SAP Calculations & EPC Certificates
For New Builds
If you’re working on a new build project in the UK, you’ll need SAP Calculations (Standard Assessment Procedure) and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to comply with UK Building Regulations. These assessments are a legal requirement for all new residential dwellings and provide an official SAP rating that shows how energy efficient your property is. We specialise in meeting the requirements for Part O, Part L and Part G of the United Kingdom Building Regulations and provide SAP Calculations in accordance with Part L1A (new builds) and Part L1B (extensions and conversions).
At Falcon Energy, our OCDEA-accredited assessors make the process simple. We provide accurate, fast, and cost-effective SAP calculations and EPCs across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and London, helping you achieve compliance with Part L regulations and ensuring your new build is energy-efficient and market-ready.
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- Stress-free process – no site visit required
- Reliable, experienced SAP assessors
- Support from design stage through to completion
We’re also proud to offer SAP calculations for extensions and conversions as part of the L1B Building Regulations, ensuring your project meets all required efficiency standards.
New to the process? Read our beginner’s guide to SAP calculations to understand how assessments work and why they’re essential for new builds.
At Falcon Energy our team of energy efficiency specialists are fully qualified experts in energy conservation and have extensive experience offering help to those involved with new build projects. Give us a call on 01403 253439 for a free quote for your developments SAP and EPC calculations.
SAP 10 & SAP 2012
We are able to provide both SAP 10 and SAP 2012 calculations for energy ratings of dwellings. Please note that SAP 2012 is only applicable for buildings with an application and work commencement date before 15th June 2022.
To understand how the regulations have evolved, see our guide on the key differences between SAP 10 and SAP 2012 and how they impact compliance today.
Our SAP EPC services
Discover our approach to PSI value testing
Whether your build is commercial or domestic, large or small, we have a wealth of experience and a highly qualified team of professionals who, in line with Part L of the Building Regulations, will ensure your new build project conforms.
Your building’s SAPs are calculated by looking at documentation such as:
Floor plans and elevations
Overall site plans
Space heating systems
Renewable energy
Specifications of materials used for flooring, walls, windows and roofing
No site visit is necessary and all energy and environmental performance calculations can be made based on the specifications from the above documents.
Fabric energy efficiency is also assessed as part of the SAP process to determine the building’s energy demand.
Not only will we complete all of your calculations for you in a timely and professional manner, but we’ll also suggest innovative materials to make your property more energy efficient and can offer advice on renewable technologies to make your project more eco-friendly.
Our SAP Calculations service includes:
Professional, honest advice from our specialists
Unlimited SAP support throughout your new build project
Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) to help take your build to the next stage and an official Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) should your build meet requirements
Every project must meet specific SAP requirements to achieve compliance and proceed with construction or certification.
At Falcon Energy, we pride ourselves on our expert team and efficient, friendly, and transparent customer service. So, whether you’re an experienced new-build constructor or new to the field, we can offer the help and guidance you’re after.
The importance of SAP Calculations
SAP Calculations are a key component of any new build project and are used to establish:
Energy efficiency
SAP calculations involve assessing the energy performance of the property, measuring how efficiently it uses energy and its environmental impact.
Carbon emissions
As part of the SAP process, the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) is calculated to measure the CO2 emissions of the property and ensure it meets building regulations.
The subsequent estimated energy cost of the property
This shows the projected running costs, helping homeowners and developers plan for long-term affordability.
These environmental performance statistics are linked to the annual energy consumption estimated for ventilation, light, heat and hot water and the calculations need to be submitted within 30 days of the completion of the building.
When planning your development, SAPs should ideally be considered at the design stage or, at the very least, at the beginning of a build. Once a development has started, it becomes increasingly difficult to improve a property’s energy efficiency, and it can be very costly.
SAP Calculations are a requirement of the Building Regulations in the UK and can be a challenging aspect of a new build, especially if you’re new to such construction. A home’s energy performance is rated on a scale from 1 to 100; the higher the rating, the more energy efficient the property is and the lower the predicted energy costs will be. All properties need to gain a ‘pass’ in order for them to be viable for sale. Building control approval is required for legal occupancy and sale, and they will review your SAP calculations as part of the compliance process.
WORKING WITH FALCON ENERGY
If you’re about to embark on a new build, extension or conversion project and would like help and advice on SAP Calculations and/or an energy performance certificate, call us on 01403 253439. You can also email us at info@falconenergy.co.uk or complete our contact form.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SAP, or Standard Assessment Procedure, is a Government-approved procedure used to provide an energy rating for domestic properties.
It results in energy certification and a rating between 1 and 100. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient a dwelling. A score of 100 (or above) represents zero energy cost.
Under current Building Regulations, a SAP calculation should be carried out when new residential properties and developments are constructed and when existing dwellings are converted or extended.
SAP calculations are presented in the survey for homeowners when buying a property. To a degree, it is possible for results to affect the marketability of a property when selling.
Before the property is completed, assessors calculate its Target Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate (TER). This rate details how much CO2 it is permitted to emit and is a minimum standard for its energy performance.
The next stage is using the property’s actual design to calculate the DER, or Design Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate. In all instances, the DER should be lower than the TER so it can be approved within the predetermined environmental limits.
After construction, a final calculation is made: the ‘As Built DER’. This assessment ensures the property has an acceptable level of CO2 emissions.
The test should be carried out before the property is being constructed, as it may identify that the plans aren’t adequate and need to be changed to pass Regulation 26 of the Building Regulations. Once construction has started, amending the design is considerably more expensive.
We carry out our SAP calculations before construction to give you flexibility in materials and costs and to ensure you have the best advice and information going into the project.
An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which is given to potential buyers or renters of a particular property. The EPC report covers the energy efficiency of heating and lighting and shows the estimated CO2 emissions (Environmental Impact Rating).
For potential buyers, it shows them how much they may spend on fuel costs, how much energy is wasted and whether or not the rating can be improved. Each EPC gives a property a rating from A to G; A being the most efficient rating and G the least efficient.
An EPC is the industry standard in building and is defined clearly by legislation. All new build properties need an EPC in their pack for potential buyers. They are also required if a property is changing its purpose, such as a commercial property becoming domestic, as well as any residential property built from 6th April 2008.
EPCs for new-build properties can only be conducted by on-Construction Domestic Energy Assessors (OCDEAs). This is part of an accredited government-approved scheme.
An OCDEA is an authorised On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor who tests and creates a verified EPC for inclusion in Home Information Packs (HIP’s) for new build, domestic properties.
Since April 2008, this has been a requirement for all new domestic dwellings, and the EPC informs new homeowners or tenants how energy-efficient the property is. All new properties should consider the environment and energy performance when being built and upgraded.
A Predicted Energy Assessment is produced before a property has been built and is a certificate produced alongside the Design Final SAP calculation.
This is required for properties being sold off plan before the final EPC has been created for the buyers. It will then be replaced with the EPC when available. Again, the PEA can only be completed by OCDEA’s.
Contact us for your next project
Reach out to us during the initial planning phase of your upcoming project, and let us be your proactive team for achieving energy efficiency!
No project is too complex, so contact us today!
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