Critical deadline for buildings in South Africa coming next month

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has warned building owners in South Africa that time is running out to register

In an effort to promote energy efficiency improvement in buildings, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy promulgated regulations for the mandatory display and submission of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buildings in terms of Section 19 of the National Energy Act.

According to the department, the Regulations require that all non-residential buildings larger than 1,000 square metres be registered on the National Building Energy Performance Register (NBEPR) system administered by SANEDI on or before 3 August 2024, and to display the EPCs publicly by 7 December 2025.

Non-compliance with the regulations could result in building owners or accounting officers facing up to five years imprisonment, a R5 million fine, or both.

An EPC is aimed at helping building owners and accounting officers identify areas that need to improve energy efficiency. This is to ensure that a building remains more economically sustainable while also lowering the energy use of the building.

The deadline to display an EPC was extended by three years in 2022 from a final deadline of 7 December 2022 to 7 December 2025.

One of the biggest reasons behind deferring the ECP display date was the fact that over 250,000 privately owned buildings in the country still needed a certificate in 2023, but there were only 16 SANAS-accredited inspection bodies.

The department has now called for EPC professionals to register on its systems to assist with the certification process.

Registration for EPC Professionals started on 13 June 2024 for individuals or members affiliated with Inspection Bodies accredited by the South African National Accredited System (SANAS), which previously had exclusive rights to assess energy usage and issue certificates for buildings.

Effective Monday, 8 July 2024, all other eligible individuals with the necessary knowledge and qualifications will also be allowed to register as EPC Professionals to conduct energy performance assessments and issue EPCs for buildings in accordance with SANAS 1544.

Applicants must hold at least a Grade 12 or NQF 4 qualification and a Diploma or bachelor’s Degree in engineering, energy management, natural sciences, property studies, architecture, quantity surveying, or construction management.

Once registered, the individual EPC Professionals must attend compulsory continuous EPC Professional Training in the field of energy performance assessment, energy audits, or energy management facilitated by training providers appointed and/or endorsed by SANEDI.

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