Training of Building Energy Rating Assessors in Ireland
13 October 2006
Training of Building Energy rating Assessors in Ireland.
CIOB welcomes the decision by Sustainable Energy Ireland to recommend prequalification at level 6 (Advanced Certificate/Higher Certificate) in a construction-related discipline for those wishing to undertake an assessor course for certification of new dwellings. This level is included in the Irish Governments Educational Framework in response to the Bologna Protocol and is just below ordinary degree level.
Kevin Sheridan FCIOB stated that CIOB supports this initiative in order to achieve a balance between equity of access to specified BER training courses and in the interest consumer protection. He confirmed that CIOB had raised this matter in its submission to SEI, in response to the consultation paper.
SEI responded by including the following in its criteria for training BER Assessors:
As a pre-qualification for entry on the proposed dedicated BER courses, successful applicants for the BER Assessor Training Programme for new dwellings should however have an appropriate construction related qualification, at least at National Certificate Level 6 Advanced Certificate/Higher Certificate in construction studies or other cognate discipline or equivalent. Equivalence may be determined as a combination of an appropriate construction-related qualification and significant relevant experience".
Implementation of BER in Ireland
Article 7 of the EPBD requires that when a building is constructed, sold or rented out, the owner must provide a BER Label and Advisory Report to the prospective buyer or tenant. The Action Plan for Implementation of the EPBD in Ireland published in July 2006 proposes phased implementation of BER in Ireland as follows:
• 1 January 20071: BER of new dwellings
• 1 July 2008: BER of new buildings, other than dwellings
• 1 January 2009: BER of existing dwellings and other existing buildings, when offered for sale or rental.
The BER Label and Advisory Report for a building in any of the above categories may be produced by a BER assessor who is registered on the relevant national database as a BER assessor for that building category. The BER must be carried out in an independent manner. The register of assessors will form part of the national administration system. The BER label and Advisory Report databases and quality assurance (QA) functions will also form part of the administration system.
Those who successfully complete an Assessor Training Programme for BER of New Dwellings must be able to:
• Explain key objectives and the background to the EPBD
• Demonstrate the ability to undertake limitation of CO2 emission calculations as required by the Building Regulations (Regulation L2 (a)) and as outlined in the Technical Guidance Document to the Building Regulations Part L (May 2006 Edition)
• Demonstrate the ability to accurately collect data on dwelling specifications and other
characteristics that affect energy and CO2 emissions performance and input it into the DEAP software to produce BER Labels and Advisory Reports for new dwellings
• Produce BER Labels and Advisory Reports for new dwellings
• Explain the significance, in BER terms, of varying the specifications for new dwellings
Assessment test
SEI requires a nationally accredited examination leading to a level 6 Special Purpose award.
The examination is in three parts:
Part One (Assignments) & short answer/multiple choice paper
Assignment 1: Unit 2 Building Construction and Lighting Assessment
Assignment 2: Unit 3 Building Energy Performance –Fabric & Ventilation Systems
Assignment 3: Unit 4 Space/DHW Heating Systems & their Controls
It entails three individual assignments that require participants to produce evidence that demonstrates an understanding and the application of the range of specific learning outcomes. The new dwellings should be of a sufficiently complex form to ensure that learners can demonstrate that they can apply DEAP to a variety of new dwelling types of varying complexity. For example in Assignment 1, elements such as dormer windows, integral garages, split level and irregular or non-standard dimensions should be included in the specification.
• Calculation of U-Values for building elements
• Measurement of dimensions for non-standard dwellings
• Determination of the seasonal efficiencies of various types of heating systems
• Identification of heating control systems
Part Two includes a practical test which requires participants to:
• Demonstrate their ability to use the DEAP software in a supervised setting for an unseen dwelling to produce a BER Label and Advisory Report. The practical examination must be of such depth and breath that requires the candidate to apply all aspects of the DEAP software.
• Vary the input data for the given dwelling to achieve a specified improvement in the BER. This will require the participant r to vary the different type of heating controls, alternative heating systems and insulation levels.
The criterion places successful CIOB members in an ideal position to provide a competent service while maintaining consumer protection in this new energy efficiency scheme.
Kevin Sheridan FCIOB