Your air conditioning system may need to be inspected every 5 years by an energy assessor to make sure it's energy efficient. This is according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (Certificates and Inspections (England and Wales) Regulations. The responsibility to ensure air conditioning systems meets the requirements of this regulation often fall to people assigned to managing buildings, like building, estate or facilities managers.

TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection (ACI)

This air conditioning energy inspection is known by the industry as TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection (ACI). As it is required once every 5 years, some new building owners may not not know when their inspection is due, and sometimes, why they are even required.

JCW has a specialist division that carry out national TM44 inspections, we are regularly asked about what is involved, and why they are required. So, why is there a need for TM44 inspections for your air conditioning system?

Read on to see the questions we are often asked and their subsequent answers…

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FAQ: When would a TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection be required?

Current legislation states that all air conditioning systems with a cooling output of more than 12kW should be regularly inspected by an accredited TM44 energy assessor, however, each inspection is only required every five years after the installation.

FAQ: What does the TM44 Inspection Report Include?

A TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection would include:

A review of the air conditioning systems, and their controls
Examination of all documentation and advice on recommended requirements
An estimation of whether systems are suitably sized for cooling loads in treated spaces
Advice on any improvement recommendations which might involve simple low cost no cost solutions or replacement and alternative options.

The purpose of the inspection and the resulting report are to ensure that building owners or managers are provided with basic information that gives an indication of the likely efficiency of the air conditioning systems that they control, together with some initial advice on how energy efficiency or effectiveness of these systems might be improved.

All of the organisations involved in the preparation of this guidance recommend that the advice be considered, and that appropriate rectification or improvement be made where this is attractive and cost effective. Following up the advice in the assessor’s report could often result in immediate improvements to the effectiveness of air conditioning systems and/or to reduction in the operating costs. In some cases the costs of providing both heating and cooling may be reduced, where it may have been identified that these two systems are unnecessarily in use at the same time due to inappropriate controls or settings.

FAQ: What if I only have 3 small systems each giving a cooling output of 5kW?

Department for Communities and Local Government explains in their “guidance to air conditioning inspections for buildings”, that any “systems consisting of individual units which are less than 12kW but whose combined effective rated output is more than 12kW” is subject to the mandatory TM44 inspection per 5 years.

FAQ: What happens if I have forgotten to have my TM44 air conditioning inspection completed?

There is a fine for sites with air conditioning systems with overall output of more than 12kW, that are goes without inspections. This is a set fee of £300 and an additional £200 upon failure to provide the outstanding report within 7 days of request. The Air Conditioning Inspection Reports are lodged on the Landmark Registry Government database. Enforcement Officers can check at any time whether a commercial premise is compliant with the legislation.

FAQ: Why is the TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection important?

Aside from avoiding the fines and the negative reputation that could be perceived by failure to comply with legislation, commercial building owners are actually saving more than their company’s reputation by investing in the TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection.

An energy efficient site with effective air conditioning systems could save more on maintenance and break down repair costs as well as perform on a much lower energy consumption. Lower energy consumption equals lower energy bills.

For a more energy efficient and responsible future

We know it is quite a responsibility managing the facilities of commercial premises, large or small, and sometimes, with multiple national locations. JCW understands that when HVAC and electrical assets are broken, obsolete or inefficient, they can be costly to repair, replace and run, which can all increase our clients’ carbon footprint. As a company, we take Corporate Social Responsibilities very seriously, and our communities’ growing concerns over climate change is a huge reason why companies are urged to get their equipment assessed, air conditioning or otherwise. Savings on energy consumption is more than about saving money, we can all do more to be more responsible.

If you have air conditioning equipment on your site that require the TM44 Inspection, call us now to speak to one of our team. We can provide inspections both locally and on a national basis.