Building Energy Rating...confused!

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mercury1

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Apologies if this has been addressed before! Starting a new build in a couple of weeks-we need to get a BER? What can we expect to pay for this and what will it include?
Have got couple of quotes for 1,000-1,200euro. Sounds crazy but think this may be for an energy audit. What's the difference between a BER and energy audit?
Thanks
 
those quotes are a bit mad.. even if your house was 5000 sq ft.

Firstly, you are only legally required to have a BER before you occupy the dwelling.
However its good practise to get a perliminar6y BEr done from th eplans and a basic spec to see what areas you need to improve to get whatever rating you would like. Currently, if you build to minimum standards, you will come in around a C2 or C1 rating. The prelim BER can be used to see where you need to upgrade your construction or heating system.

NB MAKE SURE THE COMPANY DOING THE BER IS INDEPENDANT OF ANY SALES ASPECT

If the 1000 - 1200 includes 2 airtightness tests and a BER (prelim and final) then its a good quote.

If you simply want the final BER you shouldnt pay any more than 300-400 for it
 
mercury1 said:
What's the difference between a BER and energy audit?
Click to expand...

The BER is your official energy rating like what you'd find on a washing machine/fridge etc. A being best energy efficient rating.

An energy audit includes and should advise as to how you can better your rating by introducing improvements although I would suggest this is only really effective and worthwhile on an existing house.

Your BER will advise you how to increase your rating for example which type of boiler/heating system oil/gas etc./window spec for u-value etc etc.

Your provisional BER can be produced from your house plans before being built and then you will receive your final one after building.Cost should be about €250 - €300.
 
Thats a reasonable price if you are aiming to get your house to a high rating and if it includes 2 air tightness tests.

You can expect to pay something along the lines of the following.

1. BER specification & Final Rating (€600)
2. Provisional Air Tightness Test (€450)
3. Final Air Tightness Test (€450)
----------------------------------

All exclusive of VAT. Depending on location you may get a better price.

Good advice from Syd. Get an independent assessor.
 
Go to www.nea.ie they have a full schedule of services and costs - they charge €280 for a BER, and €750 to work on improving your BER. They also provide airtightness testing, thermal imaging etc. And they are not the cheapest so the quotes you are getting are ridiculous if just for a BER
 
I'm sure the BER is only required when offering the house for sale or rent, and is not required if building a house for yourself. That said, getting a preliminary BER prior to work commencing may be worthwhile as the assessor may recommend some energy saving measures which would save you money in the long run.
 
tipperary said:
I'm sure the BER is only required when offering the house for sale or rent, and is not required if building a house for yourself. That said, getting a preliminary BER prior to work commencing may be worthwhile as the assessor may recommend some energy saving measures which would save you money in the long run.
Click to expand...

no., that is completely incorrect, and unfortunatley its the common misconception.

a BER is required at point of sale or rent or before occupancy of a new dwelling.
 
Syd

are you sure about this? I checked with the SEI earlier this year and got the following response:

Hello Colum

A BER cert is not required if you do not plan to sell or rent the house.The law comes in on the 1 jan 2009.
If there is anything else we can help you out with please dont hestitate to e-mail us.

Regards



BER Helpdesk
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Telephone:1890 734 237
Email : info@ber.sei.ie
Website: www.sei.ie/ber
Sustainable Energy Ireland promotes and assists the development of sustainable energy.
SEI is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan with programmes part financed by the European Union.



If this has changed in the meantime I would be interested to know as it may mean I will require a BER.
 
A BER cert is only needed on an 'Existing' house at point of sale or rent...

However, when a 'new' dwelling is being constructed, a BER is required at point of sale, rent or occupation in the case of a self build..... im absolutly sure of this because i am a BER assessor.

and as you can see from the first post the OP is building a new dwelling.

It may not have affected you if you applied for planning before 31st december 2006 and were substantially complete before 30th june 2008 (im open to correction on those dates)

see here:
http://www.nea.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=100

When is a BER legally required?
  • Since the 1st of January 2007, all new homes for which planning permission has been applied for must have a BER. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new dwellings for which planning permission is applied on or before 31 December 2006, where the new dwellings involved are substantially completed on or before 30 June 2008.
  • 1 July 2008 BER's will be required for new non-domestic buildings offered for sale or rent. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied on or before 30 June 2008 provided the new non-domestic buildings involved are substantially completed by 30 June 2010.
  • 1 January 2009 BER's will be required for any existing buildings offered for sale or letting.
 
Sydthebeat is correct - the cost of a Building Energy Rating is approx. €350 (including VAT) - [broken link removed] provide a very good service and the assessors are tutors with CPD college BER training.
I better be clear I am involved in Energy Labels myself so I am biased here.

The BER assessment from a good assessor will include all possible improvements that would change the rating to your building and a clear report to demonstrate this for you in simple terms to take all of the added confusion of renewables etc., out of this confusing area.

You are not rrequired to get a rating for a new building until you occupy the building - but if you engage an independent assessor early in the build design then you will get more opporunity to take advantage of the advice for the same cost to you.

Simon
LoCall 1890 947440

Building Air tightness costs anything from €600-€700 for a single dwelling.
 
I stand corrected! I checked again with the SEI on this and was told this time that I WILL need a BER done. Hopefully the SEI will make sure their own BER advisers are up to speed on the requirements sooner rather than later!
 
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