Registration of Non Domestic Building Energy Rating (BER) Assessors

Registration Requirements

Candidates seeking to register as Non Domestic BER Assessors must satisfy all of the following criteria:

1. Hold a qualification in a building construction related discipline (as set out in detail in section 1 below)
2. Hold membership of a professional qualifying organisation at a specified grade (as set out in section 2 below)
3. Pass the national qualifying examination (as set out in section 3 below)

1. Qualification in a Building Construction Related Discipline

There are three options by which applicants can demonstrate suitable qualifications.

a) Degree (at Level 7 or 8 under the National Framework of Qualifications) in one of the following building construction related disciplines:

- Architecture
- Architectural Technology
- Building Services Engineering
- Building Surveying
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Quantity Surveying

OR

b) Degree (at level 7 or 8 under the National Framework of Qualifications) where at least two of the subjects listed below has been covered for at least two semesters each

- Architecture
- Architectural Technology
- Building Construction / Technology
- Building Design
- Building Energy Performance
- Building Services Engineering
- Building Surveying
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Quantity Surveying

OR

c) Definition of Equivalent Qualifications

SEAI acknowledges the comprehensive approach which the following professional bodies apply to the qualification of their members. Therefore the following memberships are currently deemed to be equivalent qualifications for the purposes of registration as a Non Domestic BER Assessors.

2. Membership of Professional Qualifying Organisation

Membership of one of the following professional bodies at one of the grades specified below is required to meet the second criteria for registration.

3. National Qualifying Examination

All candidates for registration must have passed the National Qualifying Examination for Non Domestic BER Assessors in respect of 'level 3' and 'level 4' buildings as set out on-
www.seai.ie/Your_Building/BER/Non_Domestic_Buildings/Registration_of_Non-Domestic_BER_Assessors/Interim_Qualifying_Exam)

PLEASE NOTE - An applicant wishing to register as a Non Domestic BER Assessor eligible to use an approved software tool other than iSBEM must meet the additional requirements to pass the approved qualifying exam from the relevant software provider.

A full list of examination providers is given on www.seai.ie/ber

All candidates must-

1. Complete the relevant application form below
2. Review and formally accept the Code of Practice (PDF). 
3. Have appropriate levels of Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurances.
4. Complete application form and include all documentation as detailed on the applications checklist.
5. Relevant documentation is certified as valid by a Garda Síochána, notary Public or Peace Commissioner.
6. Please send your fully completed application & all required documentation to:

   The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
   PO Box 780
   An Post South City Delivery Office
   Togher Industrial Estate
   Cork City

Application forms:

R05 � Application Form for Employee interim non domestic BER Assessor (PDF)

R06 � Application Form for Individual interim non domestic BER Assessor (PDF)

Find out the role of the employer here.

NOTE: Incomplete applications will be returned in their entirety.  Originals will not be returned, so please send copies only.

Assessors Registered e-mail address

It is important that Assessors provide a valid registered e-mail address to SEAI. The SEAI team and the Non Domestic National Administration System (ND-NAS) will send all communications to this registered e-mail address.

Payment of fees

Upon successful registration as a BER Non Domestic Assessor (interim scheme) the relevant registration fee will be paid by direct debit. A monthly statement detailing transaction fees will be issued to the registered email, to the address provided on the application form, as soon as possible after the month end and payment is then collected by direct debit on the 20th day of the following month e.g. fees incurred during February are invoiced at the end of February and collected on the 20th of March.

Number of Active BER Assessors

In assessing the business opportunity for you as a BER Assessor, SEAI strongly advise all applicants to review the number of BER Assessors on the National Register of Assessors who are already servicing your intended target area. There is no cap on the number of BER Assessors who can operate in Ireland and all applicants should ensure that they are happy with the potential business opportunity before investing in training and registering with SEAI.

As of the 4^th May 2010, there were 438 registered interim Non Domestic BER Assessors. The total number of  certified Assessors, including registered Assessors is 537.

It is expected that a proportion of these qualified people, can be expected to go on to register with SEAI.

SEAI estimates that the equivalent of 300 – 500 full time active BER Assessors would be required to meet the demands of the non domestic BER market.

The National Register of BER Assessors can be found here

A non domestic BER Assessor may resign from the interim scheme at any time by writing to: The Registrar, The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2. However, please note that registration fees paid to SEAI are non-refundable.

Registration Renewals

From 1^st November 2009 the registration under the interim scheme is normally for a one-year period. Approximately one month before a BER Assessor’s registration is due for renewal; SEAI will send a renewal notice to him/her. Renewal of registrations is subject to payment of fees and may be subject to additional educational or administrative requirements.

A registered BER Assessor who has resigned his or her registration or whose registration has been suspended or terminated must remove all reference to registration from their notepaper and property and shall not in any way represent himself/herself or his/her business as being registered with SEAI. If requested by SEAI, he or she must return all SEAI property including the BER Assessor registration certificate.

Please contact the BER Office 1890 734237 orinfo@ber.seai.iewith all queries.