Scotland NCM software validation DSM and FI-SBEM software validation: guidance

1. Introduction

New (Section 6) Energy Standards within the Scottish Building Regulations, which are applicable to non-domestic buildings, came into force on 1 February 2023.

This document is written for software vendors. It describes the methodology and procedures required for the validation of third party commercial Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) and Front Interface Simplified Building Energy Modelling (FI-SBEM) software packages for the specific purposes of Building Regulation (Section 6) compliance assessment, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) calculation and Section 63 Action Plan generation in Scotland. The process is similar to the approach already adopted in England and Wales with the validation tests tailored to the Scottish requirements.

DSM software validation is required following amendments to the core methodology (Scottish National Calculation Methodology (NCM)). A DSM validation may also be required where a vendor makes changes to the relevant calculation engines in their software.

FI-SBEM validation is required following amendments to the core methodology (Scottish NCM).

It is expected that the software vendor will produce similar software for England. Hence, to streamline the process, for each software version update, software vendors must obtain prior validation and approval in England as a pre-requisite to submitting for validation in Scotland. This reduces the extent of validation necessary for Scotland.

In the event that prior validation is not to be sought for England, vendors are requested to make early contact with the Scottish Government Building Standard Division to discuss the additional validation process that would be needed in such a situation.

The Scottish Government is the sole point of contact for all software validation enquiries relating to the Scottish NCM software validation. Queries should be directed to buildingstandards@gov.scot. Queries received which relate to validation of software for the purposes of EPC or Action Plan production will be shared with the relevant Scottish Government policy lead.

The Scottish Government may redirect enquiries to the validation scheme operator.