Latest News
SAP 2012 Consultation
SAP 2012 is currently out for consultation, and thankfully there are no nasty suprises unlike SAP 2009. This will be a welcome relief to new build developers, however, Part L1 2013 consultation will take place later this year and this is likely to be more interesting.......... watch this space!
Part G Compliance service now offered!
Due to client demand, Compass Energy Solutions is proud to announce that we can offer water consumption calculations for Part G of Building Regulations in-house. For further information, please visit our services page for further information.
Part L 2010 is finally here!
Like or loathe it, all newly created dwellings that have had Building Regulations applications submitted after 1st October 2010 will now be required to comply with the latest incarnation of Part L1.
This will be initally challenging to our clients, but we will provide recommendations to acheive compliance when required.
Latest Edition of Part L to be introduced in October 2010
After much consultation, the 2010 Building Regulations have been published, and will be introduced in October of this year.
Key changes in Document L1A include a 25% improvement of current Building Regulations, the removal of "accredited construction details", lower limiting U-values and the requirement to assess part walls in the SAP calculation.
There are also changes to Part L1B, which will make it harder to achieve compliance for "overglazed" extensions.
For more information, please click
here.
Compass Energy Solutions will assist clients with the upcoming changes, and provide best practical solutions to ensure compliance with the new Regulations.
HIPS are scrapped by the Government, but EPC's will remain!
As of May 21
st 2010, it is no longer a requirement to produce a HIP when selling a domestic property. However, under EU legislation, it still remains a requirement to produce both a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) and an On Construction Energy Performance Certificate (OCEPC).
Compass Energy Solutions can provide this service direct to home owners, estate agents and associated businesses if the property is a new build, conversion or change of use,
Please call us for a friendly chat regarding your requirements!
We Have Moved!
We have moved to new premises, and our new address is;
Compass Energy Solutions Limited
3 Fordwater Close
New England
Halstead
Essex
CO9 4BS
Please note that a mail redirection is currently operating from the old premises, but will cease during October 2009.
All Dwellings Require an EPC from 1st October 2008
It has recently been released from CLG that all homes still on the market, whether 'new' or 'second hand' will require an EPC from 1st October 2008. This is regardless of any exemptions that were previously applicable. For the purpose of New Build Properties, the previous rule that any property completed prior to April 2008 is exempt from requiring an EPC will no longer apply.
Compass Energy Solutions are fully accredited to produce On Construction EPC's for new build domestic properties.
On Construction EPC's now valid for Three Years
After extensive consultation, the Communities and Local Government Department (CLG) has decided that the validity of Energy Performance Certificates (both RDSAP and full SAP) for domestic properties shall be valid for 3 years and not the 1 year previously stated.
The Environment Trust joins Client List!
Compass Energy Solutions are proud to be currently working with the Environment Trust on a "Green Homes" project in Sheffield.
The £6 million, 47 units have been constructed using insulation from recycled materials, along with solar water heating in each property. Lighting to communal areas and charge points for electric vehicles is provided by photo voltaic arrays to add to its green credentials. This impressive project aims to bring "green" homes to the affordable housing arena.
Sound Insulation Testing and Home Inspection Report Services Now Offered!
By joining forces with two professional consultancies, we are proud to announce that we can refer clients to Sound Acoustics Limited for Approved Document E sound testing, and Lawson Property Services for Home Inspection Reports.
Both companies offer a highly professional, efficient and competitive service across the UK, and further details including how to contact them can be found on the services link to the left of this page.
Compass Energy Solutions launches New Service!
In light of the recent changes surrounding On Construction EPC's and PEA's, we have been asked by new clients if we can provide PEA's and OCEPC's when the original "SAP" calculations have been done by another consultant who is not accredited as an On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor.
Therefore, we have launched a new service to provide the following;
Check existing SAP Calculations
Provide the PEA and OCEPC (depending upon stage of build)
Assist in providing revised SAP Calculations if required
Issue Building Control Checklists (if required)
Please Note: Under the terms of the accreditation scheme, it is against scheme rules to produce an On Construction EPC from a 3rd Party SAP Calculation.
We realise some of our competitors are offering an OCEPC service solely from third party SAP calculations - Should the third party SAP calculations be found to be incorrect, and the PEA / EPC issued on this information alone, clients could be at risk as OCDEA's may be operating outside their accreditation scheme, and therefore may not be covered by their Professional Indemnity Insurance. It is also likely that these OCDEA's will be suspended from their accreditation scheme.
To protect our clients interests, we will always re-calculate the SAP's for each property requiring a PEA / EPC, and compare the original calculations with ours. By doing this, we can offer our clients complete assurance and protection.
Please contact us for a friendly chat to see how we can make your life easier!
Sustainable Homes Certificate Required for HIP's from 1st May 2008
From 1st May 2008, it is mandatory that all new homes at the beginning of the construction process (rather than homes that are already being built) have a Sustainable Homes Code certificate for the Home Information Pack (HIP). These provisions therefore only apply to those new homes where a local authority has received a building notice, initial notice or full plans application after 1st May 2008.
This does not mean that new homes have to be assessed against the code, but it does however mean that all buyers of new homes must be given clear information about the sustainability of the new home. A house builder can do this in one of two ways:
They can chose to build a Code home, have that home assessed against the Code and provide the home buyer with a Code certificate stating the star rating the home has achieved or,
They can chose to build to current building regulations standards, not to pay for an assessment and instead download a free nil-rated certificate of non-assessment (also referred to as a nil-rating) to provide to the home buyer.
Compliance with the Code is mandatory for publicly funded homes (i.e. all social housing and housing built on public sector land) in England from April 2007, but is voluntary in the short term within the private sector.
Compass Energy Solutions can provide this certificate for our clients if required.
OCDEA Accreditation Gained!
Today, Compass Energy Solutions officially gained full OCDEA status with the National Home Energy Rating (NHER) Scheme.
We are now authorised to issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's) to all our clients from the 6th April 2008, and are proud to be part of this latest evolution in legislative requirements.
For further information on how EPC's may affect new and existing clients, please visit our services section on our website.
Compass Energy Solutions goes for OCDEA accreditation
In light of the recent government requirement that all new build domestic properties completed after 6th April 2008 will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), we have successfully completed the first stage to achieving On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA) status!
EPC's for new build properties can only be issued by OCDEA's after the 6th April, and this additional certificate is mandatory for inclusion into the Home Information Pack (HIP) for the new owner.
We will keep you all informed once we have completed the final stages, and are officially OCDEA accredited!