Display Energy Certificate (DEC) - change in requirements
The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012 requires Display Energy Certificates (DEC) in public buildings. It covers buildings where the total useful floor area of the building exceeds 250 metres square and which 'are occupied in whole or part by public authorities and frequently visited by the public'.
Legal advice has been sought with regard to whether this applies to practices. The view is that for the purposes of a GP practice the definition of a public building is likely to include surgery premises, as GP practices are in receipt of public funds and provide a public service to large numbers of people who visit regularly.
The legal view is that it would be for the occupier of the building, rather than the owner to arrange the DEC (the use of the building will usually be dictated by the occupier so it would make sense for them to arrange this if the above criteria is applicable). The position might be different, however, if NHS Propco owns the building rather than a private landlord, in which case NHS Propco will probably be responsible for obtaining and paying for the DEC. The guidance does also state that where there is doubt over whether a DEC is needed, it is good practice to obtain one. The DEC is purely based on the overall output of a building and not each single piece of equipment.
The assessment must be undertaken by an accredited energy assessor using the methodology approved by the Secretary of State. To check that an energy assessor is a member of an accreditation scheme, a search facility is available on the central register website. The Regulations can be viewed here.
If you are a member of the LMC Buying Group you may wish to look at the environmental services available through the group.
ASI Environmental can be contacted via telephone or email: 0800 161 3384 or enquiries@asi-surveys.co.uk. All prices include a full assessment, lodging of Display Energy Certificates and Aavisories. To ensure you get the discounted price you will need to mention you are a member of the LMC Buying Group.
Last updated : 10 Dec 2015Londonwide LMCs' July 2017 newsletter (19 Jul 2017)
...Medical records one-off payment (19 Jul 2017)
Practices should have received a £250 payment alongside their contractual payment by the end of June 2017. If you have not received this payment or you have any queries relating...Violent patients – a step-by-step guide to safeguarding staff (19 Jul 2017)
After a mental health inpatient made a death threat against a GP in a London practice. Londonwide LMCs' medical director Dr Vicky Weeks shares the advice she gave the team....Premises update July 2017 (18 Jul 2017)
This month’s update include advice on: London policy for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs How to plan a premises relocation Lease negotiations Transitional funding...Vacancies on BMA committees (18 Jul 2017)
There are vacancies on the following: Armed forces committee Civil and public services committee Private practice committee Forensic and secure environments committee Committee of medical managers ...Flu campaign preparation and best practice (18 Jul 2017)
Ellie Roberts, a practice manager on secondment to Londonwide LMCs, looks at why practices need to bite the bullet and get started on their flu campaign now. The flu campaign...Ballot on willingness to consider closing lists as industrial action (18 Jul 2017)
At May’s LMC conference the following motion by Tower Hamlets LMC was passed: That conference believes that the GP Forward View is failing to deliver the resources necessary to sustain...Locum and salaried GP handbooks (18 Jul 2017)
The locum GP handbook provides advice and guidance on all aspects of locum work, including on starting out as a locum, setting up as a business and establishing a contract for...New primary-secondary care interface guidance (18 Jul 2017)
GPC (England) has produced new guidance on the interface between primary and secondary care in collaboration with NHS England, NHS Improvement, NHS Clinical Commissioners, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal...CCG proposals for GPs to restrict access to OTC prescriptions (18 Jul 2017)
This page has been updated to remove advice which stated schemes proposed by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which involve GPs assessing patients’ ability to pay for over-the-counter medicines and asking...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.
follow us on...
