Energy Performance Certificates: guide

Display requirements

Displaying an EPC

From 9 January 2013, the requirement to display an EPC applies to two categories of larger non-domestic buildings which are frequently visited by the public:

• buildings occupied by public authorities with a floor area of 250 m² or more which frequently visited by members of the public ('public buildings')
• other non-domestic buildings with a floor area of 500 m² or more which are frequently visited by members of the public

On 9 January 2013, the area threshold for public buildings reduced from 1,000 m² to 500 m². On 9 July 2015 this threshold reduced to 250 m².

Public buildings

A public building is a building where:

• the conditioned (heated/cooled) area of the building is over 250 m²
• the building is occupied by public authorities or provides public services to a large number of persons
• the building is frequently visited, at least weekly, by members of the general public
• the public have a right of access to the building, or parts of the buildings providing services directly to the public
• public funding, including part funding, is used to operate, for general upkeep, or to fund staff costs

Examples include:

• colleges
• community centres
• libraries
• hospitals
• benefit offices
• crematoria

The owner of a public building which meets these criteria must obtain an EPC and display it in a prominent place.

Other large buildings

Other large buildings which are frequently visited by members of the public is characterised by the following:

• has a floor area of more than 500 square metres
• is frequently visited by the public on at least a weekly basis
• members of the public have an express or implied licence to enter

Examples include:

• supermarkets
• banks
• sports clubs
• shopping centres

The owner of a building which meets these criteria must display an EPC only if they have a valid EPC. They may, for example, have one from the construction, sale or rental of the building.

The key difference between the two categories is that public buildings must obtain and display an EPC. Other large buildings which are frequently visited by members of the public, as described above, must display the EPC only if they have one.

It is the responsibility of the building owner to affix the EPC, but building occupiers have a duty to ensure it remains visible.

EPC placement

The EPC must be affixed to the building in a prominent place. This could be an area of wall which is clearly visible to the public in the main entrance lobby or reception.

Enforcement

If the enforcement authority (local authority) believes that there has been a breach of the legislation they may impose a penalty charge notice to the building owner or occupier.

An individual EPC will only be valid for 10 years. In the case of public buildings the EPC would have to be renewed immediately after the 10 year period has elapsed.

In the case of other large buildings which are frequently visited by members of the public, a new EPC need not be obtained following expiry of the previous EPC until the building is about to be marketed for sale or rental.

Display Energy Certificates

In Scotland, all EPCs are produced using an asset rating, using SBEM or DSM software. A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) produced using an operational rating is not valid for the purposes of meeting Scottish EPB legislation.