Paris Smith LLP, a leading commercial law firm, has joined temperature control specialist ICS Cool Energy in advising businesses to ensure that their air conditioning systems comply with UK law by carrying out a TM44 inspection.
A TM44 inspection is required for all AC systems with an effective output rating above 12kW, and should be monitored within five years of installation and every five years afterwards. The inspection, set up by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), is an initiative which has been introduced by the Government in England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. To date a total of 16,323 Air Conditioning Reports have been registered but thousands of companies have still to comply.

The TM44 report includes an assessment of the air conditioning efficiency and includes:

· Documentation review
· Comparison of maintenance with industry good practice
· Inspection of system components
· Assessment of controls and settings
· Estimation of cooling load
· Review potential for improvements or alternatives
· Report on the findings and advice

Partner and head of the Regulatory and Business Crime team at Paris Smith LLP of Southampton, Sarah Wheadon, said: 'Building owners and managers should ensure that air conditioning inspections form part of their compliance regime. Effective and proportionate compliance with the law where buildings are concerned can have many benefits, including saving money, improving not only existing maintenance and repair regimes but also the health and safety of occupants, avoiding financial penalties (not having an air conditional inspection may lead to a £300 fixed penalty) and ensuring a smooth transaction on the sale or lease of a building.'

ICS Cool Energy director, Mike Jones, who heads up the company's servicing division, said: 'To make the TM44 inspections really mean something to a company we're supplying the report in a universally understandable format that requires no technical knowledge and recording the report on the Government Landmark Lodgement Database for the customer.

'Although at first glance, this might appear to be more 'bureaucratic red tape' in the guise of Legislation Compliance, we provide a complete dilapidation report as part of the survey, which identifies Energy Saving initiatives and recommended remedial works to improve performance or reliability.'

He added: 'These initiatives, when implemented, will often recover the cost of the survey in a short period of time and then go on to provide long term cost savings due to improved efficiency and hence energy reduction.'

To find out more and to arrange a TM44 inspection visit www.icstemp.com