NAACEA calls for sites without air-conditioning inspections to be identified
The National Association of Air Conditioning Energy Assessors (NAACEA) is encouraging its members, and non-members, to identify sites that have not had their air-conditioning systems inspected as required by the Energy Performance of Buildings (England & Wales). The association believes that recent communications with DCLG has raised awareness of systematic breaches of the regulations and that DCLG is now seeking examples of such breaches.
DCLG have recently written to Sterling Accreditation and states: ‘It is the duty of all local weights and measures authorities to ensure that many of the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, including those regarding air-conditioning inspection reports, are complied with, and to impose penalties if they consider the circumstances warrant it.
‘If there is evidence that any local weights and measures authority is electing not to enforce the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, then they may be in breach of their statutory duty and at risk of judicial review’
Sterling Accreditation has released the letter to its members.
Neil Dady, chairman of NAACEA, comments, ‘We are very supportive of Sterling Accreditation’s recent initiative including freedom of information requests being issued to local Trading Standards Offices requesting details of actions taken to enforce the regulations. Now through NAACEA setting up a facility for our members to report non compliant sites we intend to identify systematic breaches and if necessary highlight the failings of Trading Standards Office to take action.
‘Companies that have chosen to ignore the regulations will be identified and reported to their local Trading Standards Office. We feel strongly that individual assessors, that have invested in training and qualifications, need to be supported, and any initiatives that increase compliance with the regulations will have our 100% support.’
It has been widely reported that the level of compliance with air-conditioning inspections is still only between 5% and 10% of qualifying properties some three years after the deadline dates.
A reporting facility has been added to the web site of the National Association of Air Conditioning Energy Assessors.
