What is a TM44 Air Conditioning System Inspection?
If you have an air conditioning system with a cooling capacity of 12kW or more in your building, you are legally required to have a valid air conditioning inspection report and a certificate in place.
Our thorough air conditioning inspection and reporting service is delivered by our team of accredited energy assessors, ensuring you remain compliant with the TM44 guidelines.
The importance of TM44 air conditioning inspections
This TEAM Energy video explains why TM44 air conditioning inspections are a legal requirement and how they support compliance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations. It highlights what a TM44 inspection involves, when it is required, and how the resulting report can help improve system efficiency, reduce energy costs, and lower the carbon impact of air conditioning systems.
Common Issues Found During a TM44 Inspection
Based on our many years of experience, there are a number of common issues that are identified during an air conditioning inspection:
- Poor Maintenance: Dirty filters, blocked coils, and inadequate maintenance affect efficiency.
- Incorrect Settings: Inappropriate temperature settings or faulty controls.
- Leakages: Refrigerant leaks impact performance.
- Insufficient Insulation: Poorly insulated ducts and pipework lead to energy loss.
- Obsolete Systems: Older systems may not meet modern efficiency standards.
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What is a TM44 Air Conditioning System Inspection?
If you have an air conditioning system with a cooling capacity of 12kW or more in your building, you are legally required to have a valid air conditioning inspection report and a certificate in place.
Our thorough air conditioning inspection and reporting service is delivered by our team of accredited energy assessors ensuring you remain compliant with the TM44 guidelines.
Common issues found during a TM44 inspection
Based on our many years of experience there are a number of common issues that are identified during an air conditioning inspection:
- Poor Maintenance: Dirty filters, blocked coils, and inadequate maintenance affect efficiency.
- Incorrect Settings: Inappropriate temperature settings or faulty controls.
- Leakages: Refrigerant leaks impact performance.
- Insufficient Insulation: Poorly insulated ducts and pipework lead to energy loss.
- Obsolete Systems: Older systems may not meet modern efficiency standards.
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Addressing these issues through regular inspections enhances energy efficiency, reduces costs, and prolongs the lifespan of your air conditioning system.
7 Steps to TM44 Inspections
- Inspection Process:
- Select an Accredited Assessor: Hire an accredited air conditioning energy assessor to conduct the inspection. They should be registered with an approved certification body.
- Data Collection: The assessor gathers information about the system, including its type, capacity, age, and usage patterns.
- Visual Inspection: The assessor completes a TM44 survey to examine the components, controls, and maintenance records.
- TM44 Site Survey: The assessor inspects the physical installation, including pipework, ducts, and insulation.
- Assessment of Efficiency: The assessor calculates the system’s energy efficiency ratio (EER) and seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER).
- Recommendations: Based on the findings, the TM44 assessor provides recommendations for improvements.
- Display TM44 Certificate: Display the TM44 certificate in a visible location.
How can TEAM Help with your TM44 Compliance?
Our independent air conditioning service includes:
- Visual assessment of your air conditioning system
- Inspection of system components, controls and settings
- Summary of cost-effective improvements and recommendations
- The service is carried out by our accredited energy assessors in compliance with the UK Government regulations
- Review of maintenance records and how the system is operated
- Check on whether the system appears suitably matched to the cooling load.
What you receive
- A TM44 survey and report with findings and recommendations
- Your certificate / compliance documentation pathway
- Lodgement support on the government register where applicable (England & Wales)
- Clear advice from an accredited TEAM energy assessor.
Air Conditioning Inspection Report
After the survey, you receive a TM44 inspection report setting out how your air conditioning system is performing and where efficiency can be improved.
Example Recommendations You May See
- Adjusting time schedules or temperature set-points
- Improving maintenance routines (filters, coils, controls)
- Addressing poor control settings that waste energy
- Reviewing oversized or ageing equipment where efficiency is poor.
Note: Recommendations in the report are advisory, you are not legally required to implement them, but acting on the low-cost items often delivers the quickest savings.
What are the Benefits of a TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection?
- Improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioning systems. Government consultation indicates that, where a mandatory inspection was undertaken, typically energy savings of 30-40% could be achieved if the whole package of recommendations were implemented. Implementing just the lowest cost recommendations, such as changing the setting schedule of the system, on their own could achieve energy savings of 10-20%
- Reduce the carbon emissions produced from running your air conditioning, helping you meet your sustainability and net zero goals
- Maintain compliance with changing regulations and efficiency requirements
- Reduce your system operating costs
- Through the inspection identify faults affecting the efficacy of the units
- Put in place better control settings that meet your operational needs
- Receive expert advice from an accredited energy assessor.
These benefits highlight the importance of TM44 inspections not only for legal and environmental reasons but also for financial and operational efficiency.
How much does a TM44 inspection cost?
Pricing depends on system type, number of units and site complexity. Use our TM44 Savings Calculator to estimate potential energy cost reductions from implementing recommendations, then speak to TEAM for a tailored inspection quote.
Is a TM44 Inspection the Same as Maintenance or an F-Gas Check?
No. A TM44 inspection is an independent energy efficiency assessment for compliance. It is not a service visit, maintenance contract check, or F-Gas leak test, although assessors may note issues that affect efficiency. You may still need separate maintenance and F-Gas compliance activities.
TM44 FAQs
- It is a legal requirement under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to ensure that air conditioning inspections are carried out every 5 years and they are conducted by qualified and accredited air conditioning inspectors
- It is mandatory for all companies operating an ISO14001 certified management system
- Buildings with an air conditioning system over 12kW must have a valid TM44 air conditioning report
- The recommendations part of the report can save money by reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs
- Air conditioning reports help you enhance your company’s green credentials.
- It is a legal requirement under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to renew your air conditioning inspection compliance every 5 years
- Only systems with an output of 12kW are affected by the regulations
- This includes where individual units are less than 12kW, but the combined output across all the units is 12kW or more
- The combined output would include where multiple units within a building are controlled by a single person, so are considered a single air conditioning system
- An air conditioning assessment must be carried out by an accredited energy assessor.
If you do not get your air conditioning inspected every five years, you will be fined a minimum of £300 which can be repeated weekly until you have a valid certificate in place. There will be a further £200 fine every time you fail to provide a copy of the report to an enforcement authority such as a Trading Standard Officer (TSO) within seven days.
An inspection of the system should take place every 5-years. If you fail to have your air conditioning inspected, you can receive a fine of £300.
A TM44 survey and report with clear findings and recommendations, plus the certificate/compliance documentation pathway completed by an accredited assessor.
It depends on system type, number of units and site complexity. Request a commercial quote from TEAM, or use our savings calculator to estimate potential energy cost reductions from the recommendations.
No. A TM44 survey is an independent energy efficiency inspection for compliance. It sits alongside routine maintenance and F-Gas obligations — it does not replace them.
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Speak to an Accredited TM44 Assessor
Learn about the benefits of a TM44 inspection and request a free quote by calling 01908 690018