Registration of Non Domestic Building Energy Rating (BER) Assessors

Candidates seeking to register as Non Domestic BER Assessors must satisfy all of the following criteria:

• Hold a qualification in a building construction related discipline
• Hold membership of a professional qualifying organisation at a specified grade
• Pass the Non-Domestic BER examination
• Mandatory Insurance
• Tax Clearance Certificate
• Complete an application form
• Registered e-mail address
• Payment of fees
• Registration renewals
• Number of Active Assessors

Qualification in a Building Construction Related Discipline

Non Domestic BER Assessor training is recommended but not mandatory.

There are three options by which applicants can demonstrate suitable qualifications.

a) Degree (at Level 7 under the National Framework of Qualifications) in one of the following building construction related disciplines:

- Architecture
- Architectural Technology
- Building Services Engineering
- Building Surveying
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Quantity Surveying

OR

b) Degree (at level 7 under the National Framework of Qualifications) where at least two of the subjects listed below has been covered for at least two semesters each

- Architecture
- Architectural Technology
- Building Construction / Technology
- Building Design
- Building Energy Performance
- Building Services Engineering
- Building Surveying
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Quantity Surveying

OR

c) Definition of Equivalent Qualifications

SEAI acknowledges the comprehensive approach which the following professional bodies apply to the qualification of their members. Therefore the following memberships are currently deemed to be equivalent qualifications for the purposes of registration as a Non Domestic BER Assessors.

Membership of Professional Qualifying Organisation

Membership of one of the following professional bodies at one of the grades specified below is required to meet the second criteria for registration.

Non Domestic BER Examination

Once you have fulfilled the criteria above you will need to sit the SEAI Non Domestic BER Examination. Candidates and registered BER Assessors require an Eligibility ID to book an examination. Registered BER Assessor will automatically receive an Eligibility ID via email. If you are a candidate who has not previously registered as a non domestic BER assessor with SEAI, you will need to contact the BER Helpdesk to request an Eligibility ID.

The BER Exams are administered by Prometric on behalf of SEAI. The examination can be taken at any of the Prometric Test Centre locations throughout the country.

You can book an exam online; click here
You can book an exam by phone; call 1890 340 128

Insurance

All BER Assessors are required to have the following Insurance as a condition of registration:

• Public / Products Liability Insurance with an minimum limit of €6,500,000 any one event for Public Liability
• Professional liability insurance with a minimum limit of €1,300,000 for any one claim
• Employers Liability Insurance (applicable to employer/employee registrations only). Policy provides an indemnity limit of not less than €13,000,000 for any one event

SEAI has created a BER Assessor Certificate of Insurance. This form must be completed by a Registered Insurance Broker or Agent or an Insurance Company licensed to issue cover in the Republic of Ireland, as approved by the Financial Regulator.

New applicants will need to send in their completed Certificate of Insurance with their application form.

Registered Assessors should email scanned copies of the completed form to the BER Helpdesk at registered@ber.seai.ie. Please include 'Insurance Certificate' and your Assessor Number in the subject title of the email. Please note, that you will be required to submit this information when your Insurance is renewed, amended or updated.

Tax Clearance Certificate

All BER Assessors are required to have a valid Tax Clearance Certificate as a condition of registration. To obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate please contact www.revenue.ie

New applicants will need to send in their Tax Clearance Certificate with their application form.

Registered Assessors should email scanned copies of the completed form to the BER Helpdesk at registered@ber.seai.ie . Please include 'Tax Clearance Certificate' and your Assessor Number in the subject title of the email. Please note, that you will be required to submit this information when your Tax Clearance Certificate is renewed, amended or updated.

Application forms

R06 - Application Form for Individual non domestic BER Assessor
R05 - Application Form for Employee non domestic BER Assessor and Employer Support Form

Find out the role of the employer here.

The signed form and the required documentation should be sent in hard copy to:

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
PO Box 135
Cahirciveen
Co. Kerry

NOTE: Incomplete applications will be returned in their entirety.  Originals will not be returned, so please send copies only.

Assessors Registered e-mail address

It is important that Assessors provide a valid registered e-mail address to SEAI. The SEAI team and the Non Domestic National Administration System (ND-NAS) will send all communications to this registered e-mail address.

Payment of fees

Upon successful registration as a BER Non Domestic Assessor the relevant registration fee will be paid by direct debit. A monthly statement detailing transaction fees will be issued to the registered email, to the address provided on the application form, as soon as possible after the month end and payment is then collected by direct debit on the 20th day of the following month e.g. fees incurred during February are invoiced at the end of February and collected on the 20th of March.

Registration Renewals

Approximately one month before a BER Assessor’s registration is due for renewal; SEAI will send a renewal notice to him/her. Renewal of registrations is subject to payment offees and may be subject to additional educational or administrative requirements.

A registered BER Assessor who has resigned his or her registration or whose registration has been suspended or terminated must remove all reference to registration from their notepaper and property and shall not in any way represent himself/herself or his/her business as being registered with SEAI. If requested by SEAI, he or she must return all SEAI property including the BER Assessor registration certificate.

Number of Active BER Assessors

In assessing the business opportunity for you as a BER Assessor, SEAI strongly advise all applicants to review the number of BER Assessors on the National Register of BER Assessors who are already servicing your intended target area. There is no cap on the number of BER Assessors who can operate in Ireland and all applicants should ensure that they are happy with the potential business opportunity before investing in training and registering with SEAI.