Standard Assessment Procedure
Since 1995, Building Regulations have required a SAP rating on every new home and from 2001 builders had to post a notice in every finished dwelling stating its energy rating. From 2005 the need for the Standard Assessment Procedure was extended again. Don't bet against further extensions in to the requirement for SAP.
Therefore practically everyone owning, building, developing, extending, converting, selling or letting a house is likely to need SAP Ratings and Energy Performance Certificates at some point, even though many private landlords may not have to have Standard Assessment Procedure ratings in place now for all their properties.
The SAP rules vary for different classes of people
Developers, architects and builders need Standard Assessment Procedure ratings for all new dwellings, including conversions, extensions and changes of use.
Local Authority and Housing Association landlords have their own special Standard Assessment Procedure rules to follow which cover old and new homes.
Private individual homeowners and private landlords are only compelled to have the Standard Assessment Procedure ratings when they sell up, unless they develop their dwellings as described above. The Standard Assessment Procedure rating and Energy Rating is needed to comply with the watered down Home Information Pack requirements. From 1 June 2007, every home that is put on the market for sale in England and Wales will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as part of the Home Information Pack.
However, with high energy costs likely to be with us for years to come, private individuals may wish to have a National Home Energy Rating or Standard Assessment Procedure rating to help identify the overall energy efficiency of their buildings. The Standard Assessment Procedure rating can help identify what might be gained from improving a building's energy efficiency.
How do you get SAP and Home Energy Ratings?
If you are effected then you will probably need to have need SAP Ratings and Energy Performance Certificates prepared by a National Home Energy Rating (NHER) Assessor.
What do the energy ratings mean?
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy rating of dwellings is essentially calculation of a building’s energy efficiency. SAP ratings are scored on a scale from 1 to 120 where 1 is the worst and 100 indicates no net cost of water and heating.
If your building has micro generators and is a net exporter of energy to the national grid then it is possible to have a score of more than 100. Such buildings are rare.
Most old homes rate very badly
A Standard Assessment Procedure score of 80 or more considered to represent an energy efficient home. Most non-new houses tend to have Standard Assessment Procedure ratings of 40-60. New houses generally achieve SAP ratings of 80 or so.
The difference between SAP and NHER
Standard Assessment Procedure and the NHER scales measure slightly different things. The SAP takes no account of the geographical location or local positioning of the house. As a result, all homes built to the same design should have exactly the same SAP. The NHER, on the other hand, takes account of factors such as shelter, orientation and so is a better indicator likely running costs.
Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) also requires the calculation of Target Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate (TER). The actual emission rate of your building, called the Dwelling Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate (DER) is then compared to the Target Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate. The result is expressed as a number from 1 to 10. This aspect of Building Regulations will be satisfied if the building meets the target.