Residential - ERS - Residential & Commercial Energy Assessments & Building Compliance
Building Regulation Compliance
SAP Compliance – Part L
SAPs (Standard Assessment Procedure) are the calculation of a dwelling’s energy performance as required by Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) of the Building Regulations, and is required of all new dwellings in the UK. Read More....
SBEM Compliance – Part L
SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) is the method of calculating a building’s energy and carbon performance for all commercial or industrial scale buildings in accordance with Part L of the UK Building Regulations. All new build structures and some extensions require SBEM calculations to be undertaken, which should be submitted as part of your Building Control Application, and form the basis for the generation of your EPC. Read More....
EPCs
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is similar to the certification found on many domestic appliances. They are used to demonstrate the energy rating of a building. Read More....
Energy Audits / MEES
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 established the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the residential and commercial private rented sector. From 1st April 2018, phase one of the MEES regulations came into force, which has impacted landlords of private rented property. Read More....
Part O: Overheating
Approved Document O – Overheating (2021 edition), for use in England, came into force in June 2022. It applies to new residential buildings, which includes buildings where people sleep (e.g. boarding schools, care homes, student accommodation, although not hotels) as well as dwellings. Read More....
Part G: Water Efficiency
Part G of the England and Wales Building Regulations covers water use, sanitation and hot water safety and all new homes and conversions are required to meet the requirements including water efficiency targets. ERS can support you with this. Read More....
BREL Reports & Photographic Evidence
A BREL report is the Building Regulations England Part L report that is the required output of SAP that identifies a domestic property’s energy efficiency against the Part L targets and therefore confirms compliance with the regulations. Read More....
Thermal Bridging Calculations
Thermal bridging calculations, often referred to as PSI value calculations, are crucial for assessing heat loss at building junctions. These junctions are critical points that can compromise a building's energy efficiency due to their susceptibility to heat loss.
Thermal bridging happens at specific points where building materials meet, such as corners, where walls and floors join, and around windows. These are known as non-repeating thermal bridges and are the primary focus when calculating PSI values.
There are also repeating thermal bridges, which occur in patterns throughout the structure, like timber studs in walls or roof assemblies. These are addressed within the U-Value calculation of the building elements. Read More....
Energy and Sustainability
BREEAM
Since it was established in 1990, BREEAM (Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method) has become the most widely used environmental appraisal method for UK commercial buildings, and is also increasingly used for international projects. Read Me...
Thermal Comfort Analysis & Risk of Overheating
A well designed and operated building is one that provides the occupants and users with optimum comfort levels, particularly temperature. Using the latest dynamic computational modelling software we are able to determine what internal temperatures will be experienced during different seasons, times of day and situations. Read Me...
Daylight Analysis
Access to daylight is vital for the health and wellbeing of human beings. Buildings therefore need to be designed such that minimum acceptable levels of daylight and sunlight are achieved. We use advanced simulation software to analyse daylight performance including the shading effects from surrounding buildings, enabling the optimisation of passive design strategies in relation to site location and orientation, whilst creating attractive healthy internal spaces.Read more...
Energy & Sustainability Statements
Depending on the scale of a development, an Energy Statement is often required as part of the planning application to set out how the development will address the energy efficiency and reduction of Co2 emissions set out in the local authority’s planning policy. As part of the ultimate consent for the scheme it is also a key working document for the design and construction teams throughout the build. Read More...
The London Plan
The London Plan is the Spatial Development Strategy for the Greater London boroughs. It sets out an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London over the next 20-25 years. The latest version was published on 2nd March 2021, and Chapter 9: Sustainable Infrastructure, considers requirements regarding minimising greenhouse gas emissions, energy infrastructure, managing heat risk and water use. Read More...
Passive Design Strategies
Passive features of a building such as the massing, layout, orientation, fabric design, daylighting provision and thermal mass will significantly affect the heat gains and losses in a building. Air-conditioning is a high energy user and can conflict with more biophilic approaches to health and wellbeing. It is therefore preferable for it to be avoided or minimised where possible, since it’s adoption will typically increase operational energy costs by around 50%. This can be facilitated by prioritising passive design techniques. Read More...
TM54 & Operational Energy Assessments
Operational Energy is the total energy used by a building during the operational stage of its life cycle. It includes energy uses that are not assessed by Part L of the Building Regulations such as computer use, photocopiers, lifts, cooking equipment etc. Unlike Part L which uses standard occupancy and operational templates, an assessment of operational energy should include how the building is actually used. TM54 is a Technical Memorandum published by CIBSE intended to provide a robust methodology of assessing operational energy at design stage. Read More...
Whole Life Cycle Assessment / Embodied Carbon
Whole life-cycle carbon emissions are those emissions resulting from the construction and use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal. These emissions include not only those associated with the.. Read More...
Air and Acoustics Consultancy
Acoustic Design Advice
In terms of health and wellbeing of occupants, the quality of the acoustic environment in a building can be considered just as important as ‘standard’ comfort criteria of temperature, air flow and light. Poor acoustics inside a space can affect concentration and productivity, and hearing unacceptable noise from a neighbour, either in a residential or commercial setting, will impact on the ability to enjoy the space. Read More...
Sound Insulation Testing
Sound insulation testing, also termed acoustic insulation testing, involves the measuring of how much noise passes through a property’s walls, floors and ceilings to neighbours and adjoining buildings, and is required of Building Regulations when a new building or conversion results in two adjoining dwellings being separated by party elements. Read More...
Air Pressure Testing
Infiltration and air leakage is the uncontrolled movement of air through a building envelope or component due to the porosity of building fabric materials, interfaces between materials and components, and deficiencies in the construction of the building, such as unsealed gaps and cracks. Read More...
Noise Impact Assessment
In planning terms a noise impact assessment assesses the change in the acoustic environment that would be brought about by a new development, and is often required by local planning authorities. The assessment typically involves an assessment of the baseline existing noise climate comparing this against the predicted noise level from the proposed development, and the effect on sensitive receivers, providing mitigation methods where appropriate. Read More...
Ventilation Testing (Part F)
Adequate ventilation in buildings is essential, not only to provide a healthy environment, but also to prevent condensation and the issues that it can create such as mould formation. It is therefore essential that where systems have been put in place to meet the building’s requirements, that these operate as they should.
Read More...
Noise and Dust Monitoring
By their very nature, construction and demolition sites can be sources of noise and dust generation, which can lead to complaints from neighbouring properties, and breaches of environmental regulations can also lead to hefty fines when they occur. Monitoring is essential in order to control these impacts and provide swift mitigation where issues arise. Read More...
MEP Building Services Design
MEP Building Services Design
The MEP servicing strategy of a building is just as important as the look and design and the tons of steel or concrete that support it. Buildings are (in the most part) designed for people to live in, work in, or move through, and their comfort in that environment could be considered one of the most important aspects of said building. That comfort is driven to a large extent by the design of mechanical, electrical and public-health (MEP) services. Read More...
Utilities & Infrastructure Design
Utilities are infrastructure services of electricity, gas, water and sewage, communication services and sometimes district heat. Since privatisation in the 1980’s most utilities are provided by private companies, who are sometimes responsible for the infrastructure that supplies the utilities, but this can also often be provided by another private organisation. To find your way through to the relevant departments and undertaking the required negotiations is a daunting task. Read More...
Plant Report and Inspection
Plant reports and inspections are undertaken to evaluate the condition and operation of the building services plant. These reports and inspections aim to provide an assessment of the current state of the plant, as well as identify any potential issues that could impact the safe and efficient operation of the building.
Read More...
Energy Usage & Cost Reports
Our energy usage and cost reporting provides you with an insight into your building’s energy consumption patterns and costs incurred and can be used to develop and implement energy-saving strategies, such as improving energy efficiency, reducing energy waste, and optimizing energy usage. Read More...
Revit Modelling for BIM
Revit® BIMis a building information modelling software tool which helps architecture, engineering and construction teams create high-quality buildings and infrastructure. It is an intelligent 3D model-based process, that enables a unified model to be created that all disciplines and trades can use. Not just a drafting tool, it is intended as a design and documentation solution, supporting all phases of a project. Read More...