FAQ
What is a BER certificate?
A BER certificate is similar to the energy label for a household electrical appliance like your fridge. The label has a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient.
From the 1st of January 2009 a BER cert is compulsory for all homes being sold or rented. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you are entitled to a BER - so do ask the seller/landlord or their agent for it.
To see what a Building Energy Rating Certificate looks like please click here.
Along with the BER certificate, you will also receive an Advisory Report which will help you to identify how you might improve the energy performance of your home.
Who needs a BER certificate?
A seller must provide a BER cert to prospective buyers or tenants when a dwelling is offered for sale or rent.
All new homes (even when not for sale) must have a BER certificate before they are occupied as detailed under S.I. 666 under BuildingStandards
BER assessments performed on new dwellings will also help determine compliance to Part L of the Building Regulations.
How long will a BER certificate remain valid?
A BER for a building will be valid for 10 years from the date of its being issued, unless there is a material change in the building in the meantime which could affect its energy performance – for example an extension to the building, a significant change to the building fabric or a change in the heating system or fuel used.
Therefore if a property which has received a BER is placed on the market within 10 years of that BER being issued, and the property has experienced no relevant alteration in the meantime, then that same BER may be used by the building owner for the purposes of meeting their obligations under the Regulations.
What does the BER certificate look like?
BER is based on primary energy demand and the BER scale ranges from “A1” (most efficient) to “G” (least efficient). To see what each band relates to in terms of primary energy, download a copy of a BER Certificate here.
What are the BER implementation dates in Ireland?
The requirement to provide a BER is being introduced on a phased basis as follows:
New dwellings: The regulations apply to new dwellings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st January 2007. All new homes (even when not for sale) must have a BER certificate before they are occupied as detailed under S.I. 666 under BuildingStandards.
BER assessments performed on new dwellings will also help determine compliance to Part L of the Building Regulations.
New Non-Domestic Buildings: The regulations apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st July 2008. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied on or before 30th June 2008 provided the new non-domestic buildings involved are substantially completed by 30th June 2010.
Existing Buildings: (dwellings and other buildings) when offered for sale or letting on or after 1st January 2009.
Large Public Service Buildings: A public body shall, in relation to a large building occupied by it on or after 1 January 2009, secure and display a BER certificate in a prominent place clearly visible to the public.
How much does a BER certificate cost?
BER cert prices may vary depending on type, size and complexity of building. Please click here to see our BER certificate prices.
Who is entitled to a BER?
A seller or landlord must provide a BER to prospective buyers or tenants when a home is constructed, sold or rented. 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.
What are the benefits of a BER?
A BER cert 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.
What is a Provisional BER cert?
New homes offered for sale off plans also require a BER certificate. In these cases, a Provisional BER cert will be issued based upon the design drawings and building specifications. When the home is completed, a BER cert based on an assessment of the final drawings and building specifications, which represent the house as constructed, is required. This BER certificate must be supplied by the builder/developer on completion of any such homes sold off plans.
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:
- primary energy use per unit floor area per year (kWh/m²/yr) represented on an A to G scale (see BER certificate); and
- 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. A BER does not cover electricity used for purposes other than heating, lighting, pumps and fans, i.e. does not include for cooking, refrigeration, laundry etc.
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 Authority Ireland (SEAI). All registered assessors must adhere to the BER Assessors Code of Conduct. A list of registered BER assessors is available online at www.seai.ie/ber
Who is responsible for the BER Scheme?
The BER Scheme was established under the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 666 of 2006).
The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) has been designated as the Issuing Authority with responsibility for the registration of BER assessors, logging of BER assessments and ongoing management of the BER Scheme.
SEAI has put in place a comprehensive quality assurance system to audit BER assessors and BER assessments and to protect the integrity of the BER Scheme.
- What is a BER certificate?
- Who needs a BER certificate?
- How long will a BER certificate remain valid?
- What does the BER certificate look like?
- What are the BER implementation dates in Ireland?
- How much does a BER certificate cost?
- Who is entitled to a BER?
- What are the benefits of a BER?
- What is a Provisional BER cert?
- How is a BER calculated?
- Who carries out a BER assessment?
- Who is responsible for the BER Scheme?