Commercial EPC: the details that shape the assessment
Building use, floor area and services help define a non-domestic EPC brief. Here is what to send first.
The first question in a commercial EPC enquiry is often not how big the building is, but exactly what is being assessed. A shop below offices, a single unit in a larger block and a whole warehouse can each have different boundaries, services and access arrangements. State whether you need a certificate for one unit, several areas or the complete property.
A non-domestic energy assessment considers the building's geometry, fabric, use and fixed services. Heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting details matter because an office with mechanical ventilation is not modelled in the same way as a lightly serviced storage space. Plans are useful, but an assessor of an existing building still needs to verify relevant details on site. Previous EPCs can help orient the conversation; they should not be assumed to describe a changed fit-out.
Send the full address, approximate floor area, current use and number of occupied units. Tell us who controls access to plant rooms, ceilings and service areas. If the building has been refurbished, identify what changed and when. Where a tenancy or sale has a deadline, include that date so availability can be discussed honestly before a booking is agreed.
An EPC describes energy performance under an approved assessment method. It is not an inspection of the safety or condition of every service. Energy Move can review your brief, confirm the proposed assessment boundary and discuss the information and access needed for a commercial EPC quotation. That early scoping step is particularly valuable for mixed-use properties and multi-let buildings.
For the next step, see Commercial EPC.