part L1 of the Building Regulations, all new dwellings, and
all buildings converted to dwellings, need a Standard Assessment
Procedure (SAP) calculation. Some extensions and renovations may
also require a SAP calculation.
SAP calculations measure the heat loss through the building fabric, available
sunlight and air permeability. These are then combined with the
energy required for heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation and
any renewables supplying the dwelling to
measure the overall energy efficiency and carbon emission
rates of the dwelling. The SAP is also used to create the
'On Construction'
Energy Performance
Certificate.
SAP calculations are required by Building Control departments, and
they are required at two stages, at design stage to check for
compliance and at completion to reflect any changes that may have
been made during the construction.
For extensions where the glazing is greater than 25% of the floor
area, Local Authorities generally require a SAP analysis assessment
to demonstrate that the 'existing house with the proposed extension'
has less CO2
emissions than the 'existing house with a notional extension'. A
notional extension is an extension that meets the minimum standards
of Approved Document L1B
of the Building Regulations.
SBEM calculations
Under Part L2 of the Building Regulations, all new commercial
buildings must pass a Simplified Building Energy Model
(SBEM) calculations. Some extensions, conversions and renovations
may also require an SBEM calculations.
SBEMs are used to create the BRUKL compliance document and
the Energy Performance Certificate. They measure
heat loss through the building fabric, available sunlight and air
permeability. These are then combined with the energy required for heating,
hot water, lighting and ventilation and any renewables supplying the
building to measure the overall energy efficiency and carbon
emission rates of buildings.
SBEM calculations are required by Building Control departments, and
they are required at two stages, at design stage to check for
compliance and at completion to reflect any changes that may have
been made during the construction.
Depending on the complexity of the building
we can also use Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM)
3D software to undertake the
SBEM calculations.
Energy Statements
An
Energy Statement shows how developments can use renewable technologies
and energy efficiency measures to reduce the developments energy
demand and carbon emissions. Many planning departments now require
an energy statement as part of a planning application.
Energy Statements are not a national law, however local and regional
planning departments require them to demonstrate
compliance with their policies as part of their commitment to
greener buildings. This is most common in urban areas, especially
the London boroughs where policies such as the London Plan are in
force.
The policy requirements can vary from council to council. Some require
an Energy Statement to show a 10% improvement through the use of renewables,
others ask for 20%, and some can have different requirements again. To
further complicate things, some authorities ask for statements in
carbon emissions, while others require data in kilowatt-hours.
Our reports assess the feasible renewable options and energy
efficiency measures that your development can achieve in order to
comply with the local authorities policies and requirements.
Sustainability Statements
A Sustainability Statement shows
a range of appropriate sustainability measures and aspects that are
to be incorporated into the development and how it relates with its
neighbouring area.
Many planning departments now require a Sustainability Statement as
part of a planning application.
Sustainability Statements are not a national law, however local and
regional planning departments regularly ask for them to demonstrate
compliance with their policies as part of their commitment to
sustainable developments.
They can include sustainability checklists and assessment
methodologies such as BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes,
where required.
Overheating Assessments
The risk of overheating in buildings is becoming more prevalent
as changing climates and global energy insecurity make the control
of indoor climate increasingly problematic. Overheating occurs in a
building either through inappropriate design, poor management or
inadequate services. Features of a design that support lower winter
heating demand (such as large areas of south facing windows, high
levels of insulation, low air permeability rates and low thermal
mass) can result in excessively high internal temperatures during
summer months.
Overheating analysis is typically performed using Dynamic
Simulation Modelling (DSM) software which can analyse the occupied
spaces and assess performance against criteria set by CIBSE
(Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers). Traditionally
CIBSE TM52 (The Limits of Thermal Comfort: Avoiding Overheating in
European Buildings 2013) guidance has been used. In recent years
further guidance has been released in the form of CIBSE TM59 (May
2017) which specifically addresses the overheating risk in homes,
along with CIBSE TM49 which provides current and future weather data for
London boroughs.
There are several instances where overheating
analysis may be required:
- To provide thermal comfort credits within a BREEAM
Assessment
- To achieve industry standards for thermal comfort i.e
healthcare and education
- Where designers want to reduce risk of overheating
- To design-out overheating risks in dwellings identified by
SAP Calculations
- As requested as part of the planning application i.e. to
meet Policy 5.9 of the London Plan
Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
Reports
The
indoor air quality of
commercial buildings is a subject of
public health importance due to the substantial amount of time
people spend in these premises. Good indoor air quality can lead to
improved productivity at the workplace. On the other hand, poor
indoor air quality will cause productivity to drop because of
comfort problems, ill health and sickness.
For our
Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Reports,
monitoring of general indoor air quality
parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide
(CO2) are conducted over a
2-week period using desktop monitoring instrumentations which takes
readings of all three parameters every five minutes. The readings
are then analysed in the reports and where applicable
recommendations are put forward to improve the air quality of the
building.
The report helps to identify where there is inadequate ventilation
within a building, poor levels of humidity and poor controls for
heating & cooling systems.
Commercial Energy Performance
Certificates (Levels 3 ,4 & 5)
UK regulations say that all commercial buildings must have a
Commercial EPC before they can be leased or sold and furthermore
must be available before marketing can commence.
It applies for new and existing commercial buildings. If you’re
selling or leasing an existing commercial building in the UK, you
will require a Commercial EPC. Once completed the Commercial EPC gives a
coloured A-G rating similar to those found on white goods.
Buildings are divided into three different
categories, each with their own level of EPC, Level 3, 4 or 5. The
different levels are defined by the complexity of the building and
the sophistication of the heating, cooling and ventilation systems.
CPS Energy Assessments are accredited to carry out Level 3, 4 & 5
EPCs. Level 5 buildings have complex features, like domed or glass
roofed atria, or demand controlled ventilation systems and have to
be modelled with a Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) 3D software.
DSM modelling requires a deeper level of detail and far more work
for the assessor than a standard Level 3 or 4 EPC.
EPC Plus Reports
The
Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 also known as the Minimum Energy
Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into effect on the 1st of April
2018. The regulation makes it unlawful for a landlord of a property
with an 'F' or 'G' EPC rating to grant a tenancy to a new or
existing tenant without implementing cost-effective energy
efficiency improvements to bring the property up to at least an 'E'
band or fulfilling an exemption criterion. These properties in the
'F' or 'G' rating are referred to in the regulation as a
Sub-Standard Property.
The Recommendation Report
that is produced by the Commercial EPC software is very generic and
not totally site specific. CPS Energy Assessments have developed a
bespoke EPC Plus Report that gives considered and
costed measures to improve the current EPC
rating. The report investigates several site-specific
measures to improve the Current EPC rating. It also provides
indicative capital costs for these measures along with estimated
payback periods and rate of returns. Firstly, the report
looks at individual measures for improving the EPC rating and then
cumulatively combines
the measures in
order to show the overall effect of implementing multiple
measures together.
Water Efficiency Calculations
Part G water calculations arrived in April 2010, when the building
regulations for England and Wales were updated with a new section on
water efficiency.
All new dwellings must be designed to use less than 125 litres of
water per person per day. There’s a specific calculation method for this,
before the results are presented to Building Control.
Amongst other things, the calculation measures tap flow-rates,
bathtub sizes and toilet flush-volumes, as well as greywater and
rainwater systems.
Assessments under Part G building regulations don’t apply to
extensions but may apply to conversions or renovations where all
the plumbing is being replaced. Some councils may also impose
tighter water consumption figures based on local planning
conditions.
Dynamic Simulation Modelling
As mentioned above we can use
Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM)
to produce both SBEM Calculations and Level 5 EPCs.
DSM is a highly effective way to
find
out the building’s predicted
annual energy usage
before it’s
constructed. DSM creates
a detailed thermal model of
the
proposed building and
can produce a range of parameters about the buildings performance,
such
as
the potential heating, ventilation and cooling
loads.
While DSM is
required for all complex Level 5 Energy Performance Certificates, it
can be used to provide
detailed
analysis for buildings of all
levels.
Credits are available in BREAAM 2018 New Construction under ENE01
for undertaking the ‘Prediction of Operational Energy
Consumption’ for a proposed building. This
advanced energy modelling uses DSM to
produce the following scenarios based on an agreed operational energy
performance
- Central
Case – This is the central case energy model for the expected
occupancy and equipment loads with detailed HVAC system
modelling, “typical” weather and central case management factors
for servicing systems and equipment and uses reference year
weather data.
- Good
Management - As for Central Case prediction but with “typical”
weather and a management factor of 1.0 applied for all servicing
systems and equipment.
- Poor
Management - As for Central Case prediction but with a
management factor of 1.15 applied for all servicing systems and
equipment.
- Extreme
Weather - As for Central Case prediction but using an extreme
weather file.
- Worst
Case - As for Central Case prediction but with a management
factor of 1.15 applied for all servicing systems and equipment
prediction and using DSY weather file.
ESOS Assessments
The Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy
assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the
qualification criteria. The Environment Agency is the UK scheme
administrator.
The mandatory energy assessment applies throughout the UK to all
large companies with over 250 employees or have an annual turnover
in excess of €50 million euro.
Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out independent ESOS
assessments every 4 years. These assessments are audits of the
energy used by their buildings, industrial processes and transport
to identify cost-effective energy saving measures.
The deadline for the first compliance period was 5th
December 2015, but if this deadline was missed action still needs to
be taken.
We are now in Phase 2 of ESOS and the next compliance date is 5th
December 2019, with the qualification date of the 31th December
2018.
Building Energy Log Books
Since
the
Building Regulations Part L2 was updated in 2006 it has been a
requirement to provide
information about the fixed building services and controls of the
new or altered building. The
approved documents recommend that building log books are a way of
achieving this efficiently.
The logbook covers how a building is intended to work and how it
is meant to be maintained and serviced. It also provides a means to
record the energy use and maintenance of the services within the
building. Log books provide a simple, easily accessible summary of a
new or refurbished building rather than the detail contained in
extensive O&M
manuals. The easy way to show compliance with new Part L is to
produce a building log book based on the template and guidance in
CIBSE TM31 (Building Logbook Toolkit). It gives detailed guidance on the scope, structure and
contents of the log book and who should keep it up to date. CIBSE
TM31 provides a standard toolkit for a log book and suggests a
typical structure so that a reader, who may be unfamiliar with a
building, can quickly assimilate all the information required to
understand the design intent of a building, from an energy point of
view
It is also important for the building manager to keep the log book
up to date by incorporating new information or revising details
throughout the life of the building, and this is best achieved by
conducting an annual review of the contents.
We can produce building energy log books for clients in hard copy
and electronic format.
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