FAQs
What is a BER certificate
A Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate indicates your building’s energy performance. It is similar to the energy label for household appliances.
The certificate rates your building on a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy-efficient and will tend to have the lowest energy bills. G-rated are the least energy efficient.
How a BER is calculated
Your BER is calculated through energy use for space and hot water heating, ventilation, and lighting.
The number of people likely to occupy a building is also taken into consideration. This is based on the average number of occupants in buildings of a similar size.
Who needs a BER cert?
- Homeowners or landlords must provide a BER to prospective buyers or tenants when a home is offered for sale or rent. BER details must be included in commercial advertisements related to the sale or rental.
- A New build BER assessment is required for a new home before it is first occupied in order to confirm it complies with the current building regulations.
- BER certification is required for all SEAI grant measures.
See grant amounts below:
| Measures | Energy Efficient Measures | Grant Value |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation | Attic insulation | €300 |
| Cavity wall insulation | €300 | |
| Internal Insulation (Dry Lining) | ||
| Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House | €1,200 | |
| Semi-detached OR End of Terrace | €1,800 | |
| Detached House | €2,400 | |
| External Wall Insulation (‘The Wrap’) | ||
| Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House | €2,750 | |
| Semi-detached OR End of Terrace | €4,500 | |
| Detached House | €6,000 | |
| Heat Pumps | ||
| Air to Water | €3,500 | |
| Ground Source to Water | €3,500 | |
| Exhaust Air to Water | €3,500 | |
| Water to Water | €3,500 | |
| Air to Air | €600 | |
| Heating System | Heating Controls Upgrade | €700 |
| Solar Thermal | Solar Thermal | €1,200 |
| Building Energy Rating (BER) | €50 |
| Do more, receive more | Number of Measures | Bonus Value |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus for multiple measures | For 3rd measure | €300 |
| For 4th measure | €100 |
Who carries out a BER Assessment?
BER assessments are carried out by one of our registered BER Assessors. A person offering a home for sale or rent, or their agent is required to engage a BER Assessor to carry out a BER assessment.
What the Homeowner can expect from a BER assessment
The Assessor will make an appointment to visit your home so that they can complete a BER assessment survey on it. When the Assessor arrives at your home they will conduct a non intrusive survey. A BER assessment will typically take a couple of hours to complete (depending of course on the home size and complexity). The Assessor will need to have access to all the rooms in your home.During the survey they will be measuring the area of the rooms, measuring the windows, the thickness of the walls, the levels of insulation, the heating system, the number of flues, the floor types and the wall types. The Assessor will typically collect 80 pieces of data which describe your home, which are then entered by the Assessor into the BER software tool in order to generate the BER.
How the Homeowner can prepare for the BER assessment
There are a number of items that would be helpful to the Assessor if the homeowner were able to provide the following:
- A recent electricity bill so that the Assessor can note the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN)
- The date of construction of the dwelling
- Details of any previously published BER for the dwelling on the national register
- Any plans or specifications of the dwelling if they are available
- Details of any upgrades that have been made to the dwelling e.g. insulation
- The boiler model number or any documentation for the boiler
- Making sure the Assessor has safe and unobstructed access to all areas of the dwelling
What happens after the BER survey?
The BER Assessor will return to their office and input the survey findings into the BER assessment software called DEAP. There are approximately 80 data inputs that the Assessor must enter. Once this is complete the Assessor will log on to the online SEAI National Administration System (NAS) and upload the DEAP file. This will generate the BER Certificate and the Advisory Report. The Assessor will then give the homeowner a copy of the BER Certificate and the Advisory Report. The Assessor will be able to answer any queries you have relating to your dwellings BER certificate.SEAI maintains the register of BER certificates.
Obligations of the Assessor
The Assessor should carry out the Building Energy Rating (BER) in accordance with the DEAP methodology and adhering to the BER Assessors Code of Practice. A BER Assessor is required to provide in writing to the client (i) a description of its proposed services, (ii) a description of the proposed cost (including VAT and expenses) for such services including all details of any circumstances where the client may incur additional costs, VAT or expenses and (iii) a disclosure of relevant business interests. The amount charged by a BER Assessor for his / her services is a matter for agreement between the BER Assessor and the client. BER Assessors are required to act in an independent manner at all times when discharging their obligations under the Regulations. The Assessor should supply a receipt for any / all payments made.
Homeowner Duties in Facilitating the BER
You should provide safe access to your home in order for the Assessor to complete the BER. The Assessor should have access to all the rooms in the dwelling. Provide the MPRN number which can be found on your electricity bill. You should agree with a start and finish date with your Assessor.