Welcome to our Comprehensive Guide on TM44 Inspections, the Cornerstone of Air Conditioning System Efficiency in the UK.
This guide explains TM44 inspection requirements and regulations in the UK, what TM44 means, who needs an inspection, how the 12kW rule works, what appears in the report and certificate, how often inspections are required, and what happens if you do not comply.
Our guide delves into the purpose of TM44 audits, which aims to enhance system efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and lower operating costs, all while contributing to a reduction in your carbon emissions.
We will explore the legal requirements, the inspection criteria, and the potential penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, we will offer insights into how these inspections can serve as a valuable tool for gathering data on utility costs and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Stay informed and ensure your air conditioning systems are not only compliant but also operating at their best with our TM44 guide.
What is a TM44 Inspection and What Does it Mean?
TM44 stands for Technical Memorandum 44, CIBSE guidance used for statutory air conditioning inspections in the UK.
In practice, a TM44 inspection is an accredited energy efficiency assessment of qualifying air conditioning systems (typically where combined cooling output is more than 12kW). It produces a report with recommendations and a certificate for compliance records.
What Is the Purpose of a TM44 Inspection?
The primary objective of a TM44 inspection is to assess and improve energy efficiency. The purpose is not enforcement, but informed compliance, helping system operators understand how performance can be improved while meeting legal obligations.
Why are Air Conditioning Inspections a Legal Requirement?
An air conditioning system inspection and certificate is a legal requirement for organisations to have done by an independent, accredited assessor.
A TM44 inspection has several aims:
- To improve the efficiency of an air conditioning system
- Reduce the energy costs associated with operating the system
- Reduce energy consumption from using air conditioning
- Lower the carbon emissions that are associated with running an air conditioning system.
As part of the inspection and alongside your TM44 certificate, your TM44 energy assessor will provide you with a TM44 report, which will highlight how well the system is operating, advise on how the system can be improved upon, and opportunities where you may need to replace older, less energy-efficient systems, or oversized systems, with new energy efficient systems.
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What if I do not get a TM44 Certificate?
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.
How Often am I Required to Have a TM44 Inspection?
You must get a TM44 inspection every five years, this will enable you to achieve better operational efficiency of your air conditioning system and will ensure you are legally complying with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
How do I know if my Air Conditioning Unit Needs an Inspection?
Air conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kW are required to have a valid air conditioning inspection report and TM44 certificate in place.
This includes circumstances where individual units are less than 12kW, but the combined output across all units is 12kW or more. Additionally, where the combined output would include multiple units within a building that are controlled by a single person, so are considered a single air conditioning system.
What “effective rated output” means
Effective rated output is the maximum cooling output in kW stated by the manufacturer for continuous operation. Check the rating plate on the unit, the operating manual, or the manufacturer’s data.
Simple 12kW examples
- One 8kW unit only → usually out of scope
- Two 6kW units under one operator → combined 12kW → likely in scope
- Multiple small splits across a floor controlled as one system → check combined capacity
What Advice will I Receive from my TM44 Report?
The air conditioning inspection report aims to support businesses in managing the energy efficiency of their air conditioning systems and identify opportunities to make energy and carbon savings.
The air conditioning inspection report will include:
- The effectiveness of the air conditioning system and any improvements that can be made to improve its efficiency
- Any faults discovered during the inspection
- The efficiency of the air conditioning controls and control systems and how you may be able to make improvements on this
- The effectiveness of equipment maintenance and suggestions for improvement
- The current size of the installed system in relation to the cooling load
- Ways to optimise the air conditioning systems’ performance under the usual operating conditions
- An overall summary of the key findings and recommendations for organisations to consider implementing to improve overall system performance.
Does the TM44 Recommendation Report have to be Actioned as a Legal requirement?
There is no legal requirement for businesses to act on or implement any of the recommendations made in the report. However, organisations that are looking to make their systems more energy efficient and ensure they can support them in their journey to reducing their carbon emissions may consider making changes to the way their systems run.
When storing the TM44 report, you must ensure it can be used in the future to inform upcoming inspections and be passed on to future system owners, it is recommended to keep the report in a safe space.
What is a TM44 Certificate?
A TM44 certificate is the compliance record confirming an accredited inspection has been completed. Keep it with your inspection report for audits and enforcement requests.
TM44 Report vs Certificate vs Register
- Report: detailed findings and recommendations from the assessor
- Certificate: formal compliance record for the inspection
- Register / lodgement: in England & Wales, valid reports are lodged on the government register by an accredited assessor
Only reports produced and lodged by accredited assessors are treated as valid.
What is a TM44 Survey?
“TM44 survey” is commonly used to describe the on-site inspection of the air conditioning installation, controls and maintenance evidence. It forms part of the wider TM44 inspection process that leads to the report and certificate.
What are the Key Steps in a TM44 Inspection and Survey?
- Select an Accredited Assessor: Hire an accredited air conditioning energy assessor to conduct the inspection. They should be registered with an approved certification body.
- Inspection Process:
- 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.
- Maintain Records: Keep records of inspections, recommendations, and any actions taken.
- Display TM44 Certificates: Display TM44 certificates in a visible location.
How do I stay compliant with TM44?
The person who controls the operation of a qualifying air conditioning system should:
- Ensure inspections are completed on the required timetable
- Keep the most recent TM44 inspection report
- Hand reports over to a new system operator if responsibility changes
- If operational responsibility changes and no report is passed on, arrange a TM44 inspection within three months
How will the Efficiency of my Air Conditioning System be Assessed?
There are several different aspects of an air conditioning system that an energy assessor will review during a TM44 survey to understand its efficiency.
- Refrigeration: The inspection looks at the air conditioning units for indicators of damage or lack of maintenance that would significantly impact its efficiency.
- Air moving systems: The impact of air moving in the system and how it is delivered can play a part in the overall efficiency of the air conditioning system.
- Controls: System controls are assessed in more detail. Better management of system controls can be one of the easier and lower cost solutions to improving system efficiency. This could be as simple as adjusting time switches or for cooling or heating thermostats to be set correctly.
- Maintenance and documentation: The TM44 assessor will make a note of evidence of any planned maintenance scheduled. They will also assess the quality, extent and accessibility of information provided before an inspection, which will impact the effectiveness and cost of the air conditioning system audit.
How Could these Recommendations Help Reduce my Energy and Carbon Consumption?
The recommendations made in the TM44 report will enable organisations to have more of an understanding of their systems and resolve any issues to ensure their air conditioning system is running efficiently.
The TM44 audit will also serve as a valuable tool to help you gather data on your utility and energy usage, which can be used to manage the overall running of the system and inform your carbon reduction strategy.
Understanding this data will enable you to make simple, low-cost changes to the way your air conditioning systems are run. This could include regularly checking the controls to ensure the heating element is not fighting with the cooling, and ensuring the system is cleaned of dust to help it run efficiently.
Who can Provide a TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection?
A TM44 air conditioning survey can only be carried out by an energy assessor who is a member of an accreditation scheme. Only air conditioning inspection reports that have been produced and lodged on the register by accredited energy assessors are considered valid reports.
If you require a TM44 air conditioning inspection, our team of energy assessors can provide you with a TM44 certificate and a report on the ways you can make your air conditioning system more efficient.
Remember to schedule regular TM44 inspections to maintain optimal performance and comply with legal requirements. Always consult with a qualified assessor for accurate guidance tailored to your specific air conditioning system.
Meet our TM44 Energy Assessors
Our in-house, experienced, TM44 energy assessors will provide you with a complete TM44 certificate and recommendations for you to improve your air conditioning system.
Cert HE (Eng) TMInstR, Level 4 Air Conditioning Energy Assessor
MSc, CEng, MCIBSE, MAEE, CMVP, EUR-ING, EnCO Consultant
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Call 01908 886906 and find out how our consultants can guarantee your TM44 compliance and ensure your air conditioning system is working at its most efficient.