Follow these steps to get a BER assessment carried out on your home.
Step 1: Find a BER assessor
BER assessments are carried out by independent registered assessors. You can find your local BER assessor through the SEAI National Register of BER Assessors.
As per Section 11 of the BER Assessor Code of Practice, a BER assessor must carry out assessments independently of all other suppliers of installers or energy related products or services and must be engaged directly by the building owner.
BER/DEC assessors are not employees of SEAI. A BER/DEC assessor takes full responsibility for the verification of the accuracy of each data point in each BER/DEC assessment that they carried out and the accurate submission of a BER/DEC assessment to SEAI for publication on the BER/DEC register.
No liability shall attach to SEAI for any error, misconduct, malpractice, act or omission howsoever arising from carrying out a BER/DEC assessment, the accuracy of the results of such assessments or resulting from the findings of a BER/DEC assessment, or for the negligent or otherwise wrongful act or omission by a BER/DEC assessor or for a breach of the BER Regulations or of the Code of Practice.
A BER assessor must not offer services as part of a larger project offering.
Step 2: Get a quote
Always request a quote and timeline for the completion of your assessment. We recommend you contact at least three assessors for a quote. Remember, any home upgrade works should be completed before your BER assessor surveys the dwelling.
Your chosen BER assessor should provide a description of the works they will carry out, through a signed contract or letter of engagement. This should contain:
- a description of the proposed services
- a quotation of the proposed costs (including VAT and expenses)
- the disclosure of all relevant business interests
Talk to your assessor
When talking to your BER assessor it’s important to tell them:
- about any home improvement works that you have had done so they can tell you what documentation they need
- if you have had a previous BER assessment done or have a valid BER for your home
Step 3: Prepare your paperwork
Preparing all your documents and paperwork in advance of your BER assessment will reduce the time it takes to receive your BER Certificate and Advisory Report.
For an assessment of a new building, your assessor will need a considerable amount of documentation including for example, wall, roof and floor specifications and copies of certificates of performance for construction products and appliances installed in the property.
For an assessment of an existing building, you will need to provide your BER assessor with documentation of any upgrade works done to your property. Any documentation you may have regarding the original construction of the dwelling will also be beneficial.
Documentation includes certifications, receipts, invoices and/or specification documents from the architect, engineer or contractor who managed the works. These should clearly indicate the address of the property, the works carried out, and the products used.
If you cannot provide your BER Assessor with sufficient documentation of works on your home, they will use default values. Default values are based on construction type and the age of the building and are conservative estimates of the energy performance and as such, may result in your home receiving a lower BER rating than expected. Further information on how a BER is calculated is available here. Your BER assessor can advise you on the paperwork required to support your BER and you can download the homeowner’s checklist to assist you in gathering the required documentation.
We recommend you retain a copy of all information and documentation supporting the inputs in your BER. This is important information and should be retained by you for use in any subsequent BER ratings.
Home Energy Rating Assessors
