What Is a Commercial EPC?
A commercial EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate for a business or “non-domestic” building — anything that isn’t someone’s home, such as an office, shop, restaurant, warehouse or industrial unit. (“Non-domestic” simply means not a dwelling.) It rates how energy-efficient the building is on a simple A-to-G scale, where A is the most efficient and G the least, and it comes with a recommendations report suggesting how the rating could be improved. You’ll usually need a valid one when you sell, let or build commercial premises in the UK.
In short: it’s the official document that tells a buyer, tenant or solicitor how energy-efficient a commercial building is — and, increasingly, whether it can legally be let at all.
What does a commercial EPC actually check?
This is the part most explanations skip. A commercial EPC isn’t based on your energy bills — it rates the building itself and the fixed services in it, regardless of how the current occupier uses it. An accredited assessor records and models:
Construction and fabric — walls, roof, floors, windows and how well they hold heat in (insulation and glazing).
Heating — the type, age and efficiency of the heating system and its controls.
Cooling and air-conditioning — whether the building is air-conditioned, and how efficient that system is.
Ventilation — natural or mechanical, and how it’s controlled.
Lighting — the type of lighting (older fluorescent vs LED) and controls such as sensors and timers.
Hot water — how it’s produced.
Renewables — any on-site generation, such as solar panels.
The assessor enters all of this into government-approved software, which calculates the building’s energy performance and produces the A-to-G rating. Because it’s the building being rated, two businesses in identical units would get the same EPC even if one runs its lights all night and the other doesn’t.
How is it different from a domestic (house) EPC?
People often assume a commercial EPC is just a house EPC for a bigger building. It isn’t. The key differences:
Different method. Homes are assessed using a method called RdSAP. Commercial buildings are assessed using SBEM — the Simplified Building Energy Model, the government’s approved calculation method for non-domestic buildings. (Very large or unusual buildings can use a more detailed method called Dynamic Simulation Modelling, but SBEM covers most cases.)
Graded by complexity. Commercial assessments are classified as Level 3, 4 or 5 depending on how complex the building’s heating, cooling and ventilation are. A simple, naturally ventilated shop is a lower level than a multi-zone office with air-conditioning — which is also why commercial EPCs cost more than domestic ones.
A different qualification. It must be produced by an accredited non-domestic energy assessor — not the same as the domestic assessor who would do a house. Using the right type of assessor matters; a domestic EPC on a commercial building isn’t valid.
Who produces a commercial EPC?
Only an accredited non-domestic energy assessor can produce a valid commercial EPC. They must be registered with a government-approved accreditation scheme, which is how the certificate gets lodged on the official register. When you instruct an assessor, it’s reasonable to ask which scheme they’re accredited with — a genuine provider will tell you. The commercial EPCs we arrange are carried out by accredited professionals registered with the recognised UK schemes, such as Elmhurst Energy, Stroma Certification, CIBSE Certification and Quidos.
How long does a commercial EPC last, and what does it look like?
A commercial EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it’s lodged, unless a newer one replaces it. The certificate shows the A-to-G rating, the building’s details, the assessor’s accreditation, and a separate recommendations report listing potential improvements with an indication of their impact. Once produced, it’s lodged on the national EPC register and you’re sent a copy — it’s the document buyers, tenants and their solicitors will ask to see.
Do you actually need one?
You’ll generally need a valid commercial EPC if you’re selling, letting or building most commercial premises. A handful of building types are exempt, and there’s now a minimum rating you must reach to let most commercial property — both of which catch people out. For the full rules on when one is required, see our guide to commercial EPC requirements; for what it costs, see our commercial EPC cost guide.
Request a fixed-fee quote — tell us the property and we’ll confirm the price up front.
Frequently asked questions
What is a commercial EPC in simple terms?
It’s an official energy-efficiency rating (A to G) for a business or non-domestic building — an office, shop, warehouse and so on — produced by an accredited assessor. You usually need one to sell, let or build commercial premises.
What does a commercial EPC check?
The building’s fabric (walls, roof, windows), heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, hot water and any renewables — not your energy bills. It rates the building, not how you use it.
What’s the difference between a commercial and a domestic EPC?
A commercial EPC uses a different method (SBEM rather than the home RdSAP method), is graded by building complexity (Level 3, 4 or 5), and must be done by a non-domestic assessor. A house EPC isn’t valid for a commercial building.
Who can produce a commercial EPC?
Only an accredited non-domestic energy assessor registered with a government-approved scheme. It’s fine to ask a provider which scheme they’re with.
How long is a commercial EPC valid?
Ten years from the date it’s lodged on the register, unless a newer certificate is produced.
Does a commercial EPC use my energy bills?
No. It assesses the building and its fixed systems using approved software, so the rating doesn’t change with the occupier’s habits.
Need commercial EPCs?
Fixed-fee, fast turnaround, accredited assessors.