2025 Compliance Guide to TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections & New Penalty Changes

Staying Compliant: What You Need to Know About TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections and Upcoming Regulatory Reforms

Air conditioning systems are vital to maintaining comfort, air quality, and energy performance in commercial buildings. But beyond their everyday function, they also come with legal obligations.

In the UK, any building with air conditioning systems rated at 12kW or above is required to undergo a TM44 inspection. These inspections must be completed every five years to ensure continued compliance with energy performance regulations and to help reduce environmental impact.

SOCOTEC UK and the Changing Regulatory Landscape

At SOCOTEC UK, we work with businesses to ensure their air conditioning systems meet all legal requirements — and operate as efficiently as possible. As the government seeks to modernise energy standards through changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings Regime, it's important to stay informed on how these updates may affect your compliance responsibilities.

Why Are Reforms Being Introduced?

The proposed changes are designed to support the UK’s broader Net Zero strategy, outlined in the Energy Act 2023. This includes strengthening enforcement measures, increasing data transparency via the air conditioning inspection report register, and encouraging a more uniform approach to inspections across the commercial sector.

Although the public consultation period closed on 26 February 2025, the reforms are still in the review and planning phase. However, plans are being moved forward for implementation so businesses should begin preparing now for a more robust compliance environment.

The Risk of Falling Behind on Compliance

Despite the clear legal requirements, many commercial buildings continue to operate without valid TM44 inspection reports. Current penalties — £300 per building for missing inspections, and additional fines is inspection is not arranged after notice — have proven ineffective in driving full compliance. These fines are often lower than the cost of the inspection itself, creating little incentive to act.

To address this, proposed reforms include increasing fines to £800 with an additional £200 fine if compliance is not met within 7 days, introducing stricter enforcement mechanisms to encourage businesses to take these requirements seriously.