EPC Course , day 4 of 6

SRE · Mar 20, 2012

Wall type is critical as is fuel type. It's very unusual to have a 1950's house with solid walls and on most properties built after 1930 they will have cavity walls and need to be filled. You can usually tell by looking for the drill pattern - 1.2 metres apart in a diamond shape in the mortar bed.

Cbigfoot · Mar 20, 2012

SRE said:
It's very unusual to have a 1950's house with solid walls and on most properties built after 1930 they will have cavity walls and need to be filled.

I know, but there you are, its 9" solid!

I live in the house that Jack Built!

SRE · Mar 20, 2012

Not many like that now ....

moggy1968 · Mar 20, 2012

do we know, do the low energy fittings have to be proper low energy fittings that will only take a low energy bulb, or can you get away with low energy bulbs in a standard fitting. I know for building regs on new builds/refurbs it has to be the correct low energy fitting but how about retrospectively. would you have to change all your ceiling roses?

BruceB · Mar 20, 2012

It changed in the latest building regs - you no longer need low energy fittings for anything, just low energy lamps.

moggy1968 · Mar 20, 2012

cool, happy days:rockon2:

solargray · Mar 21, 2012

Hi mcs renewables, this sounds great. But if you get called out to do a solar survey, that might be free, the program will recommend all of the basic energy efficient products first and solar will be so far down the list that it will not be considered, and you will have wasted your time, I think it's time to get into windows and the itchy stuff. Regards

solargray · Mar 21, 2012

In that case the customer will get six companies to quote and your survey will be worthless. The client should be made to pay for each survey and have this added to the cost of his green deal. It would be a cost to him so he wouldn't be asking more than 3 companies to quote and at least your professionalism will be paid for. Good luck

SRE · Mar 21, 2012

I think you'll find that customers need barriers broken down to make their buying easier not erected to put them off. This business is going to be hard enough without insisting that the customer pays for the survey. I for one won't be charging so anyone in my area who does try to charge is immediately at a disadvantage and I won't be alone.

Cbigfoot · Mar 21, 2012

I do not see the problem, With the advice given to me by the person who did my EPC, i have a good guide to where D band would be. Clarity and Honesty has won me more work than it has cost me. Basically i will look at it and explain the situation to the client, giving them the info i know, and if they agree in principle to place the work with me i will have the survey done. It will be mine untill the works are done. If the property fails to reach band D without vast expenidture to the client and they choose not to go ahead, thats my loss, but i really feel that if you explain to the client what its about, there will be few issues.
I will not charge the client up front for it, but it will be built into the cost of the job if it goes ahead.

Mattty · Mar 21, 2012

Cbigfoot said:
It will be mine untill the works are done.

Ownership of an EPC is a tricky issue. Once it is lodged it is not actually the DEAs property! This has been an ongoing issue with DEAs and the odd client who refuses to pay.

Just make sure you don't lodge the EPC too soon and keep it in draft form. That way if you don't get the job you won't pay the lodgement and can just re-enter the data for the next property. Once an EPC is lodged, it is entered on to the central register and can be accessed by any other DEA. Some EPC software will tell you if an EPC is already lodged on a property.

moggy1968 · Mar 21, 2012

so, if I understand this correctly....
In order to stay in this industry, which I have invested thousands of pounds and hundreds of hours in to get trained, assessed and registered, I am now expected to pay over a thousand pounds more, invest more time and increase my overheads at a time of shrinking returns and a rapidly contracting marketplace in an industry the Government seems determined to kill off within the next year or so.

I would sooner burn £5 notes before being beaten to death with the syphillis infested todger of a decomposing dead camel!

Earthstore · Mar 21, 2012

Or strike up a deal with a DEA..

moggy1968 · Mar 21, 2012

I've already got a deal with the Drug Enforcement Agency, they leave me alone if I pay them enough!

Cbigfoot · Mar 22, 2012

Ownership of an EPC is a tricky issue.

If i get the EPC done it will be sent to me, i will report its findings to the client. Once the works are done it is placed in the clients pack. If not i will not send it to them. Should they go looking for it or find it online, or whatever that my loss, but i will tell the client that i will not release the EPC to them if the job does not go ahead.

If they find it another way so be it... not much i can do about that!