EPCs for Commercial Buildings

EPCs - A Preface

This guide is not a statement of the law, but is intended to help prospective sellers, buyers, landlords, occupiers, building managers, builders and their agents understand how the Directive and Regulations work in practice, how to apply the Regulations, what their responsibilities are and when energy certificates are required.

Non-dwellings are responsible for almost 20 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. This guide provides an introduction to the Regulations for energy performance certificates for non-dwellings on construction, sale or let in England and Wales. Energy performance certificates (EPCs) promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings and form part of the final implementation in England and Wales of the European Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings.

This guide describes the scope and requirements of the Regulations applying to non–dwellings on construction, sale or let and provides guidance on how these are applied. While this guidance aims to explain how the requirements will work in practice, any interpretation of the Regulations is offered only as a guide, as the Department cannot provide legal advice. Therefore, it is important to read and understand the Regulations as well. In cases of doubt independent legal advice should be sought.

This guide is part four of the series that explains the introduction of energy performance certificates, display energy certificates, and air conditioning inspections in England and Wales.