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Some frequently asked questions and answers about BER certification

What is a BER Certificate?

A Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER Cert) is an energy label for buildings and apartments which shows their energy performance and carbon dioxide emissions.
Properties are rated on a scale from A-G, with ‘A1’ being the most energy efficient rating and ‘G’ being the least, which is similar to the energy label for an electrical household appliances like your fridge, washing machine etc.

The Energy Performance Indicator is expressed as primary energy use per square metre floor area per year (kWh/m2/yr).

The annual CO2 emissions of your home is stated in kgCO2/m2/yr and ranges between 0-120 kgCO2/m2/yr, with ‘0’ being the best rating (carbonneutral) and ‘120’ being the worst.
The irish BER scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), all BER Certificates and Advisory Reports are issued and published by SEAI.

How to get a BER Certificate?

Book a SEAI registered BER Assessor to inspect and perform a BER assessment on your property. Every BER is based on an actual survey of the building, followed by calculations using the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) software and determination of the BER score. The BER Certificate and Advisory Report are produced by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and are delivered to the homeowner through your BER Assessor. Every BER Certificate is published on the SEAI National BER register.

What is a BER assessment?

A Building Energy Rating assessment (BER) consists of a survey followed by calculations. Your BER Assessor will conduct a non-intrusive survey of your entire property. Access will be required to all areas including attic, basement, garage, hot press, meter boxes, etc. The survey includes making sketches, taking measurements, collecting photographic and documentary evidence and other information. Depending on the size and complexity of your property this will take on average 2 hours.

The most accurate BER rating depends not only on the survey but on the documentation provided by the homeowner. Find more information about how to prepare for your BER assessment under the BER Homeowner & Architect’s Checklist in the FAQ section.

Once all information is gathered, your BER Assessor will edit this information further and then enter it into a software tool called DEAP (Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure). DEAP is used to establish your home’s BER score. All calculations and evidence are uploaded into SEAI’s National Administration System (NAS) for validation. After the successful validation process the BER is accepted into the BER Register, known as publication, and the BER Certificate and Advisory Report are issued.

How is a BER calculated?

A Building Energy Rating is calculated based on the building fabric (floors, walls, roofs, windows and doors), the amount of energy required for space heating , hot water heating, ventilation and lighting, and also includes any renewable energy technology if existent, using the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) software. The calculation is based on standard occupancy, which is the average number of occupants in buildings of a similar size. This means it is independent of the actual household size, individual heating patterns and temperature and the efficiency of any electrical appliances, such as dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, fridge, TVs, computers, non-fixed lighting etc. Therefore the BER is only an indication of the energy performance of your home. The actual energy consumption in the form of your electricity, gas or oil bill will vary and depend on how you, as an individual, operate your home and its equipment.

What is an Advisory Report?

Every BER Certificate must be accompanied by an Advisory Report which sets out areas for improvements to the energy efficiency of your property. This report has been greatly improved since July 2021 and is now presented in a very visual, colorful and easy-to-understand-way for homeowners. It describes the actual state of a house in a range from ‘very poor’ / ‘poor’ / ‘fair’ / ‘good’ to ‘very good’. But it also lists recommended upgrades, impacts and potential opportunities. The actual costs and impact on rating will vary widely depending on house size and shape, technical specifications and price market conditions. Get in contact and ask for a Advisory Report template!

Does my property have a valid BER Certificate?

Check the SEAI National BER Register using your 11-digit Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), which can be found on the top of your electricity bill or your BER number if available.

If a BER shows up, but you are not in receipt of the BER Cert and Advisory Report, request a copy from the SEAI BER Helpdesk confirming you are the homeowner, stating MPRN or BER number and property address.

Contact SEAI BER Helpdesk via email: info@ber.seai.ie.

Are there different types of BER Certificates?

Yes, there are residential BER Certs (domestic), provisional BER Certs (prior to construction, based on plans) and commercial BER Certs (non-domestic). We can provide residential and provisional BER Certs.

How long is a BER Certificate valid for?

Residential and commercial BER Certs are valid for 10 years, as long as no physical changes to the building have been carried out which could affect the energy performance. Provisional BER Certs are valid for 24 months.

Are there BER exemptions?

Yes, the following buildings are BER exempt:

  • National monument
  • Protected structure or proposed protected structure
  • Places of worship of buildings used for the religious activities of any religion
  • Certain temporary buildings
  • Industrial not intended for extended human occupancy with a low installed heating capacity (≤ 10 W/m2)
  • Non-residential agricultural buildings with a low installed heating capacity (≤ 10 W/m2)
  • Stand alone buildings with a small useful floor area (< 50m2).

Do commercial premises need a BER Certificate too?

BER Certificates are also compulsory for selling or renting commercial premises. This requires a Non-domestic BER assessment and is calculated with the NEAP software. We do not currently provide this service, but please check back with the National BER assessor register and tick the Non Domestic Building Assessors button.

https://ndber.seai.ie/PASS/Assessors/Search.aspx

How do I increase the value of my property?

For a high energy efficiency impact and multiple improvement measures have Susanna BER Assessor conduct a domestic BER assessment on your property and give advice.

But there are some small changes which can improve your BER and reduce energy consumption and costs. In order to show these improvements on your new BER, works have to be undertaken before the BER survey takes place.

  • Replace all inefficient light fittings with low-energy light bulbs (LED), they are alsp more durable (longer life span) and require less maintenance.
  • Install seals, called draught stripping, around all window openings, doors, attic hatches etc.
  • Reduce draughts and heat loss by permanently seal the fireplaces which are not in use or temporarily install a chimney balloon in the fireplace during off-times.
  • Install a lagging jacket of at least 80mm to your hot water cylinder to keep the hot water temperature up for longer.
  • Install heating controls to space heating and hot water supply, refer to requirements for SEAI’s grant ‘heating controls’ or contact Susanna for details.