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SBEM Calculations
and
BRUKL Reports

Contact - 01323 841488 or 07867 960711
or Email info@uk-building-assessments.co.uk

SBEM Calculations and BRUKL Reports 


BRUKL Reports

Calculations for Building Regulation Part L

Quite simply, SBEM calculations are a must for any new commercial/non-domestic buildings.

You will need them in order to satisfy building regulations, without an SBEM assessment you won’t be allowed to begin work on your site.

It is against the law to rent or sell a commercial property without an EPC. Therefore, it is crucial that your building passes its SBEM.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Energy Efficiency Standards

As time goes on standards for energy efficiency are becoming higher and so it is vital that your new building is well insulated and has the most efficient heating, lighting and ventilation systems. This is where SBEM calculations come in.

The EPC rates the property between 1 and 100. The closer to 100 the rating is, the more energy efficient the building is.

Building Control

Building Control

SBEM Calculations are needed as part of your Building Control Application.
Most new commercial buildings over 50 metres squared must pass on SBEM calculations in order to meet Part L2 of Building Regulations (England and Wales) – (Section 6 in Scotland, and equivalent regulations in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Jersey), and it’s not just new builds some extensions and renovations need them too.

About Us

SBEM Calculations and BRUKL Reports


Having been in the energy business since 2007, our gained knowledge puts us in an exceptional position to supply support and advice for all your Commercial needs. 

Building Regulations 

Building Regulations Part L, Document F and Section 6

Establishing the energy performance of a building early in the design process is critical for any scheme. Very often an energy assessment is driven by a need to demonstrate compliance – with Part L in England & Wales, Document F in Northern Ireland and Section 6 in Scotland.

Significantly, there are two stages to the assessment – ‘design’ (required for permission to build) and ‘as-built’ which is required for the completion certificate and EPC to be issued.

Further than that, planning rules may dictate that a higher standard is required. For instance in London, there are carbon targets to meet where the GLA will typically require a 35% improvement beyond Part L for major developments.

Local authorities may also set extra requirements for wider sustainability measures such as BREEAM.

Whatever we are trying to achieve, SBEM is the tool the assessor will use to calculate the figures, demonstrate any improvements and produce the reporting that Building Control and planners need to see.

What are SBEM Calculations?




SBEM is used to demonstrate the energy performance of new and existing non-domestic buildings.

SBEM stands for ‘Simplified Building Energy Model’. It is a government approved methodology that calculates the energy required to heat, cool, ventilate and light a non-dwelling.

Assessed based on a 12-month period of ‘normal’ use it gives an accurate picture of the amount of the energy and carbon dioxide emissions of the building and therefore how energy efficient (or not) the building is. Non-domestic buildings include offices, warehouses, retail units, restaurants, leisure centres and retirement homes.

SBEM is used to do two things:

To demonstrate compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations
To produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

An SBEM calculation provides an output in the form of a ‘BRUKL’ report.

These calculations are the commercial equivalent of SAP calculations for Domestic New Build Properties.

The Four SBEM Criteria Measures

1. Making sure the Building Emission Rate (BER) does not exceed the Target Emission Rate (TER).

2. Assessing building fabric and the HVAC systems (heating, cooling and ventilation), hot water and fixed lighting systems to make sure they achieve reasonable overall standards of energy efficiency.

3. Demonstrating appropriate passive control measures to limit solar gains during summer months, in order to reduce the need for air conditioning systems.

4. Making sure there are the necessary provisions for enabling the energy efficient operation of the building put in place.

Building Emission Rate and Target Emission Rate

Providing a Professional Service in

SBEM calculations compare the Building Emission Rate (BER) with a Target Emission Rate (TER).

Every building design is given SBEM calculated TER; once constructed the actual BER is measured against the calculated TER. The BER must not exceed the TER.

What is a BRUKL Report?

New Build Regulations

A Building Regulation UK Part L Report (BRUKL) demonstrates compliance with certain aspects of new build regulations including a carbon emission target (TER/Target Emission Rate), solar gain, and limiting standards for fabric and services.

The BRUKL document is required by Building Control prior to works starting onsite.

The BRUKL document is mainly required for new builds (and in some cases extensions) but can also be used for existing buildings if any of the minimum standards are not met, to demonstrate the CO2 has been compensated for elsewhere.

The Assessment

Completed by a Level 4 Commercial Assessor

The assessor will firstly enter the geometry of the building and zone it into ‘activities’. SBEM calculations differ from SAP Calculations in the way that they assign a use, not only for the building, but for the various zones within it. These will have different assumptions about the use of the building services and occupancy.

Factors such as construction type – including specific U-values for walls, roofs, floors and windows are taken into account in the assessment. Much like SAP, the efficiency of heating systems, hot water and ventilation systems and other factors affecting energy consumption are all included in the calculation.

The services within commercial and public buildings tend to be much more complex and wide ranging, and so the options within SBEM are much broader than for domestic applications.

SBEM Calculations
for Commercial Buildings.

There are a number of different types of commercial buildings that do need an SBEM calculation, from new builds over 50 metres squared to extensions and refurbishments too, including:

Offices
Warehouses
Retail units
Restaurants
Leisure centres
Retirement homes

However, there are some exceptions where SBEMs may be not be required, such as places of worship and unheated buildings. 

Why the calculations are so important?

It’s important to carry out SBEM calculations prior to the commencement of building works. Delaying this could prove costly for the whole project, as it is possible you won’t be permitted to begin work on site.

The sooner the process is started, the more time there is to resolve any problems before the building process begins.

Different Stages of the Process

Tester Levels

A design stage SBEM assessment should be completed before the construction starts, and then an as-built SBEM when construction is completed, which includes the results of an air tightness test and demonstrates the building has been constructed in accordance with the design. This is referred to as a Building Regulation UK Part L report (BRUKL).

For new builds, your calculations will be split into two reports: ‘design stage’ and ‘as built’. For extensions and conversions, L2B SBEM Calculations are split into ‘notional’ and ‘proposed’ reports.

Contact us to arrange for the air tightness test and we will use the results in the SBEM Calculations.

How Long Will My Calculations Take?

This entirely depends on the timeline and size of your construction project – for instance, a huge hundred-unit warehouse will take far longer than a single shop front.

Generally, the assessor will aim to complete all reports within 5–10 working days after request.

What information do we require?

In order for the assessor to carry out SBEM calculations, you should provide us with as much information as possible. This includes, but is not limited to:

Floorplans
Elevations
Sections
Site Plan
Insulation type/thickness
U-value of openings
Specification of heating systems
Hot water generation
Lighting controls and lighting specifications
Specification of ventilation and cooling systems
Renewable technologies
Accredited construction details

Ring or Email for a Quote
Tel: 01323 841488
Mobile: 07867 960 711
Email: info@uk-building-assessments.co.uk
Speak to our Energy Assessments Manager

SBEM Calculations

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