How Elmhurst is trying to improve the Air Conditioning industry

Danny Pearson, Non-Domestic Technical Consultant

In May 2020 government released a consultation to increase the threshold for inspections of air conditioning systems from systems with an effective rated output of over 12kW to those with an effective rated output of over 70kW.

In our response we argued that by raising the threshold, a large number of businesses would miss out on the possibility of reducing both their costs and energy consumption. On top of this, following an investigation, we estimated that there are around 520,000 air conditioning systems, of which 62% of those systems have an effective rated output of between 12kW and 70kW. Government took our response on board, and it played a major factor in their decision to not alter the threshold. We are in the process of lobbying for methods to improve compliance within industry. These are methods such as:

n Ensuring that all our DEC and

EPC Energy Assessors record the existence or need for an air conditioning Inspection certificate on appropriate buildings n Looking at further trigger points for an assessment such as the sale and rental of a building n Lobbying for an air conditioning compliance check as part of insurance renewals for a building We have begun accepting lodgements from Ace Wizard from 21st April 2021. This means that our accredited air conditioning assessors now have more choice when selecting software to use. We are also the only scheme that has inherited the DCLG software, which we are currently in the process of updating and improving to be released in an online format later in the year.

We are currently in the process of further developing our air conditioning scheme. We will be looking to increase our CPD offering and training courses for our members and those interested in becoming air conditioning assessors. Alongside this, we will be upskilling members of our Non-Domestic support team, thus improving their ability to provide technical support for practicing air conditioning assessors, as well as those undertaking training who wish to join the scheme.

With all this in mind, it is a time of great transition at Elmhurst in the air conditioning assessment sector, so keep an eye out for further updates and news.