Completion stage: The services you need at the end of your build
Regulatory Updates
Completion stage: The services you need at the end of your build
Which services do you need at the end of your build?
There is light at the end of the tunnel! You can see the finish line on your current development, and you have potential occupants keen to get hold of the keys. You just need to tidy up the final bits of documentation for your Building Control and Planning departments.
Energist’s technical teams are on hand to help you through these final stages.
Where are you building?
Choose where in the country you are building to show the Completion Stage services we offer and the type of projects we would expect them to apply to.
Regional Completion Stage requirements
- BREEAM
- SAP, SBEM and EPC
- Air Leakage Testing
- Acoustic Testing
- Thermographic Survey
BREEAM
If your development included BREEAM as part of your planning conditions, now is the time to gather any outstanding evidence required.
It can happen that developers miss out on certain categories within BREEAM as construction work develops. When this happens, it’s vital to find alternative credits to ensure you still reach the required target, as dropping too many BREEAM credits can risk your final sign-off.
At the completion stage, the final documents need to be gathered by your BREEAM assessor and submitted to BRE for approval. If your development is being assessed under the 2018 scheme, you may have opted to chase after some of the new post occupancy credits.
This involves collecting energy and water bill data from the first year of occupancy and comparing these figures to what was predicted at design stage.
SAP and SBEM
You will have received building control approval as part of the design process. This includes having SAP and SBEM calculations completed to ensure compliance with emission rate targets.
But we know all too well that specification details and layouts can change as construction work develops.
When changes occur, it’s recommended you inform your assessment team so they can keep their calculations up to date, and let you know if any adjustments may lead to non-compliance later on.
When building work on your new dwelling comes to an end you will need to collect the As Built documents which includes the final SAP and SBEM reports.
Air Leakage Testing
As SAP and SBEM assessments are created based on drawings and specification notes only, they can’t take into consideration the physical quality of the building work.
But it doesn’t matter how eco-friendly your design is… if the building work isn’t great, the heating bills are going to be higher and fuel bills are going to increase.
This is where the Air Leakage Test comes in – new buildings are tested on site by skilled technicians who measure the amount of air that can escape through cracks and gaps.
The result of your air test is fed back into the SAP and SBEM models before the final documents (including the EPC) are produced.
If your tested air leakage rate is worse than your design stage target, your emission rate will increase. And if the new figure is higher than the target emission rate your building will no longer comply with building regulations.
If this were to happen, Energist’s team of air testers will be happy to offer advice on how the air test result can be improved, and if these improvements can be actioned straight away they may be able to retest straight away for you.
EPC
Once your air test result is known, the Energy Performance Certificates can then be produced.
EPCs are required before the first occupants move in, and are created using the SAP and SBEM models, combined with the air leakage test report.
We know time is of the essence at this point in the process, and we’d hate to get in the way of your CML dates. That’s why we offer a same-day EPC service of part of our SAP package.
Acoustic Testing
If your development includes party walls between houses or you are constructing blocks of flats, you may also need to have acoustic tests completed before final sign off.
Some non-residential buildings require this test to be completed also; schools and hospitals have particularly strict targets.
The acoustic test ensures there is enough sound-proofing in the floors and walls to deaden any noise from your neighbours.
Thermographic Survey
We know it’s common for new buildings to come with a snag list. There may be a time when you want to check that construction workers have built as you intended.
If new occupants are complaining about cold spots and draughty rooms, one solution is to commission a thermographic survey.
Heat sensitive cameras are set up to track heat loss through the building. If the builders have skimped on insulation in any areas, this test will clearly show what’s happening within the walls.
Energist can work with you from the earliest planning phases through into post-completion. Our teams of specialist assessors and engineers understand the importance of compliance, and will help you reach your targets.
Contact us today to find out how we can help with your future, and current, projects.
National Completion Stage requirements
- BREEAM
- SAP, SBEM and EPC
- Air Leakage Testing
- Acoustic Testing
- Thermographic Survey
BREEAM
If your development included BREEAM as part of your planning conditions, now is the time to gather any outstanding evidence required.
It can happen that developers miss out on certain categories within BREEAM as construction work develops. When this happens, it’s vital to find alternative credits to ensure you still reach the required target, as dropping too many BREEAM credits can risk your final sign-off.
At the completion stage, the final documents need to be gathered by your BREEAM assessor and submitted to BRE for approval. If your development is being assessed under the 2018 scheme, you may have opted to chase after some of the new post occupancy credits.
This involves collecting energy and water bill data from the first year of occupancy and comparing these figures to what was predicted at design stage.
SAP and SBEM
You will have received building control approval as part of the design process. This includes having SAP and SBEM calculations completed to ensure compliance with emission rate targets.
But we know all too well that specification details and layouts can change as construction work develops.
When changes occur, it’s recommended you inform your assessment team so they can keep their calculations up to date, and let you know if any adjustments may lead to non-compliance later on.
When building work on your new dwelling comes to an end you will need to collect the As Built documents which includes the final SAP and SBEM reports.
Air Leakage Testing
As SAP and SBEM assessments are created based on drawings and specification notes only, they can’t take into consideration the physical quality of the building work.
But it doesn’t matter how eco-friendly your design is… if the building work isn’t great, the heating bills are going to be higher and fuel bills are going to increase.
This is where the Air Leakage Test comes in – new buildings are tested on site by skilled technicians who measure the amount of air that can escape through cracks and gaps.
The result of your air test is fed back into the SAP and SBEM models before the final documents (including the EPC) are produced.
If your tested air leakage rate is worse than your design stage target, your emission rate will increase. And if the new figure is higher than the target emission rate your building will no longer comply with building regulations.
If this were to happen, Energist’s team of air testers will be happy to offer advice on how the air test result can be improved, and if these improvements can be actioned straight away they may be able to retest straight away for you.
EPC
Once your air test result is known, the Energy Performance Certificates can then be produced.
EPCs are required before the first occupants move in, and are created using the SAP and SBEM models, combined with the air leakage test report.
We know time is of the essence at this point in the process, and we’d hate to get in the way of your CML dates. That’s why we offer a same-day EPC service of part of our SAP package.
Acoustic Testing
If your development includes party walls between houses or you are constructing blocks of flats, you may also need to have acoustic tests completed before final sign off.
Some non-residential buildings require this test to be completed also; schools and hospitals have particularly strict targets.
The acoustic test ensures there is enough sound-proofing in the floors and walls to deaden any noise from your neighbours.
Thermographic Survey
We know it’s common for new buildings to come with a snag list. There may be a time when you want to check that construction workers have built as you intended.
If new occupants are complaining about cold spots and draughty rooms, one solution is to commission a thermographic survey.
Heat sensitive cameras are set up to track heat loss through the building. If the builders have skimped on insulation in any areas, this test will clearly show what’s happening within the walls.
Energist can work with you from the earliest planning phases through into post-completion. Our teams of specialist assessors and engineers understand the importance of compliance, and will help you reach your targets.
Contact us today to find out how we can help with your future, and current, projects.
London Completion Stage requirements
- BREEAM
- SAP, SBEM and EPC
- Air Leakage Testing
- Acoustic Testing
- Thermographic Survey
BREEAM
If your development included BREEAM as part of your planning conditions, now is the time to gather any outstanding evidence required.
It can happen that developers miss out on certain categories within BREEAM as construction work develops. When this happens, it’s vital to find alternative credits to ensure you still reach the required target, as dropping too many BREEAM credits can risk your final sign-off.
At the completion stage, the final documents need to be gathered by your BREEAM assessor and submitted to BRE for approval. If your development is being assessed under the 2018 scheme, you may have opted to chase after some of the new post occupancy credits.
This involves collecting energy and water bill data from the first year of occupancy and comparing these figures to what was predicted at design stage.
PART L
You will have received building control approval as part of the design process. This includes having SAP and SBEM calculations completed to ensure compliance with emission rate targets.
But we know all too well that specification details and layouts can change as construction work develops.
When changes occur, it’s recommended you inform your assessment team so they can keep their calculations up to date, and let you know if any adjustments may lead to non-compliance with Part L later on.
When building work on your new dwelling comes to an end you will need to collect the As Built documents which includes the final SAP and SBEM reports.
Air Leakage Testing
As Part L assessments are created based on drawings and specification notes only, they can’t take into consideration the physical quality of the building work.
But it doesn’t matter how eco-friendly your design is… if the building work isn’t great, the heating bills are going to be higher and fuel bills are going to increase.
This is where the Air Leakage Test comes in – new buildings are tested on site by skilled technicians who measure the amount of air that can escape through cracks and gaps.
The result of your air test is fed back into the SAP and SBEM models before the final documents (including the EPC) are produced.
If your tested air leakage rate is worse than your design stage target, your emission rate will increase. And if the new figure is higher than the target emission rate your building will no longer comply with building regulations.
If this were to happen, Energist’s team of air testers will be happy to offer advice on how the air test result can be improved, and if these improvements can be actioned straight away they may be able to retest straight away for you.
EPC
Once your air test result is known, the Energy Performance Certificates can then be produced.
EPCs are required before the first occupants move in, and are created using the SAP and SBEM models, combined with the air leakage test report.
We know time is of the essence at this point in the process, and we’d hate to get in the way of your CML dates. That’s why we offer a same-day EPC service of part of our SAP package.
Acoustic Testing
If your development includes party walls between houses or you are constructing blocks of flats, Part E of Building Regulations may force you into having acoustic tests completed before final sign off.
Some non-residential buildings require this test to be completed also; schools and hospitals have particularly strict targets.
The acoustic test ensures there is enough sound-proofing in the floors and walls to deaden any noise from your neighbours.
Thermographic Survey
We know it’s common for new buildings to come with a snag list. There may be a time when you want to check that construction workers have built as you intended.
If new occupants are complaining about cold spots and draughty rooms, one solution is to commission a thermographic survey.
Heat sensitive cameras are set up to track heat loss through the building. If the builders have skimped on insulation in any areas, this test will clearly show what’s happening within the walls.
Energist can work with you from the earliest planning phases through into post-completion. Our teams of specialist assessors and engineers understand the importance of compliance, and will help you reach your targets.
Contact us today to find out how we can help with your future, and current, projects.
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