It is now a legal requirement for building owners to have their air conditioning systems inspected regularly – but the industry needs inspectors and building occupants to know their obligations. Neil Everitt talks to Bob Towse (right), head of technical and safety at the HVCA
Under the EU's Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD), since January this year, all air conditioning systems of more than 12kW, whether commercial or domestic, must be inspected.

The legal responsibility for this lies with the building owner and it is illegal to sell or let any commercial building without a valid inspection report. Spot checks by Trading Standards will enforce the new law.

While the main aim of this legislation is to reduce carbon emissions from air-conditioning systems, a bigger incentive for building owners is the potential reduction in fuel usage leading to reduced costs.

'Either way, this legislation is far more than further red tape,' says Bob Towse, head of technical and safety at the HVCA. 'It is an opportunity with financial benefits for both the hvacr industry and the end-user.'

Golden opportunity

Only qualified and accredited energy assessors can carry out the inspections and the HVCA strongly believes that only people with the relevant skills and experience in air conditioning should become assessors, not least of all for safety reasons.

'This is a golden opportunity for the acr industry, as the ideal inspectors are the air conditioning engineers who already routinely visit these properties to carry out repairs and maintenance,' maintains Bob Towse. 'Businesses that fail to offer this extra service run the risk of losing potential and existing clients to companies that do provide a one-stop-shop.'

BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation), an HVCA subsidiary, runs government-approved Energy Assessor Schemes to accredit suitably qualified and experienced engineers to carry out inspections of both simple, packaged or VRV air-conditioning systems and complex, central-cooled air or water-cooled air-conditioning systems.

'The industry is currently equipping itself with fully-qualified air-conditioning energy assessors, who will be the experts on air conditioning energy efficiency. We hope the industry will help to convince the clients of the merits of the legislation.'

According to the HVCA, the first hurdle to overcome is awareness. 'It is estimated that only a small percentage of building owners know about the requirements, which became law on January 4th 2009,' says Bob Towse.

'Many large corporate landlords and big office owners have picked up on the legislation and are requesting inspections, but at the bottom end of the market there is very little uptake.

'As an industry we need to do more to reach these clients. The HVCA and our members are doing our part to educate customers to the need, but the Government and Trading Standards need to do more as there are many potential clients to reach.'

Persuasion

As already mentioned, ac inspections are now a legal requirement and fines of up to £300 are enforceable for anyone without a valid air conditioning report.

'However, the report will also give property owners the chance to look at how their air conditioning system operates, what they are spending on energy supplies to the building and how the building's air conditioning is managed.

For example, many buildings often have heating and air conditioning systems running at the same time. And this will come to light during the inspection. The inspections can highlight issues and show how to make significant energy and cost savings.

'Another example is that many clients tend to run systems until they break down, then they call the engineer. This is not the way,' says Bob Towse.

'Systems should be checked routinely, like servicing and MOTs for cars, to check for safety and that they are running efficiently. This way is good for the client, good for the industry and good for the climate. It is a guaranteed workload for engineers, who can also recommend more modern, energy-efficient, cost-effective models to replace neglected and inefficient units.'

Cost

How much the inspection will cost a client and how long it will take depends on the size and complexity of the system.

However, as Bob Towse points out, energy assessors can help clients by informing them that if they obtain all the required information before hand, this will reduce the length of the inspection and therefore, reduce the cost.

This new legislation is the thin edge of the wedge; the government is legally committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

'This is a huge undertaking,' maintains Bob Towse. 'As the government struggles with global warming and recessions, it has handed the hvacr industry a golden ticket. It is up to us to seize this opportunity and to establish ourselves as the air conditioning inspection experts.'

Under the European Union's Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, Article 9, all air conditioning systems with an effective output of more than 12kW must be regularly inspected by an energy assessor, at intervals of no more than five years.

In England and Wales, the regulations require the first inspection of the air conditioning system to be carried out by January 4 2009 for systems with an output of more than 250kW, and January 4 2011 for systems with an output of more than 12kW.

For systems put into service after January 1 2008, the first inspection must take place within five years.

Engineers interested in becoming energy assessors or companies wishing to receive an application pack can find details of the two-step training and accreditation process at www.besca.org.uk. Alternatively, BESCA can be contacted on 01768 860449.