Guide
How to Prepare Your
Commercial Property for a
BER Assessment
A practical checklist to help you get the most accurate BER rating possible for your commercial building.
A practical checklist to help you get the most accurate BER rating possible for your commercial building.
Last updated: March 2026 · 6 min read
A BER assessment is only as accurate as the information available to the assessor. When your assessor can see and document exactly what's in your building — insulation types, heating system specifications, window ratings, lighting details — they can calculate a rating that reflects the true energy performance of your property.
Without documentation, assessors must apply default assumptions based on the building's age and type. These defaults are deliberately conservative (they assume the worst reasonable case), which often results in a lower rating than the building deserves. A few minutes of preparation can make the difference between a C3 and a B3 rating — which has real implications for property value.
If you have floor plans, elevations, or any architectural drawings, make these available. They help the assessor understand the building's geometry, floor areas, and construction details without spending excessive time measuring on site. Even rough sketches or estate agent floor plans are useful. If you have as-built drawings that show construction details like wall build-ups, these are particularly valuable.
If you know what your walls, roof, and floor are made of — and crucially, whether and how they're insulated — share this information. For buildings constructed since 2006, there may be Part L compliance documentation that details insulation levels. For older buildings, any renovation records that mention insulation upgrades are helpful. If cavity wall insulation has been installed, a certificate or receipt from the installer can prove this to the assessor.
If you have specifications for your windows and external doors — particularly the U-value or the glazing type (single, double, triple) and the frame material — provide these. For newer windows, there may be a sticker or marking on the glass spacer bar that identifies the manufacturer and specification. Window certifications, quotes, or receipts from installation are all useful evidence.
Make a note of your heating system type (gas boiler, oil boiler, heat pump, electric heating, etc.), the make and model if visible, and its approximate age. If you have a cooling or air conditioning system, the same details apply. For buildings with building management systems (BMS), any information about the control strategy is valuable. If there are separate systems serving different zones — for example, a different heating system in the warehouse versus the office area — note this.
In many commercial buildings, hot water is provided by the main heating system. But in some — particularly hospitality venues — there may be dedicated hot water systems, solar thermal panels, or instantaneous water heaters. Note whatever you know about how hot water is generated and distributed.
The assessor will survey your lighting on site, but it helps to know if any recent lighting upgrades have been carried out (such as a switch to LED), whether there are any automatic lighting controls (occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, timer controls), and whether emergency lighting is separate from general lighting.
If your building has solar PV panels, solar thermal collectors, a heat pump, a biomass boiler, or any other renewable energy system, have the specifications available. The size of the installation (kWp for solar PV, kW for heat pumps) and the installation date are the key details.
Ensure the assessor can access all areas of the building, including the roof space (if safely accessible), plant rooms and boiler rooms, all floors and zones of the building, and the exterior of the building for measuring and inspecting the facade. If there are areas with restricted access — such as server rooms, clean rooms, or areas with security requirements — discuss this with your assessor in advance so they can plan accordingly.
Don't worry. Experienced commercial BER assessors are used to working with limited information. We'll assess what we can see and apply appropriate assumptions where documentation is missing. But any information you can provide helps produce a more accurate — and usually better — rating.
Make sure someone is available to let the assessor in and provide access to locked areas. The survey typically takes 1-2 hours for small properties and half a day or more for larger buildings. The assessor will measure spaces, photograph building elements and systems, and record details of all energy-related features. It's a non-invasive process — we won't be drilling holes in walls or dismantling anything.
If you or your building manager can be available for questions during the survey, that's helpful but not essential. Often the assessor will have specific questions about the building's history, recent upgrades, or areas that aren't easily visible.
Once the on-site survey is complete, the assessor will model the building using SEAI-approved software and calculate the BER. You'll receive your BER certificate and advisory report, typically within 48 hours for straightforward properties. The certificate is automatically registered on the SEAI national register.
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