All about PAS 2035 now that ECO3 is here

10 FEATURE

www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Simon Flint, Existing Dwellings Technical Consultant

We have now passed the all-important July 1st 2021 deadline and for those who work within ECO 3, this now means that all projects have to follow the PAS 2035 process.

In practice, this means that ECO installers now have a new process they need to follow and whilst many have already adopted these new requirements, a significant number have waited until the deadline before reacting.

For our members this means a range of new opportunities to build on the existing skills and experience they have as Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) and train as Retrofit Assessors.

We have created a training course that covers the background to PAS 2035, all the relevant building physics knowledge you need, and also introduces you to the new software we have developed that will enable you to complete the three reports required for a Retrofit Assessment.

This software now includes our newly released Condition Report Go app for iOS devices. This will have massive timesaving benefits, allowing an assessor to compile and submit a Condition Report whilst on site.

The training is available either online or in the classroom and, once completed, you will be able add Retrofit Assessment to your accreditation strand.

You can add your details to the free ‘Search for Assessor’ facility on our website that will allow homeowners, Retrofit Coordinators or any other interested parties to find your details.

We currently still have government funded training places available that means you could complete this training at a vastly subsidised cost.

As other funding streams are introduced by government, the demand for Retrofit Assessors will grow as we work towards our aim of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Already LAD (Phase 2) has been released with £300 million of funding to be allocated in the coming months and this can only be accessed using PAS 2035 approved processes. Other schemes are sure to follow, including ECO 4.

With all this in mind, if you have not already investigated the additional opportunities that Retrofit may offer you, now is definitely the time to do so.

Ashley Crawford

How RdSAP to SAP Converter is helping Retrofit Coordinators

Ashley Crawford is the owner of CC Ltd which he established in 2007. He was one of the first Elmhurst members to lodge an Energy Performance Certificate with the company and has since branched out into commercial EPCs, Display Energy Certificates and ESOS assessments to name a few! He’s recently added Retrofit Assessor and Retrofit Coordinator to that list so we got in touch to find out what he thought of our RdSAP to SAP Converter software.

Why did you choose to become a Retrofit Coordinator?

I did the course because I’m a building surveyor so it fits in with my background. I’ve been a building surveyor since 2010, and I’ve always been involved in different industry initiatives.

I was a bit reluctant at first, due to the coming and goings of industry initiatives, and of course I questioned whether I should be spending money during a time of uncertainty, but I have a lot of faith in Retrofit and the future of PAS 2035. CC Ltd now has 4 Retrofit Coordinators and the investment is already worthwhile.

What kind of projects have you been involved in?

I’ve been involved in loads everything from one man band ECO installers to larger boiler and insulation companies and several housing associations that are doing whole house retrofits.

I’ve had a lot of Path Cs (high risk projects) with eight or nine measures and battery storage.

How has RdSAP to SAP Converter helped you?

Being able to convert an RdSAP XML file to a full SAP file gives me much more flexibility when it comes to modelling. In Design SAP I change different inputs such as wall insulation and so on, which helps me create an accurate Improvement Plan.

You could do the bare minimum and do your modelling in an Energy Report but I don’t want to be like that. Clients come to me because they know the quality of my work and you’ll find that most people who’ve done a Level 5 course are interested in the job and enjoy problem solving.

Why did you choose to accredit with Elmhurst?

Things just seem to flow better with Elmhurst and I’ve always had a good relationship with the team. They also seem to care more about the industry, and there’s auditing in place to make sure work meets a particular standard.

From a practical view point I’ve got 18 surveyors who work for me and they all say they’d rather use RdSAP Go when completing assessments. It just flows nicely and all the inputs are laid out in a logical way so you’re not running up and stairs to tick things off.

And finally, is there any advice you'd give to those just starting out as Retrofit Coordinators?

All singing and dancing software is not always the answer, take your time to read and understand PAS 2030 and PAS 2035, and use software that has a logical and honest approach to create a better industry.