Discuss EPC applicable to commercial? in the Solar PV Forum | Solar Panels Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
31. The energy efficiency requirement will only apply to new solar PV installations, including extensions to existing solar PV installations, with an eligibility date on or after 1 April 2012. To meet the requirement, generators will need to demonstrate as part of their application for FITs that the building to which the solar PV installation is attached or wired to provide electricity is rated at EPC level D or above. To do this, they will need to provide a valid EPC certificate as part of their application for FITs which will then need to be verified as part of the FITs accreditation process.
33. Many respondents suggested possible exemptions from the energy efficiency requirement. Having considered responses carefully, we have decided that generators who can demonstrate that it is not possible to obtain an EPC certificate for the building to which their solar PV installation is attached or wired to provide electricity, will be exempt from the energy efficiency requirement.
34. We expect that the instances in which this exemption will apply will be very limited. This is because it should be possible to obtain an EPC for any building that meets the definition of building set out in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (it is important to note that this includes buildings which are not currently required under that Directive to have an EPC when sold, let or built)
35. [...]Additionally, in many cases we expect that solar PV installations which are attached to a building for which it is not possible to obtain an EPC, will nonetheless be wired to provide electricity to a building that is able to obtain an EPC. For example, this might include a solar PV installation attached to a barn that is also wired to provide electricity to a farmhouse. In this example, the requirement would still apply and could be met if an EPC were provided demonstrating that the farmhouse was rated at EPC level D or above.
[source]3. Member States may decide not to set or apply the requirements referred to in paragraph 1 for the following categories of
buildings:
— buildings and monuments officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historic merit, where compliance with the requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance,
— buildings used as places of worship and for religious activities,
— temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand and nonresidential agricultural buildings which are in use by a sector covered by a national sectoral agreement on energy performance,
— residential buildings which are intended to be used less than four months of the year,
— stand-alone build
it shouldn't applyThere will always be buildings that raises questions on EPC.
Example one for me is an onion store agricultural building. Two massive extractor fans (I mean the size of a transit van) full through pull ventilations and gas heating to keep onions dry. Zero insulation and building only used for a few weeks a year. If it needs a D there's no hope at all.
oh bugger, I think you're right.I'm raising the question with DECC on how you would prove that a building cannot have an EPC. My suggestion would be a letter from at least 2 DEAs saying that the building was of such construction that they couldn't rate it.
Gavin, I think DECC have already gone out of their way to state that buildings that are normally excepted from EPCs will be included for this purpose. That's the way I read the intent of para 34 that states that the EPBD definition of 'building' would mean that an EPC was required. The EU legislation just means that one is not 'required' for normal EPC use; i.e. sale and rent.
Under the EPBD ‘building’ means a roofed construction having walls, for which energy is used to condition the indoor climate.
This was one of the areas where I raised queries with DECC under the consultation.
Are we saying the proposal is, buildings that normally would be excluded from having any need for a EPC under the standard terminology will need one of D or higher solely for the installation of PV?
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