SAP Assessments (for PEA / EPC)

---

---

Quotes provided usually cover:

• Design Stage which includes:
• Initial SAP Assessment
• Recommendations for meeting the SAP requirements, assuming that the Initial SAP Assessment doesn't meet requirements
• Update and lodgement of the SAP Assessment and Issue of a PEA (Predicted Energy Assessment)
• As Built Stage with issue of the final EPC, Summary Information Report and BREL / BRWL / Compliance Report.

---

Outline of the Process

The SAP process starts at Design Stage where we analyse the architectural plans and the written Specification.

Plans provided should include:

• Scaled Floor Plan
• Front / Side / Rear Elevations (where relevant) in DWG, PDF formats. Plans should be of a sufficient quality and clarity to allow accurate measurements of size of rooms, windows etc.
• Detail Drawings may not be necessary for this purpose but may help to clarify buildup of Walls, Roofs, Floors etc.

Along with the Specification, the following information will usually be required:

• Buildup of Walls, Floors and Roofs. This should include any internal / intermediate Walls / Floors / Ceilings.
• Data for proposed Windows / Doors
• The proposed Space Heating System(s)
• The proposed Hot Water System
• Proposed Lighting including efficiency data
• Predicted Air Permeability / Tightness (Client may need to consult an Air-Permeability Test specialist for predicted figures)
• Proposed Ventilation
• Any proposed Renewable Technologies
• Details of any Thermal Bridging scheme (Accredited Construction Details), if used

The type of information required may vary according to the specific details of the project but this can be discussed at the time.

Where details of some aspects aren't provided, some figures in the assessment may default to worse values which generally make requirements more difficult to meet, so it is preferable to provide all information requested.

---

Initial Assessment and Calculation

Using the information provided, we calculate whether the project meets requirements for:

• Dwelling Fabric Energy Efficiency
• Dwelling Emission Rate
• Dwelling Primary Energy Rate

The actual values calculated for these three figures are compared to Target Values for a 'Notional' dwelling.

The actual figures calculated should meet or exceed the requirements of the Notional Dwelling.

---

Meeting the Requirements

If the calculation shows that the proposed building doesn't meet requirements, we'll look at ways of bringing the build up to the required standard, starting with the building Fabric and the most cost-effective improvements.

Where the client has preferences for improvements (e.g. specific type or make/model of Heat Pump), these will be factored-in.

Building Fabric

The individual elements fabric of the building should meet the minimum requirements for individual elements (Limiting Values) and the whole fabric should also meet a minimum standard for the whole building (Target Fabric Energy Efficiency).

Even if both conditions are true, it may still be worth improving U-Values of individual elements as a cost-effective way of meeting the other requirements (such the Primary Energy Rate and Emission Rate).

Changes to the bulding fabric might include increasing insulation in Walls, Floors and/or Roofs, upgrading windows and doors

Thermal Bridging can account for significant heat loss so addressing it may also offer an efficient and cost-effective means of improvement.

Other areas of Potential Improvement

Other areas to be address may vary but could include:

• Change of Space-Heating / Water-Heating system.
• Adding Pholto-voltaic cells
• Specifying a Heat Pump and Hot Water Storage Cylinder

Design Stage

Once the Design has been adjusted to provide a Build that provides a pass for the Predicted Energy Assessment, the PEA certificate will be provided.

Other document provided at this stage include the Summary Information Report and the BREL / BRWL / Compliance Report

The Specification and Plans should be updated in accordance with any recommendations made.

---

Completion, the As-Built Stage

On completion of the build, we require documented evidence that the Building has been built in accordance with the recommended changes and the updated plans/specification.

Examples of documents to be provided (but may differ according to the project):

• An updated specification and updated plans (where relevant), including the changes that we’ve recommended for compliance
• Air Permeability Test Certificate
• Documentation for the Windows and External Doors installed
• The installed PV Details and MCS Certificate
• The installed Heating System Specification (manufacturer, model number, output)
• If Accredited Construction Details are specified, Approved Construction Details documentation signed by the site manager

Evidence should include photographs to show that the Building has been constructed according to the specification and recommendation made at the Design stage.

This may include photos showing:

• Insulation in Walls / Roofs / Floors
• Detail around Windows / Doors
• If Accredited Construction Details are specified, showing relevant construction around thermal bridges.

Once the relevant documents are received, we would then provide the EPC, Summary Information Report and the BREL / BRWL / Compliance Report.

Once lodged, the EPC and relevant information is available on the Government EPC Website

For more information about our SAP Assessment and EPC service, please:

Please contact us prior to sending plans or a specification.

Please note: we currently provide SAP Assessments for Domestic Dwellings only (not Commercial)