SAP UK

Quick Turnaround - The SAP UK surveyor will try to produce the Energy Performance Certificate in the quickest time possible. This will however depend on the complexity of the building.
Reports that last for ten years -All SAP reports are valid for a ten year period from the date that they were produced. Reports can be transferred from one owner to another on the sale of the property or from tenant to tenant for leasehold.
Qualified SAP UK Assessors - We will provide you with fully compliant assessors who are qualified to the level required for your type of building. They all belong to accreditation bodies who audit their work.

We work with domestic owners, architects, and builders to carry out Domestic SAPs producing SAP EPC Reports for New Build, Conversions and Extensions.

What is a SAP EPC?

SAP is short for Standard Assessment Procedure which is the UK government's recommended method system for measuring the energy rating of residential dwellings.

This applies to new buildings and those that are being converted or change of use schemes where building regulations apply.

You may also need a SAP for a conversion (i.e. barn conversion/commercial to domestic conversions/conversion of a single dwelling into flats or apartments) or extensions with more than 25% glazing-to-floor area - but slightly different rules apply. If in doubt consult your local building control officer or planning office.

Do I have to have a SAP Assessment?

Yes, a SAP calculation and rating has been a requirement of the Building Regulations Part L since 1995, so all new homes need to have a SAP calculation/rating.It is recommended that the sooner you can have your SAP assessment carried out the better.

SAP calculations must be submitted to building control before works start on site.

Think design stage – SAP should be done.

How is SAP used?

SAP has been used as the basis for checking new dwellings for compliance with building regulations in the United Kingdom. A reduced data version of SAP, RDSAP, is used for existing dwellings.In 1994 SAP was cited in Part L of the Building Regulations as a means of assessing dwelling performance.

In order to meet current building regulations, home builders will need to gain a ‘pass’ on their SAP Calculations. Without it, building control will not sign off the development and the property cannot be let or marketed for sale.

A ‘pass’ is gained by meeting several compliance targets around: 1. How well the fabric of the dwelling contains heat 2. Solar gain 3. Quality of construction and commissioning of systems 4. Predicted CO2 emissions from the dwelling

How SAP works

SAP works by assessing how much energy a dwelling will consume, when delivering a defined level of comfort and service provision. The assessment is based on standardised assumptions for occupancy and behaviour. This enables a like-for-like comparison of dwelling performance. Related factors, such as fuel costs and emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), can be determined from the assessment.

SAP quantifies a dwelling’s performance in terms of: energy use per unit floor area, a fuel-cost-based energy efficiency rating (the SAP Rating) and emissions of CO2 (the Environmental Impact Rating). These indicators of performance are based on estimates of annual energy consumption for the provision of space heating, domestic hot water, lighting and ventilation. Other SAP outputs include estimate of appliance energy use, the potential for overheating in summer and the resultant cooling load.

The SAP rating is based on the energy costs associated with space heating, water heating, ventilation and lighting, less cost savings from energy generation technologies. It is adjusted for floor area so that it is essentially independent of dwelling size for a given built form. The SAP rating is expressed on a scale of 1 to 100, the higher the number the lower the running costs.

What is a SAP Rating?

A SAP Rating is a way of comparing energy performance of different homes – it results in a figure between 1 and 100+ (100 representing zero energy cost and anything over means you are exporting energy). The higher the SAP rating, the lower the fuel costs and the lower the associated emissions of carbon dioxide.

Who will carry out the assessment?

SAP EPC assessors must be registered with a accreditation body. We can provide you with a fully qualified assessor who is compliant with the latest regulations. A SAP EPC assessor can help the designer or architect to shape the energy profile of a new dwelling – minimising its energy use and carbon emissions.

A SAP Assessor will work from architects plans and construction detail, together with a full HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) specification. For this reason drawings need to be scaled, accurate and show all elevations, sections, floor and site plans.

What is required?

Site address and postcode.

Site plan to include orientation of the dwelling(s).

Plans of each storey, normally at 1:100 scale.

Elevations drawings - for each elevation.

Sectional drawings of the dwelling.

A written specification which must include:-

Details of the principal heating and hot water system to include make and model of boiler, details of heating emitters, hot water cylinder size (if applicable) and the system controls.

Details of any secondary heating system present.

Details of ventilation systems.

Details of the internal and external lighting.

Details of the construction of all different floors to the property to include type and thicknesses of insulation and any other building products used.

Details of the construction of all different external walls to the property to include type and thicknesses of insulation and other building products used.

Details of the construction of all different roofs to the property to include type and thicknesses of insulation and other building products used.

Details of the doors and windows to include sizes, type of frame, type of glazing, thickness of glazing, any low emissivity applications.

Details of any renewable technologies utilised such as ground source heat pumps, solar water heating or photovoltaics

SAP Calculations

SAP Calculations (Standard Assessment Procedure) are a key component of any new build project and are used to establish carbon emissions and the subsequent energy costs of the property.

These emissions are linked to ventilation, light, heat and hot water and the calculations need to be submitted within 30 days of the completion of the building.

When planning your development, SAPs ideally need to be considered at the design stage or at the very least, the beginning of a build. Once a development has started, it becomes increasingly difficult to make a difference to the energy performance of a property.

SAP Calculations are a requirement of the Building Regulations in the UK and can be a challenging aspect to a new build, especially if you're new to such construction. Buildings are rated between 1 and 100; the higher the number the more energy efficient the property is and the lower the energy costs will be. All dwellings need to gain a ‘pass’ in order for them to be viable for sale.

Whether you're building a property from scratch, are converting or extending a current build, SAP Calculations cannot be overlooked and need to be undertaken by a professional, accredited company.