Domestic BER Assessment & Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Building Energy Rating (BER)?

  A building energy rating is a rating on the overall energy efficiency of a building (residential or commercial). The rating is similar to the energy label on your fridge and is denoted on a scale of A to G, with A1 being the most energy efficient and G being the least energy efficient.

• What Information does the BER Certificate Contain?

  A BER Certificate contains the following information:

  • The building name, address and Eircode·
  • The BER number
  • The date of issue
  • The date the BER is valid until
  • The BER Assessors Number and company number

• How long is a BER certificate valid for?

  A BER certificate is valid for a period of up to 10 years while there are no changes made to the dwelling that will negatively affect its energy performance.

• How is BER calculated for a domestic dwelling?

  A BER for a house is calculated using the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) software published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The DEAP software will also calculate the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the house. The BER calculation includes energy use for building fabric, space heating, water heating, ventilation, and lighting, and is calculated on the basis of standard occupancy.

• How can I get a BER report for my property?

  A BER is carried out by specially trained BER assessors, registered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

• How do I get a quotation for a Domestic BER Assessment?

  Getting a quotation from Property Health Check is quick and easy, just fill in a short form and click “Get quote now”. The form is easy to complete and asks a few simple questions including the age and size of the house. After clicking “Get quote now” the price will be displayed on screen and a quotation is emailed to the client. You can advise us online that they would like to make a booking. Our Customer Care Team will then call to finalise the booking.

• How do I get a quotation for a Non-Domestic BER Assessment?

  Getting a quotation from Property Health Check is quick and easy, just fill in a short enquiry form. Our BER Team will then call to provide a quote. 

• What information do I need to provide for a Domestic BER Assessment??

  Customer Care will ask you to email documentation prior to scheduling the BER Assessment. These documents are requested to ensure you receive the most accurate BER rating. In the absence of relevant documents, your BER Assessor will use default values based on the age of the home. These default values are conservative estimates of the performance of certain aspects of your home.

  Documents submitted after the BER has been completed may have an effect on the BER rating. A fee is applicable if the need to re-issue a BER Certificate arises.

  The following checklist will help you prepare for your BER assessment to ensure you have all the required documents.

  • Your MPRN number – found on a recent electricity bill, and your Eircode
  • Details of previous BER assessments (if applicable)
  • Proof of the year the house was built, any drawings/plans or specifications of the house, and the age of any extensions added to the house (if applicable) (e.g. legal documents indicating the age of the dwelling)
  • Details of any upgrade works done to the house (if applicable) including any documentation, certifications, receipts, invoices and/or specifications documents from the architect, engineer or contractor who managed the works. These must clearly indicate the address of the dwelling, the works carried out, and the products used (e.g. for wall insulation this would include the wall area covered, the insulation type/product, and the thickness of insulation used)
  • If windows and doors have been upgraded, please request the test data from your supplier.
  • Information on the make and model of your boiler and/or other heat sources (you should be able to find this information on the side of your boiler)
  • Any other certifications or documentation (where applicable) including:
    • Certification information for windows and doors (e.g. for windows, certification information should include the make, model, glazing description, u-value and solar transmittance values)
    • Results of any air tightness tests completed

  *If you’re having works done on your home, it is important to request documentation from your contractor once the works are complete. Please maintain and keep a record of these for any future BER assessments.

• What if my apartment block has a Communal Heating System?

  Before we can issue a domestic BER Certificate we need to know details about the heating system at your property. If there is a communal heating system, the Management Company should be able to provide the information we need. The following information needs to be submitted to us, in writing, to info@propertyhealthcheck.ie: – 

  1. Fuel type 
  2. Heat % 
  3. Efficiency 
  4. Solar space heating % (if any) 
  5. Distribution loss factor 
  6. Fraction of heat from from Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, if any 
  7. If CHP present: its system type (Whether it’s “Combined Heat and Power” or “District Heating”) 
  8. Heat % (Secondary heat source, if present) 
  9. Efficiency (Secondary heat source, if present) 
  10. Fuel type (Secondary heat source, if present) 

  An email will be sent to you with this information if you indicate during the quotation process that your property has a communal heating system. 

• What should I expect when a BER Assessor calls to my home?

  The length of time that the BER Assessment will take is dependent on the size of the property. A standard 3-bed semi-detached house usually takes approximately 1 hour.

  The BER Assessor will be collecting information on all aspects of your home to complete the BER calculation. They will need access to all areas of the property including:

  • All rooms
  • Attic
  • Windows and doors
  • Heating system
  • Electricity metre
  • Ventilation

  Safe access to these areas should be provided.

  The BER Assessor will collect information needed to carry out the calculations. This includes measurements and photographic evidence of some aspects of the property.

• What do I receive when my domestic BER assessment is complete?

  Once your domestic BER assessment is complete, you will receive your BER Certificate and Advisory Report within 4 working days. The BER Certificate will indicate the BER rating of your home, and the Advisory Report will provide recommendations for home improvements that could increase the energy efficiency of the building, and in turn, increase your BER rating.

• What do I receive when my non-domestic BER assessment is complete?

  Once your non-domestic BER assessment is complete, you will receive your BER Certificate and Advisory Report within 4 working days. The BER Certificate will indicate the BER rating of your property, and the Advisory Report will provide recommendations for improvements that could increase the energy efficiency of the building, and in turn, increase your BER rating. The recommendations are listed under four headings: short payback, medium payback, long payback, and other measures. 

• Check out our Terms & Conditions

  Click here to see out T&C’s