SAP Calculation Services:
Ensuring Energy Efficiency for Your Project

SAP calculations are energy assessments required for residential buildings in the UK to measure energy efficiency and environmental impact. These assessments form the foundation for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are legally required when selling or renting a property. They also help ensure compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations in England and Wales.

SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations are used to measure the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a home. They give a score that shows how well a home uses energy and how much carbon dioxide (CO2) it produces.

Key Factors in SAP Calculations:

• Building Structure: How well the house is insulated (walls, windows, roof, floors).
• Heating System: Type of heating (e.g., gas boiler, heat pump) and how efficient it is.
• Energy Use: How much energy the house needs for heating, hot water, lighting, etc.
• Renewable Energy: If the house uses any green energy sources like solar panels.
• Ventilation: How well the house is sealed and how air circulates.

Rating Scale:

• A-G Rating: Both the energy efficiency and environmental impact are given a score from A (best) to G (worst).           

In short, SAP calculates how energy-efficient a home is and how much it harms the environment. This is used for creating Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are required for selling or renting homes in the UK.

• Energy Demand: SAP calculates how much energy the home needs to stay warm.
• CO2 Emissions: It then calculates how much carbon dioxide the home releases based on the energy used.
• Efficiency Score: The home gets a score based on how efficient it is (Energy Efficiency Rating or EER).
• Environmental Impact: It also gets a score for how much CO2 it emits (Environmental Impact Rating or EI).

SAP calculations are a critical part of the building process for residential properties, whether new builds, conversions, or significant renovations. They ensure that your project meets energy performance standards, helping reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.

• Energy Efficiency Compliance: Ensure your building meets UK energy efficiency standards.
• Environmental Impact: Reduce carbon emissions and contribute to national climate goals.
• Cost Savings: Energy-efficient homes benefit from lower energy bills, improving marketability
• Certification: Essential for obtaining an EPC, which is required for selling or renting

SAP calculations should be instructed early in the design process, ideally once floor plans and build specifications are confirmed. This enables us to provide advice and recommendations to ensure your project meets energy efficiency standards in a cost-effective way. Our team will work with you to produce Design Stage SAP Calculations and Compliance Summaries, typically required before building works commence.

To carry out an SAP calculation, we’ll need:

• Floor plans, cross sections, and elevations
• Build specifications
• Details of heating and hot water systems
• Lighting efficiency data
• Renewable energy technologies (if applicable)
• Air permeability and ventilation information

• Expert consultancy and advice to achieve Building Regulation compliance
• Lodgement fees
• Required documentation for building control, including:
  • Predicted Energy Assessments (PEA)
  • SAP Summary Report
  • U-value Calculations
  • On Construction Energy Performance Certificate
  • Compliance Report (for new builds)
  • Excess Glazing Report (for highly glazed extensions)

• SAP Calculations (for dwellings/residential)
  SAP calculations are used to assess the energy consumption and efficiency of new build dwellings. For apartment blocks or flats, each individual dwelling requires its own SAP calculation.

  Note: SBEM calculations are needed for communal areas within residential developments, such as laundry rooms, shared facilities, and passageways. These types of projects often require a combination of both SAP and SBEM calculations.

• SBEM Calculations (for non-residential)
  Non-residential buildings using energy for heating and lighting must undergo an SBEM calculation. This is particularly relevant for new builds, conversions, or first-time fit-outs where indoor climate conditioning systems such as heating, air conditioning, or ventilation are in use.

• Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM)
  DSM is an advanced tool used for more complex buildings or projects requiring a highly detailed energy performance analysis. Unlike SBEM, DSM takes into account dynamic factors such as occupant behavior and weather patterns, offering a more precise analysis of the building's energy usage over time.

  SBEM is suitable for straightforward projects, while DSM is required when an in-depth, dynamic understanding of energy performance is needed, particularly for complex structures or innovative designs.

SAP calculations are required for new homes, major renovations, and when you need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to comply with building regulations or when selling or renting a property.

Design Stage SAP calculations may also be required as part of a building regulation approval application, this can vary depending on the project and local authority.   

In 1994, SAP was first cited in the Building Regulations as the means of assessing the energy performance of dwellings. In 2007 it was adopted as the methodology behind Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

A SAP is the use of the nationally recognised methodology to produce an energy efficiency calculation for a property, this is then used to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for a new build or a conversion.

A SAP assessor is also known as an On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA). They must be accredited and registered with a certification body like Elmhurst.