Landmark EPC Retreival Issues - 17 February 2012

Due to Landmark Issues, RdSAP users may have issues downloading lodged EPCs through the Win RdSAP Software, we are currently working on resolving this issues.

I am writing to clarify the status of the top-up training that DEAs will need to undertake if they wish to continue practising after 6 April 2012.

Where the training is delivered as part of the DEA's CPD, it will form part of the DEAs' mandatory obligation that they must undertake to keep their skills up to date.

It is very important to note that any such CPD is in addition to the recommended 10 hours of annual CPD required by accreditation schemes. It does not replace or form part of the recommended 10 hours CPD required by schemes.

Stroma Certification have amended the Assessor Monitoring Procedure documents and these are now available on the members area.

The key change is that on receipt of feedback that a quality assurance audit has failed to meet the required standards, the assessor must make the corrective changes and re lodge the certificate within 10 days (previously 14 days). Confirmation must be submitted to Stroma Certification that this has taken place along with a copy of the new certificate. Failure to adhere to this procedure will mean the assessor being suspended until the matter is resolved.

Please refer to the Assessor Monitoring Procedure documents for further clarification and if you have any questions please do not hesitate in contacting us.

During the festive period the CSH Department will be closed from 1pm on Friday 23rd December 2011, and will re-open at 8.30 am on Tuesday 3rd January 2012. Reports received for QA within this time period will be marked as received on the 3/1/12 and will be placed in the audit queue from that point onwards.

A basic technical support service will be available through email only on the following days:

• 27 December: 10am to 4pm
• 28 December: 10am to 4pm
• 29 December: 10am to 4pm
• 30 December: 10am to 4pm

Support questions should be sent to csh@stroma.com

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our assessors a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Kind regards Code Service Team

 

[FIXED] Landmark & iSBEM Issues - 14 December 2011


Message to all DEC assessors, the software problem has now been resolved and both the systemslink software and ORcalc software are working correctly. If you are still having issues please contact Technical Support for further help.

 

iSBEM v 4.1d Friday 9th December - 08 December 2011


Please note that there is new release of SBEM (v4.1.d) available for download from www.ncm.bre.co.uk on the 9th December 2011. Please note that whilst the current version may continue to work, all non-domestic energy assessors must download this new version by the 6th January 2012, to continue to be able to lodge EPCs, as the previous version will expire by this date.

Whilst the main driver for the release of the software has been changes to the underlying functionality of the Landmark registry, BRE have taken this as an opportunity to improve the software, as described below.

THE FORTHCOMING CHANGES IN v4.1.d are:

1. Modifying the method by which connection to Landmark for verification of energy assessors before the generation of XML files.
2. As a consequence of the above point, activation codes will no longer be needed, i.e., energy assessors will no longer need to obtain activation codes from EPCgen.net to input them into the software in order to be able to generate XML files.
3. Updates to the Activity database.
4. Correction of the alpha value and building conductance reported in the sim O/P files when the building includes non-planar rooflights.
5. Correction of the use of the multiplier so that the input of windows (or doors) with a multiplier >1 causes the lengths of the thermal bridge junctions (rather than the areas) to be the same as if the individual windows (or doors) were entered as separate objects instead of using the multiplier.
6. Modifying SBEM so that the alpha value for the U-values of the reference building (and notional buildings that use alpha values rather than psi values) is applied in a way that allows the calculated heat transfer through thermal bridges to be reported separately in the sim files from the heat transfer through the fabric alone.
7. Modifying the reported energy consumption by end use to include the energy consumed (for heating, cooling, and HW) and displaced by CCHP, if applicable.
8. Enhancements to the iSBEM interface, e.g.,
   a.    If the default heating or cooling efficiency default radio button is not selected, then the fields relating to the ECA and installation after 1998 become inactive in the heating, cooling, and HW sub-tabs.
   b.    Adding a drop-down menu to allow selection of fuel type for cooling generator for the “Heating and mechanical cooling” default HVAC system.
9. Enhancements to the BRUKL modules, e.g.,
   a.    Reporting the hot water storage losses in kWh/litres of storage in the BRUKL O/P document if the monthly losses, in MJ, are input manually by the user.
   b.    Reporting the lighting wattage for each zone rounded to the nearest 10 Watts instead of 50 Watts.

Should you require any further support regarding this release please do not hesitate to contact our technical support team at technicalsupport@stroma.com or by calling us on 0845 621 11 11.

 

ENE 6 Update - 17 November 2011


Guidance has been issued today for the ENE 6 criteria for all CSH guidance documents. This document can be downloaded by following this link (here). Should you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

ENE 3 Update - 17 November 2011


Guidance has been issued today for the ENE 6 criteria for all CSH guidance documents. This document can be downloaded by following this link (here). Should you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Building Regulation Decision Chart - 14 November 2011


With immediate effect: the building features ‘demand controlled ventilation’ and ‘night ventilation strategy’ may now be modelled by Level 4 or Level 5 assessors using SBEM for the production of EPCs for non-dwellings. This statement supersedes any previous convention which designated the assessment of a building incorporating these features as Level 5.

This information and the ‘Assessment Decision Level Flow Chart’ below should be communicated to scheme members and incorporated in the QA of any EPC assessments carried out from the date of this statement. The revised flow chart will also be included in the next issue of the CEPC conventions.

Download the Assessment Flow Chart

 

Version 2.0.6 Air Con Software Released - 07 November 2011


The interface has been redesigned with the user in mind, which allows reporting information to be entered in a more methodical approach.

Assessor data validation procedures have been incorporated to allow improved security through the landmark register amongst a few other problem solving issues that have been highlighted previously.

Please note; all air-conditioning inspection reports can only be lodged using the up to date software version, projects which have been prepared in previous software versions are none transferable.

Download Air-conditioning Report Tool v2.0.6

Stroma Certification was designated on 17th February 2011 by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as an FGAS company certification body in Great Britain.
Stroma Certification is therefore, able to issue Full Stationary Equipment Qualification Company Certificates (Full company certificates), remain independent, and maintain documentation of all certified persons for verification and auditing.