BER Cert ?

Slates

How many people on this site have a BER cert for their house?
or have one for rented accommodation?

sinnerboy

Except for new builds , implementation date starts next Jan , Slates . I doubt many will answer in the positive

sinnerboy

3170 - have passed exam after training to become assessors
791 - have registered with SEI
170 - are "active"
2195 certs issued - mostly B's

sydthebeat

sinnerboy wrote: »

3170 - have passed exam after training to become assessors
791 - have registered with SEI
170 - are "active"
2195 certs issued - mostly B's

thats a big jump from the summer.....

so it averages out at less than 3 per assessor..... nice! :mad:

im registered over a year and still havent been required to publish one yet!!!

No6

I'd be one of the inactive one's but I am actually active I'm doing a number of BER certs for houses which are under construction, none completed yet but getting there!!

sinnerboy

snap

fishfoodie

sydthebeat wrote: »

thats a big jump from the summer.....

so it averages out at less than 3 per assessor..... nice! :mad:

im registered over a year and still havent been required to publish one yet!!!

Just curious on this; is there any provision for disqualifying assessors who don't maintain proficiency by carrying out a certain number of assessments a year ?

sydthebeat

fishfoodie wrote: »

Just curious on this; is there any provision for disqualifying assessors who don't maintain proficiency by carrying out a certain number of assessments a year ?

certainly hope not.

you can only carry out what your engaged to do.
also you can carry out assessments (as prelims) without nofiying SEI

sinnerboy

fishfoodie wrote: »

Just curious on this; is there any provision for disqualifying assessors who don't maintain proficiency by carrying out a certain number of assessments a year ?

how many have you done ? :D

No6

sydthebeat wrote: »

certainly hope not.

you can only carry out what your engaged to do.
also you can carry out assessments (as prelims) without nofiying SEI

I would suspect that there is a lot of preliminary assessments being done, its the best time to get an assesment done as you can improve your rating by adjusting your spec's where as when you do a cert for a completed house that it you get what you've put in. Don't forget that it's only since the end of june that all new houses have to be done, before that it was 2007 plannings only so a lot of houses are now only begining to require them.

sydthebeat

No6 wrote: »

I would suspect that there is a lot of preliminary assessments being done, its the best time to get an assesment done as you can improve your rating by adjusting your spec's where as when you do a cert for a completed house that it you get what you've put in. Don't forget that it's only since the end of june that all new houses have to be done, before that it was 2007 plannings only so a lot of houses are now only begining to require them.

problem i see it is, in the owner occupier sector, (who require BERs if not substantially complete by 30th june 2008) there is ABSOLUTELY NO push to inform them or threat to punish them if they dont comply with SI 666.

all SEIs focus is on the sale / rental sector... which has basically stopped anyway. Solicitors as well, are only focusing this sector... not on the owner occupier.

I have about 19 dwellings that fall under this, iv einformed everyone.... i dont expect to get any BERs out of it... because they can simply choose not to comply and i cannot see any come back from anyone...

PS building control in the rural situation is non existant!!

Slates

sydthebeat wrote: »

problem i see it is, in the owner occupier sector, (who require BERs if not substantially complete by 30th june 2008) there is ABSOLUTELY NO push to inform them or threat to punish them if they dont comply with SI 666.

all SEIs focus is on the sale / rental sector... which has basically stopped anyway. Solicitors as well, are only focusing this sector... not on the owner occupier.

I have about 19 dwellings that fall under this, iv einformed everyone.... i dont expect to get any BERs out of it... because they can simply choose not to comply and i cannot see any come back from anyone...

PS building control in the rural situation is non existant!!

I said all this last year and got a telling off form Muffler !

sinnerboy

If I recall , you were told off for your "why should I ? " attitude .
Why raise the issue again Slates ?

No6

sydthebeat wrote: »

problem i see it is, in the owner occupier sector, (who require BERs if not substantially complete by 30th june 2008) there is ABSOLUTELY NO push to inform them or threat to punish them if they dont comply with SI 666.

all SEIs focus is on the sale / rental sector... which has basically stopped anyway. Solicitors as well, are only focusing this sector... not on the owner occupier.

I have about 19 dwellings that fall under this, iv einformed everyone.... i dont expect to get any BERs out of it... because they can simply choose not to comply and i cannot see any come back from anyone...

PS building control in the rural situation is non existant!!

I know what you mean syd a lot of people around here try and avoid certs of compliance never mind BER certs, however if you are certifying the project and they need the BER cert point out that you cannot certify compliance woithout the BER cert. If you get the chance educate the Local solicitors in relation to BER's they'll start looking for them!!:D I've probably got a similar number of dwellings in the same boat and done a mail shot earlier in the year, I've got four or five signed up, another few humming and hawing a few not building yet and a few building away and not paying any heed. The fledgling BER assessors association seem to be looking for preliminary certs to be included with planning doccuments!!! a nice little earner if you can get it but I can't see it happening. It should be made a condition of planning however that a copy of the BER cert is submitted to the LA on completion of e project & publication of the cert.

sinnerboy

No6 wrote: »

I know what you mean syd a lot of people around here try and avoid certs of compliance never mind BER certs, however if you are certifying the project and they need the BER cert point out that you cannot certify compliance woithout the BER cert. If you get the chance educate the Local solicitors in relation to BER's they'll start looking for them!!:D I've probably got a similar number of dwellings in the same boat and done a mail shot earlier in the year, I've got four or five signed up, another few humming and hawing a few not building yet and a few building away and not paying any heed. The fledgling BER assessors association seem to be looking for preliminary certs to be included with planning doccuments!!! a nice little earner if you can get it but I can't see it happening. It should be made a condition of planning however that a copy of the BER cert is submitted to the LA on completion of e project & publication of the cert.

Naaah - i see it becoming "just what we do" . Clients will expect it for free .

sydthebeat

No6 wrote: »

I know what you mean syd a lot of people around here try and avoid certs of compliance never mind BER certs, however if you are certifying the project and they need the BER cert

1. point out that you cannot certify compliance without the BER cert.

If you get the chance educate the Local solicitors in relation to BER's they'll start looking for them!!:D I've probably got a similar number of dwellings in the same boat and done a mail shot earlier in the year, I've got four or five signed up, another few humming and hawing a few not building yet and a few building away and not paying any heed. The fledgling BER assessors association seem to be looking for preliminary certs to be included with planning doccuments!!! a nice little earner if you can get it but I can't see it happening.

2. It should be made a condition of planning however that a copy of the BER cert is submitted to the LA on completion of e project & publication of the cert.

1. certifying 'compliance in regard to building regulations' is separate from certifying compliance in regards to SI 666.

2. This could work. The building control section is supposed to be the 'watchdog' on this.... so perhaps a condition of planning would work fine.

good idea and one worth investigating.

however, the BER association attenpt to have BERs included as part of an application is laughable... its shows a complete lack of understanding of the process. firstly, it would need a 'new planning act' legistaltion. secondly...
what weight does a generic BER have in regard to planning????
absolutely none!
there is no co-relation between planning and construction, therefore any construction specified at planning stage counts for nothing.

No6

sydthebeat wrote: »

however, the BER association attenpt ot have BERs included as part of an application is laughable... its shows a complete lack of understanding of the process. firstly, it would need a 'new planning act' legistaltion. secondly...
what weight does a generic BER have in regard to planning????
absolutely none!
there is no-colrelation between planning and construction, therefor eany construction specified at planning stage counts for nothing.

I think it is an attempt by the fledgeling association to boost it's members (of which I'm not one) income, since they're charging eur 150 to join they have to be seen to be doing something to justify it. Another scam to snare assessors's? the Jury is out.

fishfoodie

sinnerboy wrote: »

how many have you done ? :D

None, I am not a BER assessor

I'm just concerned that if when I go looking for a preliminary BER cert, I know that the person I get it from is competent to issue one. Note, I distinguish between qualified & competent.

topcatcbr

And so you should be as I know from experience training alongside some.
Maybee new SEI exam will change this.

No6

topcatcbr wrote: »

And so you should be as I know from experience training alongside some.
Maybee new SEI exam will change this.

Speaking of which any sign of the exam and the updated software. I see training companies are currently trying hard to extract another 500 or so euros for the training for the existing houses and when I asked them the same question I got a kind of no ish maybee sort of answer if you know what I mean!!!:rolleyes:

topcatcbr

I m in the same boat but i can give you a copy of appendix s if you want it.

topcatcbr

See Appendix S

Also see Deap Survey Form A4

No6

Thanks Topcatcbr!! Some light reading for me!!!:D Now if I can only get my hands on the exam sylabus I can set up a training company!!!:rolleyes:

topcatcbr

As for doing top up course id hold off. I did the HESS course which i think was the pilot course and there is not alot an Arch Tech can learn from this. Basically how to survey a home. Estimating the age of a home based amongst other things wall thickness construction type arch. styles. So save your money and do Exam straight off. Thats what i intend to do.

No6

I'm thinking along the same lines myself tobcatcbr, its getting past time to make some money from this energy rating stuff!!!

sinnerboy

Building Energy Ratings by grade
Energy Rating % Ratings
A1 0.05%
A2 0.14%
A3 7.47%
B1 18.38%
B2 40.06%
B3 24.42%
C1 7.01%
C2 1.25%
C3 0.46%
D1 0.60%
D2 0.14%
E1 0.00%
E2 0.00%
F 0.00%
G 0.00%

Building Energy Rating Assessors:
Number of Registered BER Assessors 789
Number of Certified Assessors (incl. registered assessors) 3,144

colorc

topcatcbr wrote: »

See Appendix S

Also see Deap Survey Form A4

Cheers for the info topcatcbr... I'm hoping to skip the training too and go straight to the exam... whenever they decide to have it

Smcgie

Hi Topcat, I'm not long after finishing the existing dwellings course.

I too thought the €500 was a money racket for the training company . But actually.... I thought the course was quite benificial. The course explained the new dwellings assessment very well.

I thought I new plenty and i wouldn't need to do the course , just sit the exam. But i think that unless your a very active assessor you might get away without doing the course. If not i think it €500 well spent.

BTW - I am in no way connected with a training company

colorc

Smcgie,
Who did you do the Existing dwellings course yet?? I thought the software for this course had not yet been established???

Smcgie

colorc wrote: »

Smcgie,
Who did you do the Existing dwellings course yet?? I thought the software for this course had not yet been established???

I've completed the course in Monaghan. The training company had a training version of the new software that they were not allowed to release. They took us through the course on this training version.

The Training version is the same as the new software (yet to be relesed) but SEI still have a few tweeks to do before they can release to all assessors.

Regards,
Shane

topcatcbr

Smcgie wrote: »

Hi Topcat, I'm not long after finishing the existing dwellings course.

I too thought the €500 was a money racket for the training company . But actually.... I thought the course was quite benificial. The course explained the new dwellings assessment very well.

I thought I new plenty and i wouldn't need to do the course , just sit the exam. But i think that unless your a very active assessor you might get away without doing the course. If not i think it €500 well spent.

BTW - I am in no way connected with a training company

Did You do the SEI Exam. As far as i know it is not out yet.
Until this has begun the value of doing another course will not be fully evident.

Is the new software very different from the current version.

Smcgie

topcatcbr wrote: »

Did You do the SEI Exam. As far as i know it is not out yet.
Until this has begun the value of doing another course will not be fully evident.

The training company provided us with three SEI mock exams.

topcatcbr wrote: »

Is the new software very different from the current version.

Lets just say SEI are putting the €1000 reg fee to good use the new software is way ahead of the old one, includes wizards, new harp database, new ways of calculating u-values, basically makes life easier for the assessor.

topcatcbr

Smcgie wrote: »

The training company provided us with three SEI mock exams.




Lets just say SEI are putting the €1000 reg fee to good use the new software is way ahead of the old one, includes wizards, new harp database, new ways of calculating u-values, basically makes life easier for the assessor.

This is good news
Would you consider Pm me a copy of mock exams Ty

Smcgie

topcatcbr wrote: »

This is good news
Would you consider Pm me a copy of mock exams Ty

I only have a hard copy of the mock exam's. The training company would not give out a soft copy (prob to stop passing on the information) :rolleyes:

Sorry

No6

I'd love to see the mock exams too Smcgie!! Glad to hear the updated version is better the the old version it needed a lot of improvements!!!:D

sydthebeat

Smcgie wrote: »

The training company provided us with three SEI mock exams.




Lets just say SEI are putting the €1000 reg fee to good use the new software is way ahead of the old one, includes wizards, new harp database, new ways of calculating u-values, basically makes life easier for the assessor.

alarm bells are ringing!!!!

this will probably aid the standardisation of u value calculations... but i bet it wont take best practises into account!!

Smcgie

Ive been watching alot of your posts TOPCAT & NO6. I'm going to add both of you as friends for future refrence.

I can answer any of your questions about the new course, but i have only one copy of each of the three mock exams and i am not giving them away until i pass the exam myself. (with the help of God)

I asked the training company for a soft copy of the exams and they said they will relese them with the software at their discression. In other words dont hold your breath.

Smcgie

sydthebeat wrote: »

alarm bells are ringing!!!!

this will probably aid the standardisation of u value calculations... but i bet it wont take best practises into account!!

Take note - the new ways of calculating U-Value is only really applicable to assessing exisiting dwellings. The new software does aid some parts of calculating U-Values for New builds but it only really applies to the Existing Dwelligs assessments.

Regards,
Shane

topcatcbr

I just rang the BER assessor helpline and was told that the info will be released by tuesday. However I wont hold my breath. Too many dissapointments to believe what im told and the assistant hasnt seen the info to be released yet.

Smcgie

I rang last monday and the lady said that i would have the software by the the end of the week..... Still waiting :rolleyes:

Chimpster

Anybody see the 6pm RTE news last night????????

Apparently to carry out an assessment on an existing house will cost in the region of €200!

This was obviously an SEI press release to RTE and if these are the apparent costs then we would all be as well off staying in bed.

Drive to the cleint 0.5 hours
Carry out the survey 1.5 hours minimum
Drive back to the office 0.5 hours
Produce the cert and do quaity check 2 hours
Post/email the cert 0.5 hours

Diesel and business costs on top of this, who do they think they are foolin.

Smcgie

Total Madness! I never seen it, i might go to RTE website to watch it and then maybe complain! Thats a Joke!:mad:

No6

I missed it too, I'll have to check it out!!!:eek: Sure we might as well do them for free!!!

sydthebeat

Chimpster wrote: »

Anybody see the 6pm RTE news last night????????

Apparently to carry out an assessment on an existing house will cost in the region of €200!

This was obviously an SEI press release to RTE and if these are the apparent costs then we would all be as well off staying in bed.

Drive to the cleint 0.5 hours
Carry out the survey 1.5 hours minimum
Drive back to the office 0.5 hours
Produce the cert and do quaity check 2 hours
Post/email the cert 0.5 hours

Diesel and business costs on top of this, who do they think they are foolin.

even if i was assessing next door, i wouldnt do it for €200.....

id love to know what successful assessors quoted at for the HESS....
nudge nudge...

Chimpster

You'll see it about half way down this page.

http://www.rte.ie/news/6news/

Listen carefully around 1 minute into the clip.

Smcgie

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1021/6news_av.html?2439119,null,230

Here's the Link, havent seen it as yet myself (stupid real player download:rolleyes:)

Chimpster

Smcgie wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1021/6news_av.html?2439119,null,230

Here's the Link, havent seen it as yet myself (stupid real player download:rolleyes:)

Any of ye get the email from the 'Association'...????????

In fairness to them they state that they have alerted Paula Rice about the €200 statement and SEI will issue a statement on it. (SEI deny giving that price to anyone)...

Smcgie

I dont believe SEI for a minute. I think they are afraid of people going mad at the real cost of getting a BER cert completed for an existing dwelling (4 - 500 €)

With the recession & doom&Gloom they stated the price of assessing a dog box to keep people quite!

Just my opinion.

topcatcbr

sydthebeat wrote: »

even if i was assessing next door, i wouldnt do it for €200.....

id love to know what successful assessors quoted at for the HESS....
nudge nudge...

I was "successfull" for the HESS but i wont publish my rate on this. PM me if you want to know.

topcatcbr

Chimpster wrote: »

Anybody see the 6pm RTE news last night????????

Apparently to carry out an assessment on an existing house will cost in the region of €200!

This was obviously an SEI press release to RTE and if these are the apparent costs then we would all be as well off staying in bed.

Drive to the cleint 0.5 hours
Carry out the survey 1.5 hours minimum
Drive back to the office 0.5 hours
Produce the cert and do quaity check 2 hours
Post/email the cert 0.5 hours

Diesel and business costs on top of this, who do they think they are foolin.

Dont forget €25 + VAT to SEI they wont forget.

Chimpster

What deadlines has ireland to meet under this energy directive?

For example, Has Ireland any targets to meet for the amount of buildings it has to have rated by 2012?

My own opinion on all of this.... Take a look at the right hand side of your BER cert... The CO2 emmissions side. Give it a few years and this will be used to extract more money from the nation. SEI is under strict orders to get as many buildings as possible rated as soon as possible and then in 2010 we'll be hit with a carbon based propety tax.

Anyone agree?