Head of Sustainability at Remote Metering Solutions (RMS), Frikkie Malan, highlights that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which display the energy performance of buildings, can only be issued by SANAS-accredited energy performance certification inspection bodies. This ensures compliance with relevant standards and provides customers with the assurance of the qualifications, training, and experience of the personnel involved in certification.
By December 2022, all privately owned buildings in South Africa with a net floor area of more than 2 000 m2 and buildings owned by an organ of state with a net floor area of more than 1 000 m2, and in certain specified occupancy classes, including offices, will be required by law to display an Energy Performance Certificate for the premises.
Malan highlights further that the building owner is responsible for providing the information required (per SANS 1544) for certification and may engage internal staff or consultants to assist with gathering the information. However, the certification must be done by an accredited EPC inspection body.
Both the SANAS (the South African National Accreditation System) and SANEDI (the South African National Energy Development Institute) websites provide a list of accredited EPC inspection bodies. All accredited inspection bodies are issued with a certificate displaying their unique accreditation number and scope of accreditation.
A long time coming
Contrary to the general public perception, EPCs were not announced overnight. The draft regulations for the mandatory display and submission of energy performance certificates for buildings were gazetted for public comment in July 2018. Prior to this, in December 2014, the EPC standard (SANS 1544:2014) was published. The implementation of the EPC regulations in December 2020 was therefore to be expected.
For those buildings designated in terms of the criteria for the mandatory display of an EPC, non-compliance with the December 2022 deadline, will be considered a contravention of the National Energy Act, and could see building owners being fined up to R5 million and/or facing imprisonment for up to five years.
For more information visit: www.epc-certification.com