An air conditioning survey reports on systems installed within commercial property’s and public buildings and requires that the system is to be maintained to a high standard in order to maintain energy efficiency.
If you own or lease a building with Air Conditioning such as Variable Refrigerant Volume/Flow Systems VRV VRF, Heat Recovery systems, Ducted Air Systems, Climate Control Systems or Air Conditioning HVAC Heating Ventilation plant AHU Air Handling Units, Chillers, Humidifiers and refrigeration, Cooling plant then it is important have regular Air Conditioning checks to keep the plant running in an energy efficient manner.
Servicing is recommended at regular intervals, and a log kept of repairs, and maintenance to the system. Property owners will provided with a checklist after an inspection has been completed by a qualified Air Conditioning assessor, the checklist will outline recommendations for improvement of an existing air conditioning system. Inspection reports are now mandatory, the Eu EPBD directive requires that all Air Conditioning Plant is checked at regular intervals to confirm that efficiency of the system is maintained. Energy consumption by Air Conditioning Plant is considered as a major energy loss leader with poorly maintained plant and equipment.
Overview of Legislation
The Energy Performance of Building Directive 2002 is a European Directive which was designed to focus the minds of members of the EU towards meeting their obligations to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy efficiency. This Directive was implemented into UK legislation in the form of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007.
Part 4 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations required the person who has control of the operation of an air-conditioning system in a building that have a collective cooling capacity larger than 12kW to ensure the overall system is inspected y an accredited air conditioning inspector are regular intervals (at least every 5 years).
Unlike the requirements for Energy Performance Certificates, these air conditioning inspectors are not triggered by sale or rental, but have been given definite deadlines for compliance. These are –
- First inspection of all existing over 250kW cooling capacity must be completed by 4 January 2009.
- First inspection of all existing air conditioning systems over 12kW must be completed by 4 January 2001.
- New air conditioning systems over 12kW installed after January 2008 must be inspected within 5 years of being put into service
Regulation 24 requires that from the 4th January 2001, if there is a change of responsibility for a system. a new occupier who is not given a report upon handover must ensure an inspection is carried out within three months of arrival.
This means that any systems over 250 kW that have not already been inspected are currently breaching the regulations and therefore liable for a fine or further prosecution. Air conditioning inspectors will produce a written air conditioning inspection report and advise on how to improve the efficiency of the system and possible alternative solutions. This report will be given to the person who has operational control of the air-conditioning system who must keep it and pass it on to new occupiers.
Regulation 21 requires the relevant person to ensure that inspections on such systems take place at regular intervals no greater than 5 years, and sets out the phased implementation for this requirement (see above).
Regulation 22 sets out the minimum requirements of the written report.
Regulation 23 requires the relevant person to keep the most recent report.
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