Air Conditioning and Asbestos Surveys / Fire Risk Assessments and DEC's
Air Conditioning and Asbestos Surveys / Fire Risk Assessments and DEC's
Do I need an air-conditioning inspection?
All air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kw must be regularly inspected by an Energy Assessor. The inspections must be a maximum of five years apart.
- For all systems first put into service on or after 1 January 2008, the first inspection must have taken place within five years of the date when it was first put into service
- For other air-conditioning systems, where the effective output is more than 250kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2009
- For other air-conditioning systems, where the effective output is more than 12kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2011.
Asbestos Assessments
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 has now been implemented and this will replace all previous regulations including the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulation 2002.
Briefly, these regulations require that all persons who have control of a building or are duty managers have the ability to carry out a risk assessment, which includes inspecting the property and surveying it for the presence of asbestos. An adequate plan to manage any asbestos present must also be provided.
These regulations relate to all commercial buildings.
Employers also have a responsibility to provide adequate training for those who may come into contact with asbestos.
Further information regarding this legislation may be obtained from the Government website the HSE.
Fire Risk Assessment
Do I need a Fire Risk Assessment?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) which came into effect in October 2006 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The law applies to you if you are:
- Responsible for business premises
- An employer or self-employed with business premises
- Responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
- A charity or voluntary organization
- A contractor with a degree of control over any premises
Display Energy Certificates
Display Energy Certificates (DECs) show the actual energy usage of a building, the Operational Rating, and help the public see the energy efficiency of a building. This is based on the energy consumption of the building as recorded by gas, electricity and other meters.
The DEC should be clearly displayed for the public. A DEC is always accompanied by an Advisory Report that lists cost effective measures to improve the energy rating of the building.
The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2), due to come into effect in December 2010 will necessitate the production of a DEC (and AR) for all public buildings over 250m².