What requires an SBEM Assessment?
SBEM assessments are required for all newly built non-domestic units with a heated or cooled environment and an internal floor area greater than 50 sqm in order to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Building Regulations Approved Document L: Volume 2 (England & Wales).
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Under certain conditions, SBEM calculations may also be required for proportionally large extensions to commercial buildings, extensive refurbishments or conversions and for the ‘fit-out’ of shell & core units.​
What are SBEM Calculations?
SBEM is an acronym for Simplified Building Energy Modelling. This is the UK’s government approved methodology for calculating the energy performance of commercial properties.
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SBEM is used to assess the overall thermal efficiency of a commercial building and also the amount of energy that will be consumed by internal services (e.g. heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water) over the course of a year.​​
What is a BRUKL Report?
The key results of each SBEM calculation is summarised within a BRUKL Report for submission to the appointed Building Control Body (BCB).
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Whilst there are a number of performance criteria reported within a BRUKL report including fabric U-values and HVAC efficiencies, there is a principle requirement for the calculated Building Emission Rate (BER) and Building Primary Energy Rating (BPER) to be less than the Target Emission Rate (TER) and Target Primary Energy Rating (TPER), in order to comply with Approved Document L: Volume 2 of the Building Regulations (or equivalent local standards).
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A BRUKL Report is usually submitted to the BCB at both the Design Stage and the As Built Stage of each commercial development