The Frequently Asked Questions section has been divided into How and Why to Join and How Does the Scheme Work.

How and Why to Join

How do I apply?
The first step is to click the link Register Now on the home page of the website www.Architectural-EPC.co.uk

Why should I join?
As of 6 April 2008 all new dwellings must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at the point of completion, which meets the requirements of the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) 2002/91/EC (2003).

Article 10 of the EPBD requires the energy performance of new dwellings to be carried out on the basis of a national calculation methodology (in the UK this is SAP 2005) and these calculations must be “…carried out by qualified and/or accredited experts, whose independence is to be guaranteed on the basis of objective criteria…”

To comply with the EPBD the Communities and Local Government (CLG) requires that all EPCs in England and Wales are prepared by a member of an On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment Scheme.

Architectural-EPC has been established by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as a membership service. CLG approved Architectural-EPC's application to provide a Scheme on 7th January 2008.

Who is eligible to apply to join Architectural-EPC?
Membership of the Scheme is currently open to those who are:

• Chartered or Associate Members or Qualified Architectural Technicians of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
• Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
• Associates or Fellows of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
• Architects registered with the Architects Registration Board.
• Members transferring from other On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment Schemes and have gained those memberships through the qualification route and have not been otherwise debarred.
• Construction professionals that can demonstrate that they have equivalent skills and training.

Why should I register interest?
If you register your interest online then Architectural-EPC can keep you informed of the development of the Scheme.

What does it cost to register my interest?
Absolutely nothing.

Do I require Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Members of an On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment Accreditation Scheme must maintain PII as stipulated by the Communities and Local Government and in accordance with the Code of Conduct of Architectural-EPC.

How much will it cost to join Architectural-EPC?

• The application fee is £200.00 discounted for members of CIAT, RIBA or RIAS to £150.00 (plus VAT)
• The annual membership is £150.00 discounted for members of CIAT, RIBA and RIAS to £100.00 (plus VAT)
• For those who are relying on their ABBE Level III Diploma in On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment then there is a further administration charge of £25 (plus VAT) payable with submission of your qualification certificate. This covers the fee which ABBE levies to confirm the issuing of the certificate.
• As part of the registration, SAP tests are set and marked independently by Home Energy and Data Services Limited on behalf of Architectural-EPC. Each test is sent and must be returned electronically and there is a marking fee of £100.00 (plus VAT) for the five tests.

What will it cost to use the SAP software?
Architectural-EPC has a partnership with Energy Design Tools to allow the use of their SAP / EPC Calculator. Details of the SAP / EPC calculator can be found on www.energydesigntools.co.uk including the costs involved in using the EDT software.

As a significant benefit to our members, Architectural-EPC have arranged for a discount on the standard EDT pricing for the use of their SAP / EPC calculator as well as free use of the calculator for undertaking the SAP Tests.

What will it cost to issue an EPC?
There is a charge of £10.00 (plus VAT) to lodge each EPC in the Landmark Central Register and maintain the members register.

How do I qualify to join Architectural-EPC?
There are two ways in which you can become a member of Architectural-EPC; by gaining the ABBE Level III Diploma in On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment, or demonstrate that you have the required experience.

What skills are required?
All the Members of the Scheme must have the skills defined in the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for On Construction Energy Assessors for New Build Dwellings.

1. Work in a safe, effective and professional manner.
2. Prepare to assess the energy performance of new build dwellings in order to produce Energy Performance Certificates.
3. Assess the energy performance of new build dwellings in order to produce Energy Performance Certificates.
4. Produce Energy Performance Certificates.

Units 1 and 2 cover the soft skills of practice, for which many applicants are pre-qualified. Units 3 and 4 cover the actual process of undertaking a SAP calculation and producing an EPC, for which the CLG require all applicants to demonstrate their competence by undertaking 5 calculations.

Where can I get qualified?
Further details of the ABBE Level III Diploma in On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment and the courses available can be found on: www.abbega.co.uk/

What is APEL?
APEL means Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning. This is the recognition and credit of knowledge and skills derived from professional, vocational and personal contexts. APEL allows candidates to complete their learning more quickly and avoid duplication of learning already undertaken.

To qualify to join the Scheme through APEL each applicant is required to demonstrate that they have acquired all the skills described in the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors.

CIAT and the RIBA have mapped the professional standards for MCIAT, TCIAT and ARB registered Architects against the NOS. Architectural-EPC has prepared guidance for applicants outlining those sections of the NOS that their existing qualifications cover. Competency in those sections that are not covered must be demonstrated through a combination of prior experience and top up training.

Top up training is provided as part of the Scheme Membership and all applicants must complete this to ensure a universal threshold.

Do the top up training and the SAP tests count towards CPD?
Yes.

How does the Scheme work?

What is the process of joining?
The first step is to register your interest. This is free and carries no obligation, but allows Architectural-EPC to keep you informed of the progress of the Scheme as it develops.

During the registration process you will be asked to confirm a user name, password, contact details and if appropriate your CIAT, RIBA or RIAS membership number.

You will also be asked if you are applying via qualification or APEL.

You will receive an email confirming your log-on details and your preferred application route.

What happens next?
You will be asked to subscribe.

If you have applied through the ABBE Level III Diploma in On Construction Domestic Energy Assessment route, it should be a straight forward process. All you need to do is provide copies of your qualification, PI Insurance and a signed Code of Conduct. Architectural-EPC will check that you have not been suspended/expelled by any other Scheme.

In order to ensure a minimum threshold of competencies within the Scheme, you will then be asked to undertake the on-line competency tests and the practical SAP Tests developed by the Scheme. Successful completion of these will allow full membership.

If you have applied via the APEL route you will be asked to complete an APEL application form which will be checked for completeness and assessed by an APEL Assessor.

This assessment will determine whether you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the NOS skills to allow membership following top-up training. If it does you will be asked to undertake the on-line competency tests and the practical SAP Tests developed by the Scheme. Successful completion of these will allow full membership.

What do the on-line competency tests consist of?
Architectural-EPC has developed a series of Learning Modules and on-line competency tests which cover all of the parts of the National Occupancy Standards (NOS) in order to ensure a consistent minimum threshold across the Scheme all applicants must undertake and pass all the tests.

What do the practical SAP tests consist of?
Home Energy and Data Services Limited has developed a series of 5 Practical SAP tests which cover the criteria laid down by the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and include dwellings which:

• Are flats
• Have an exposed floor
• Have electrical heating
• Have communal heating
• Have a room in the roof

In order to ensure a consistent minimum threshold across the Scheme all applicants must undertake and pass all the tests.

How will the online SAP / EPC software work?
You will have access to register for the on-line SAP calculation software developed by Energy Design Tools (EDT). The EDT SAP / EPC calculator is an on-line tool to calculate the SAP rating of your new build design and also to produce an EPC which can be lodged in the Landmark Central Register. This calculation stays live, allowing you to amend the calculation during the design process up to the point you need to prepare a SAP for submission to Building Control, you can then print a Design SAP related to a particular project and the time of the application.

On completion of the project you can take the design SAP, add any alterations that have been made on site and (in the case of multiple dwellings) copy and amend the calculation to get a dwelling specific SAP and EPC as required by the EPBD.

You only pay a fee for registering an EPC when they are actually needed.

Details of the cost of the EDT SAP Tool are available on www.energydesigntools.co.uk

What makes an EPC valid?
An EPC is only valid if it is lodged with Landmark and it can only be lodged with Landmark, via an approved Scheme such as Architectural-EPC. A newly completed house cannot be occupied without one.

Can I continue to use my existing SAP software?
If you wish, you can input the SAP data from your software which is required to create an EPC, however, in order to lodge your EPC you must use the integrated SAP calculator licensed from Energy Design Tools.

Do I have to add in all the detailed information to create a SAP?
Each On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor is responsible for all the information that they input to a SAP calculator.

Where are the registration details kept?
Architectural-EPC has to supply the following data to Landmark:

• Inspector Name (Prefix, Forename, Surname, Suffix)
• Certificate or Accreditation Number
• Current Status
• Certification-Date
• Company Name
• Contact Details (Address, Website, Telephone, Fax, E-Mail Address)
• Scheme Details
• Contact Details (As per above)
• Complaints Address
• Specialism
• Postcode-Coverage

In addition Architectural-EPC in conjunction with our partner, Just-Ask Services Limited will maintain a register of On Construction Energy Assessors and all the EPCs that are issued.

This information will be retained electronically with secure back up.

Do I need to renew membership?
Yes, it is a requirement of the Scheme that Energy Assessors are kept up to date with changes to the regulations etc. Annual renewal is required to maintain the register.

What checks are there on members?
Architectural-EPC are currently discussing with CLG their requirements for on-going auditing – see Scheme Guidance.

Can I be removed from the Scheme?
Yes, Approved Domestic Energy Assessors who fail to maintain their membership of the Scheme and / or professional body, who fail to demonstrate competency when asked, or are subject to any form of disciplinary procedure by CIAT, RIAS, RIBA or ARB can be removed from the register.

Architectural-EPC will, as part of the Scheme Provider duties, developed a process of notification and appeals details of which are included on the website.

What happens if I choose to leave?
Membership of the Scheme runs for a period of one year. If you choose to withdraw from the Scheme for any reason you will no longer be entitled to produce EPCs. There will be no refund of your Annual Membership.

If I leave can I access old data?
No. Access to any EPCs which you have created will be available via the central registry provided by Landmark.

Is the Scheme available offline?
No. The Scheme has been specifically designed to facilitate the online completion of training, certification and administration.