Why are air conditioning inspections required?

 

Having your air-conditioning system inspected by an Energy Assessor is designed to improve efficiency and reduce the electricity consumption, operating costs and carbon emissions for your system. Energy inspections will highlight improvements to the operation of your existing systems or opportunities to replace older, less energy efficient systems or oversized systems with new energy efficient systems. As the replacement of refrigerant is restricted in older systems (as established under other legislation), there is an additional incentive to improve or replace older systems with more modern energy efficient units.

Building owners and managers who control air-conditioning systems have statutory obligations and duties of care in the operation and maintenance of air-conditioning systems. Inspection, maintenance and cleaning programmes maintain the ability of the system to provide healthy and comfortable environments for building occupants, limiting the escape of refrigerant gases and ensuring the safety of equipment.

 

When are air conditioning inspections required?

 

In most cases they are overdue!

 

As a result of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2002 and the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007, building owners and managers who control air-conditioning systems now have statutory obligations to have their air conditioning systems regularly inspected by a qualified air conditioning systems energy assessor.

All air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kw must be regularly inspected by an Energy Assessor. The inspections must be a maximum of five years apart. The regulations require the first inspection of the affected air-conditioning systems to be carried out as follows:

•  for all systems first put into service on or after 1 January 2008, the first inspection must have taken place within five years of the date when it was first put into service

•  for other air-conditioning systems, where the effective rated output is more than 250kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2009

•  for other air-conditioning systems, where the effective rated output is more than 12kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2011.

From 4 January 2011, if the person in control of the air-conditioning system changes and the new person in control is not given an inspection report, the new person in control of the system must ensure the air-conditioning system is inspected within three months of the day that person assumes control of the system.

 

Which systems require an air conditioning inspection?

 

Only air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kW are affected by these regulations. The effective rated output is the maximum calorific output in kW stated by the manufacturer of the system as deliverable during continuous operation while complying with the useful efficiency indicated by the manufacturer.

 

 

What are the penalties for not having an inspection report?

 

Local authorities (usually by their Trading Standards Officers) are responsible for enforcing the requirements relating to air-conditioning inspection reports. Failure to commission, keep or provide an air-conditioning inspection report when required by the Regulations means you may be issued with a penalty charge notice. Trading Standards Officers may act on complaints or undertake investigations. They may request you to provide them with a copy of your air-conditioning inspection report. If asked, you must provide this information within seven days of the request or be liable to a penalty charge notice for failing to do so. A copy of an air-conditioning inspection report can be requested by an enforcement officer at any time up to six months after the last day for compliance with the obligation to make it available.

The penalty for failing to having an air-conditioning inspection report is fixed at present at £300 although this can be repeated but no timescale given by TSO. In addition, where a Company has ISO OR BS audit compliance, the fines can be £5,000 up to £50,000!

If you want to sell or let a building with an air-conditioning system which should have been inspected, then it is very likely that the legal advisor’s to the potential tenant or buyer will require sight of the report during the legal processes prior to exchange of contracts. Failure to have a report where one is required may have a negative impact on the transaction process.

 

What do I do next?

 

Give us a call or drop us an email and we will put your mind at rest and get you the compliance you need   -    Fast!  

 

Telephone 07451 641 265                                Email info@ac-examinations.co.uk