Air leakage is defined as the flow of air through gaps and cracks in the building fabric.

Under the new building regulations, all new houses require an air tightness test. The aim of air tightness testing is to measure the flow of air within a building and identify areas that are experiencing heat loss.  Improving the air tightness of a building is one of the most cost effective ways of improving energy efficiency. If your home is draughty, you could be losing up to 30% of heat through these draughts. The draughts are caused by gaps and cracks in the building fabric and are most likely out of sight.

BER Services offers draught detection service, which identifies draughts and outlines solutions on how address them.

A Building Energy Rating is a label that indicates the energy rating of a property. The rating is expressed in the form of performance bands, 'A' being the most energy efficient to 'G' being the least energy efficient.

What are the legal implications for non compliance?
 There is a maximum fine of up to €5,000 for not getting a Building Energy Rating when required.

How is it calculated?
 The calculation includes building fabric, ventilation, space and water heating, and lighting. These values coupled with measurements taken from the drawings of the property culminate in the achievement of an energy label.

 The rating is expressed in the form of performance bands, rated on a scale of A to G.

How can I improve my Energy Rating?
 The BER Certificate comes with an accompanying advisory report. This report outlines recommendations as to what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Commercial BER Certificates are required for all non-domestic buildings offered for sale or rent.

A Commercial BER Certificate is a label represented in a 21-point scale which indicates the energy rating of a property. The rating is expressed in the form of performance bands with 'A' being the most energy efficient and 'G' the least efficient.

There are numerous factors (heating system, insulation, quality, ventilation system, lighting and renewable technologies) taken into account to determine the Commercial Energy Rating of a building.

The Non Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) is the methodology for demonstrating compliance with specific aspects of Part L of the Building Regulations.

Simplified Building Energy Modelling (SBEM) can be used in Ireland for the purposes of:
1.    Assessing and demonstrating compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2008
2.    Of generating a Non Domestic Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate when a building is constructed, sold or leased.

Architectural Design: we have a proven record to providing a personal, professional, high quality, cost effective and innovation design service. Our design works, expertise and competitiveness leave us one of the best companies in our field.

Planning Applications: we prepare planning applications for a variety of projects. These would include extensions and alterations, renovations, one-off dwellings, commercial, industrial and agricultural. We have a high success rate with our submissions of these applications. This is due to working closely with the planning authority so that the proposal complies fully with the development plan and all other regulations as well as talking the client’s needs into the design. We follow our own 8-point Planning Procedure for all planning applications

Our Services: working from your ideas, sketches and 2D or 3D CAD drawings we produce cost effective and professional 3D Visualisations, conceptual drawings and digital illustrations. 

Our visuals are frequently used by parties trying to secure planning permission, applying for tenders and marketing property long before construction begins. 

Every aspect of the 3D Visualisation process is created by our in-house 3D graphics team to your exact requirements. 

One of the many advantages of 3D Visualisation is that it allows your clients to view a finished project before any construction or detailed design has taken place therefore reducing project timescales and saving money.

How can we help you?

• Better Communication of your Idea
• Design Development
• Planning Permission
• Sell property off-plan
• Marketing

We offer a competitive and responsive quotation service with a rapid turn round on all quotations and finished images with no up front payments. All quotations include an estimated time for delivery and are provided within 24 hours of the clients submission based on submitted sketch or CAD files. 

Payment is only requested in full when the client has agreed that the draft images fully meet with their requirements and expectations. Low resolution draft images will be e-mailed for approval with final images copied onto CD and posted out to the client by registered post.

A Passive House is a building in which a comfortable interior climate can be maintained without active heating and cooling systems.

The house heats and cools itself, hence "passive". For passive construction, prerequisite to this capability is an annual heating requirement that is less than 15 kWh/(m²a) not to be attained at the cost of an increase in use of energy for other purposes (e.g., electricity). Furthermore, the combined primary energy consumption of living area of a European passive house may not exceed 120 kWh/(m²a) for heat, hot water and household electricity. The combined primary energy consumption of living area of a standard house is approximately 220 kWh/(m²a) for heat, hot water and household electricity.

External Links for more information: www.passiv.de and www.europeanpassivehouses.org