On this page we have identified and expanded on industry abbreviations and keywords, if you can’t find what you’re looking for or have something that should be added to this list then get in touch with our team who will be more than happy to help on 0800 170 1201.
Energy Performance Certificates
EPC - Energy Performance Certificate.
RR - Recommendation Report - these come with commercial EPCs.
RdSAP - Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure - the technical term for the methodology for calculating Domestic or Residential EPCs.
MEES - Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards - the legislation stating that commercial and domestic buildings are required to have at least an E rating on their EPC before they may be leased to tenants.
SBEM - Simplified Building Energy Model - the technical term for the methodology for calculating Commercial EPCs.
DEC - Display Energy Certificate.
SAP - Standard Assessment Procedure.
BRUKL - Building Regulations United Kingdom part L.
Design Stage SBEM - SBEM calculations made prior to the build of a new commercial building.
OC EPC - On Construction Energy Performance Certificate - The EPC created after the build of a new commercial property has been completed.
BER - Building Emission Rate.
TER - Target Emission Rate - The minimum allowable standard of energy performance of a new property.
HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
AHU - Air Handling Unit.
Section 63 - A Scottish legislation requiring that property owners must create a plan to both improve the energy performance of, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their commercial properties that are 1000m2 or larger.
Lodge/Lodgement - The term used to describe uploading an EPC to the national register.
HMO - House of Multiple Occupation.
DEA - Domestic Energy Assessor.
NDEA - Non-Domestic Energy Assessor.
RHI - Renewable Heat Incentive - was a government incentive scheme that payed a grant to householders who had some form of heat generating renewables technology connected to their property. The RHI scheme ended in 2022.
Air/ground source heat pumps, solar water heating, biomass boilers, etc. - Examples of renewable technologies.
U-Value - The U-value is a measure of heat transfer through a building component (i.e. walls, windows, etc.).
ESOS - Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
Fire Risk Assessment
FRA - Fire Risk Assessment.
FRS - Fire and Rescue Service.
Asbestos Surveying
HSE - Health and Safety Executive.
ACM - Asbestos Containing Material.
Management Survey - Previously referred to as Type 2 Asbestos Survey, this survey aims to locate the presence and rate the risk of any asbestos containing materials in a property.
Refurbishment & Demolition Survey - Previously referred to as Type 3 Asbestos Survey, this survey is far more intrusive than a management survey and aims to locate and assess all asbestos containing materials in a property including within walls, floors, etc. It is likely that the assessor will have to damage some areas in order to gain access.
Friable - Asbestos that is likely to release asbestos fibres when damaged. (Examples being thermal insulation, insulation boards, pipe lagging, sprayed coating).
Non-Friable - Asbestos that cannot be damaged by hand (or without tools) and therefore won’t be easily disturbed and are less likely to release dangerous fibres. (Examples being vinyl floor tiles, cement sheets, bitumen, textured coating).
UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service - a national accreditation body recognised by the UK government.
New Build Services (Such As Sound Tests, Water Use Calcs, and Air Permeability Testing)
Sound Testing - Also known as Acoustic Testing.
Airborne Test - This measures the level of sound which is transmitted through the air, to get an airborne result the party walls, floors, and ceilings between dwellings are assessed. Airborne noise can be created by TVs, music/radios, and people talking.
Impact Test - This measures the level of noise which is transmitted straight through walls or floors/ceilings of dwellings as a result of impact. Impact noise can be created by appliances working or heavy footsteps.
CCBAM - Certificate of Competence in Building Acoustics Measurements.
Air Permeability Testing - Also known as Air Tightness Testing or Blower Door Testing.
Pascal - A measurement unit of pressure.
Electrical Installation Condition Reports
EICR - Electrical Installation Condition Report.
BS 7671 - Also known as the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations. The standards that all fixed electrical aspects in a property should meet.
Code 1 (C1) - A classification used on an EICR to indicate where remedial/investigative work must be completed. Meaning = Danger Present, risk of injury. The electrical inspector may make any C1 hazards safe before leaving the property. Remedial work will be required.
Code 2 (C2) - A classification used on an EICR to indicate where remedial/investigative work must be completed. Meaning = Potentially dangerous. Remedial work will be legally required.
Code 3 (C3) - Improvement recommended. Remedial work is not legally required, however it will improve the safety of the installation if the improvements are implemented.
Further Investigation (FI) - Further investigation required without delay. Further investigation will be legally required (it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure this happens).
Gas Safety Certificates
Gas Safe Register - The official gas registration body for the UK. Legally, all gas engineers must be on the register.
Flue - A duct, pipe, or opening in a chimney for the expulsion of exhaust gases from a heating system or generator to the outside.
CP12 - Another name for a Gas Safety Certificate.
Air Conditioning Reports
TM44 - The standard for correctly carrying out a comprehensive inspection of A/C units to satisfy EPBD regulations.
A/C - Air Conditioning.
kW - Kilowatt, which is a measurement of power.
Other
RICS - Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
GIA - Gross Internal Area.
Zones - Rooms, hallways, stairwells, lift shafts, storage cupboards, WCs.
Common Areas - Shared areas in multi occupancy properties, including:
- Domestic: entrance doors to individual flats, hallways, lifts and shafts, stairwells, roof spaces, gardens, outhouses, and garages in domestic properties like flat blocks and houses converted into flats.
- Commercial: reception areas, hallways, stairwells, lifts and shafts, shared kitchens and bathrooms, etc.
PL - Public Liability (Insurance).
PI - Professional Indemnity (Insurance).
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