Legislation

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2002

With Climate Change being a key topic on Agendas all around the world, Europe has a major role to play. The EPBD sets obligations and requirements for all Member States to introduce legislation and regulations to enforce these requirements. Many of the forthcoming requirements will have direct relevance to the commercial sector:

• Article 4 - sets minimum energy performance requirements for buildings (both new and existing).
• Article 5 – ensures consideration of alternative systems in new buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000 m2 (Article 5). The alternative systems mentioned specifically are:
• decentralised energy supply systems based on renewable energy
• combined heat and power systems
• district or block heating or cooling
• heat pumps
• Article 6 – ensures renovation of existing buildings over 1000m2 to includes upgrading to meet the minimum energy requirements as long as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible.
• Article 7 – requires the provision/display of energy performance certificates. Certificates will be:
• made available to the owner when the building is constructed,
• made available by the owner to the prospective buyer if the building is being sold,
• made available by the owner to the prospective tenant if the building is being rented out
• displayed prominently for buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000m2 which are occupied by public authorities and institutions providing public services to a large number of persons and frequently visited by these persons.
• Article 8 – requires regular inspection of boilers fired by non-renewable liquid or solid fuel. This can be implemented through:
• a regime of inspections:
• boilers with an effective rated output of 20-100 kW: regular inspection.
• boilers with an effective rated output greater than 20 kW which are older than 15 years: one-off inspection for whole heating installation
• boilers with an effective rated output greater than 100 kW: inspected every 2 years (4 years for gas boilers).
• Or the provision of advice to users on the modifications to the heating system and on alternative heating systems with non-compulsory inspections. If this option is taken the Member State has to submit a report every two years to show it has an equivalent result to the regime of inspections.
• Article 9 – requires regular inspection of air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kW.
• Article 10 – requires the independent certification of buildings, boilers and air conditioning systems and drafting of recommendations to be carried out by qualified and / or accredited experts.
• Article 15 – requires these items to be complied with through local legislation by 4/1/06.

Useful Links

Link to the directive

Articles 4, 5 and 6 have been implemented in the UK through the 2006 revision of the building regulations Part L

Articles 7, 9 and 10 are being implemented in the UK through The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections)(England and Wales) Regulations 2007 – The Buildings Act 1984

Article 8 is being implemented in the UK through the provision of advice to users, rather than through a regime of inspections.

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