What does it mean?

It stands for Building Energy Rating, a standard figuring of your home’s energy performance, so fundamentally it is to calculate how much energy and carbon your dwelling will use and create annually. There are exceptions for certain classes of homes, for example, protected constructions and certain ephemeral dwellings.

Needs of BER Certificate:
A vender must supply a BER to expected purchaser or tenants when a home is built, sold or rented. An existing home is a kind of home which has antecedently been sold and/or inhabited.

Factors that the assessors will audit:

- Size, geometry and vulnerability of house.
- Materials used for building of the house.
- Thermal insulating material of the several elements of the construction fabric.
- Efficiency, reactivity and controlling features of the heating system.
- Water heating, ventilation and lighting.
- Renewable and alternative energy generation technologies integrated in the house.

Once this assessment is carried out you will receive a building energy rating certificate.

Following offences can cause you to pay a fine or a term of imprisonment:

- Failure for permitting an inspection of a building
- If you deny following any request of an authorized officer to inspect a construction, without rational cause
- if you fail to acknowledge a certain material in the building which might change.

Information that is worth-knowing:
You can get advantage in the selling market if you have BER Certificate.
BER Certificate is valid for 10 years. It was established under the European Communities Regulations 2006. Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland has been assigned as the issuing authority with responsibility for the registration of BER assessors and management of the BER Scheme.

How much time does it take?
1-3 bedroom house/apartment will take 30 min/ 60 min and a 4-5 bedroom house/ apartment will take 60 min/ 120 min approximately.