FAQs

• What do I need to do to become a Commercial Energy Assessor?
  

  • To practice as a Commercial Energy Assessor to undertake Energy Performance Certificates, you will need to:
    
    Gain a relevant Government approved qualification. Through Estate Energy Solutions you will gain a City & Guilds diploma in Commercial Energy Assessment (DipCEA).
    
    Join a Government approved accreditation scheme. Estate Energy Solutions recommends the NHER Accreditation Scheme. It is the largest scheme operating in England and Wales and offers a wide range of benefits, including PI insurance, quality software and an unrivalled technical support.
    

• Who can become a Commercial Energy Assessor?
  

  • Level 3 is suitable for Home Inspectors, Domestic Energy Assessors, Commercial Surveyors / Property Agents, Building Services Engineers, Architectural Technicians, Energy Managers.
    
    Level 3 is the best route to becoming a CEA for those who have little or no experience in using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) and undertaking energy audits on commercial buildings. This will give access to the majority of the market and experience gained will provide a good basis for extending skills to cover Level 4 type buildings.
    
    Level 4 is aimed at those people who have had considerable experience in using SBEM.
    

• What are the routes to qualification?
  

  • National Occupational Standards have been developed to define the competencies that will be required of Commercial Energy Assessors. These standards form the basis of the diploma offered by all the examination bodies in England and Wales for Commercial Energy Assessment for undertaking EPCs.
    
    The standards can be viewed at www.energy-assessors.org.uk
    
    The standards describe three different levels of competence as follows:
    
    Level 3 relates to simple existing buildings with commonly occurring characteristics that can be modelled using the SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model). These building will not have a centralised air conditioning plant, but may have localised air conditioning units generally around 12kw cooling load. The heating system will have a boiler that is under 100kw. Level 3 buildings comprise the majority of the building stock.
    
    Level 4 relates to new and more complex existing buildings that can be modelled using SBEM. These buildings are likely to include centralised air conditioning plant and a heating system which has a power output greater than 100kw.
    
    Level 5 relates to the most complex new and existing buildings that will need to be modelled using the Dynamic Simulation Models. Only a very small proportion of the building stock falls into this Level 5 category.
    

• Is there a route to qualification for experienced practitioners?
  

  • APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) is an alternative route for experienced practitioners without the need to gain a national qualification. The advantage being that it is potentially quicker to demonstrate competence via APEL than it would be to gain a national qualification. However, the disadvantage is that since each accreditation scheme has different rules, you will need to prove your competence via APEL each time you want to leave one accreditation scheme and join another. APEL is therefore not a portable qualification.
    
    CLG are currently reviewing the arrangements for APEL for all accreditation schemes. It is likely that APEL can only apply to a practitioner having at least 2 years practical experience of using SBEM and who can demonstrate that they already possess the key competencies under the National Occupational Standards.
    
    Please note that Estate Energy Solutions are not offering the APEL route.
    

• What is involved in the training courses?
  

  • At Estate Energy Solutions, we are delivering training in a sequential approach, i.e. Level 3 then a top-up course to Level 4. Level 4 is only available to those who have already gained the Level 3 qualification.
    
    Level 3 training course consists of the following modules:
    
    SBEM – 2 days
    This 2 day course will cover the rules associated with zoning, building fabric elements, building services, renewable energy options and occupancy. All candidates will be provided with computers for use during the course and there is a large element of valuable hands on practice using case study exercises.
    
    Construction and Built Form – 1 day
    This course looks at the types of construction found in commercial buildings, including roofs, floor and walls, how to identify them and what information is required to complete a commercial EPC.
    
    Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) – 1 day
    This course looks provides candidates with information on boilers & hot water systems / supplies, mechanical ventilation, individual cooling systems typically found in basic commercial buildings.
    
    Lighting (1 day)
    Lighting is the largest source of carbon emissions in most retail and office buildings. Identifying the correct lighting systems and making recommendation for cost effective improvement is therefore critical. This one day training course covers the different types and controls of lighting systems found in commercial properties and how to assess them.
    
    Practical (1 day)
    This one day course puts theory into practice with a visit to a typical Level 3 building where candidates will be able to assess the building fabric and geometry and gather data on the zoning, activities, HVAC and lighting systems found. Candidates will get expert help on the conventions and practical surveying techniques to generate an EPC.
    
    Assessment and examination
    Once candidates have undertaken the training modules above, they will progress onto the assessment and examination. Candidates will demonstrate the practical application of the skills learned throughout the training course and provide evidence of their ability to generate high quality EPCs. They will be expected to demonstrate that they have the range of skills needed to meet the national occupational standards by:
    
    Completing an EPC on a real building, observed by a technical assessor.
    Submitting two additional EPCs for assessment. (One of these EPCs will be produced from a survey where floor plans, photographs and other data that will be provided to the candidates. The other EPC will have been produced and submitted by the candidate from a building that they will have sourced).
    
    Completing a number of on-line tests.
    
    Completing an assignment or additional work required by the Assessor.
    Taking the City & Guilds external exam which comprises multiple choice questions.
    
    The training program consists of 6 days of training, assessment and examination.
    
    The following candidates are exempt from assessment against Unit 1 of the NOS: Home Inspectors, Domestic Energy Assessors; Members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (MCIAT); Chartered Surveyors and Technical Members of the RICS (FRICS / MRICS / TechRICS); Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB); National Association of Estate Agents (FNAEA / MNAEA).
    

• Where do the training courses, assessments and examinations take place?
  

  • The training courses, assessments and examinations are conducted at our training centre in Lancaster. All training material will be provided, however candidates will be expected to undertake their own background reading.
    
    What is the time schedule for getting qualified?
    
    This will to depend on the candidate’s level of competence and how quickly they wish to become qualified. At Estate Energy Solutions, we are currently confirming the dates for the delivery of the training modules with our trainers and will be advertising these very shortly.
    
    The training course will be undertaken over a 4 - 6 week period. However, an intensive training course over a week can be arranged.
    
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