DECs &
Commercial EPC Advisory.
Display Energy Certificates for public buildings and practical EPC advice for commercial property. EBSNI helps facilities teams, public-sector occupiers and commercial landlords understand the assessment required, prepare the information and plan the next steps.
Facilities teams, occupiers and landlords
DECs use recorded energy consumption
A separate building asset assessment
Different display and renewal requirements
What Is a
Display Energy Certificate?
A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) shows a building’s operational energy performance using recorded consumption. It compares energy use with a benchmark for the building’s activity, helping occupiers understand how the premises perform in use.
A non-domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) serves a different purpose. It assesses the building’s fabric and fixed services under standard assumptions, rather than rating the occupier’s actual consumption. A DEC does not replace an EPC.
EBSNI supports public-building occupiers with DEC assessment and advisory reporting, alongside commercial EPC advice. We establish which certificate or report is needed for the property’s location, use and circumstances before agreeing the scope.
Display & Certification Requirements
Across the UK & Ireland.
DEC obligations are not identical across the UK and Ireland. Floor area, occupancy and public access affect the requirement; EPC obligations and renewal arrangements must be considered separately.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, qualifying public buildings over 250 m² that are frequently visited by the public require a DEC displayed prominently, with an accompanying advisory report.
Northern Ireland guidance specifies annual DEC renewal and a seven-year advisory report. Commercial EPC requirements are reviewed separately.
England & Wales
In England and Wales, public-authority buildings over 250 m² that are frequently visited by the public require a DEC and a valid advisory report.
For buildings over 1,000 m², the DEC lasts one year and the report seven years. Above 250 m² and up to 1,000 m², both last ten years.
Scotland
Scottish public-building display requirements concern EPCs rather than the public-building DEC regime used in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
DECs have a separate role under Section 63 as an option for deferring action-plan improvements. The relevant Scottish route and service scope must be confirmed.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland has a separate DEC scheme administered by SEAI. Its operational rating uses annual consumption data, and the DEC is updated each year.
BER certification is a separate assessment route. For Irish premises, ask us to confirm the appropriate service and registration requirements. Explore BER Assessments →
We confirm the applicable certificate, assessment scope and renewal requirements from the building’s jurisdiction, floor area, occupation and public access. A building open to visitors is not automatically subject to the same DEC duty as a qualifying public-authority building.
Plan the Next Step
Before Commissioning Work.
A certificate is a starting point for understanding performance, not a detailed specification for improvement works. EBSNI helps the client team review the relevant recommendations and establish whether further survey or assessment is needed.
If refurbishment or a change to the building services is planned, tell us before the assessment. Operational energy data, an EPC and design-stage compliance calculations answer different questions; we help identify the right route for the proposed work.
From Building Records
to Certificate & Advice.
The first step is to establish the obligation. We then agree the assessment scope, review the information and coordinate any required survey before issuing the relevant documents.
Confirm the Requirement
We review the property’s location, floor area, use, occupation and existing certificates to establish the appropriate assessment route.
→Collect the Records
For a DEC, we request consumption records, meter information, floor area and occupancy details. EPC work needs separate building and services evidence.
→Review the Performance
We check the information and complete the assessment using the applicable methodology. Surveys, data gaps and shared supplies are addressed within the agreed scope.
→Issue & Explain
We complete the agreed certificate and reporting process, explain the recommendations and confirm the relevant display and renewal arrangements.
✓What We Need
from Your Team.
Complete records help the assessor establish a reliable basis for the rating. Send what you have at enquiry stage and identify missing periods, shared meters or recent changes in occupation.
Common Questions.
Does every commercial building need a DEC?
No. DEC duties depend on the jurisdiction, floor area, occupation and public access. A privately occupied commercial building may need an EPC without requiring a DEC. Scottish public-building display requirements use EPCs, with DECs serving a separate Section 63 role.
What is the difference between a DEC and an EPC?
A DEC is an operational rating based on recorded energy consumption. An EPC assesses the building’s fabric and fixed services using standard assumptions. They answer different questions, and one certificate does not replace the other.
How often does a DEC need renewing?
In Northern Ireland, official guidance specifies annual DEC renewal and a seven-year advisory report. In England and Wales, DECs for buildings over 1,000 m² last one year and their reports seven years; above 250 m² and up to 1,000 m², both last ten years. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have separate arrangements.
What if energy records are missing or meters are shared?
Tell us which periods or supplies are affected before the assessment starts. We review whether the available evidence and any permitted methodology provisions allow the assessment to proceed. Shared supplies may need additional records or allocation; missing data can delay completion.
Does a poor rating mean the building has failed?
The certificate records assessed performance; it is not a general approval of the building or a guarantee that every legal duty has been met. We explain the recommendations and identify where further investigation or separate assessment may be appropriate.
Can you help with an EPC for a commercial sale or letting?
We can review the property and advise on the appropriate non-domestic EPC assessment route and information required. Tell us the location, use, floor area and marketing deadline. EPC certification and any applicable rental energy efficiency duties need to be considered separately.
A Public Building.
A Clearer Energy Picture.
For a qualifying public building, the team brings together consumption records, floor area and operating information. The assessment establishes the operational rating and accompanying advice, giving the occupier a clearer basis for reviewing energy use and planning the next steps.
Discuss Your ProjectDiscuss Your Building’s Energy Requirements
Send the location, building use, approximate floor area and any existing certificates. We will confirm the appropriate assessment scope. Part of the Newell Group.
