How to get a BER certificate
On this page we will explain how to get a BER certificate for a residential property, what the process involves and how long it will take.
Getting a new BER certificate is a relatively simple process. Simply book an SEAI registered BER assessor to come out to the property in question and conduct an assessment. The BER certificate will be produced and emailed to you within 10 days of the survey.
You can book a survey with us by going to our “quote and booking” page, submitting your details and following the link that you will receive in an email along with a quote for the job. This link will bring you directly to our booking calendar where you can schedule your appointment for a BER assessment. Otherwise, you can check the list of registered BER assessors on the SEAI website to find a BER assessor.
What happens during the assessment
To begin the survey the BER assessor will ask a few questions about the property. He will then need access to all areas of the dwelling to carry out the following tasks:
- measure the dimensions of the property and draw a floorplan
- record information about the surrounding environment of the property
- Measure the areas of all windows and doors and record details about each
- record details of materials and insulation used in construction of walls, roofs and floors
- record information about the type of: heating system and controls; hot water system; ventilation; lighting; any renewable energy generating technology
- record details of any documentation that you provide that will help improve the accuracy of the BER, as per SEAI guidelines
This is a non invasive survey, meaning that the BER assessor will not be taking boilers apart, making holes in walls, dismantling lamps, etc.. during their investigations.
How long will it take to get a BER certificate?
Depending on the size of the property, the assessor will need between two and four hours to complete all the survey tasks listed above. Please allow a suitable amount of time in your day to enable them to get the job done.
The BER assessor has to carry out some calculations on the information collected during the survey and then process those results through SEAI’s DEAP software. This is this software which determines the BER result and publishes the certificate. Typically a BER assessor is expected to produce a BER certificate within 10 days of the survey. Once published, you will receive the BER certificate and the advisory report by email. This report highlights areas of your property that you can upgrade to improve the BER result. You can learn more about the advisory report here
