Domestic Energy Assessment (DEA) including DEA Upskill (rdSAP 9.91)

Existing Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs)

Existing DEAs who wish to continue practicing and to maintain their certification after the 1st April 2012 will need to undertake top up training and successfully pass a further examination. Stroma Certification provides a free of charge on line computer based training (CBT) DEA top up course to cater for this. The course presentation offers learning modules containing the required eight-hours learning time, with additional pre-course reading material available in manageable sections.

Stroma additionally offers face-to-face training regionally, presented in lecture style, or can arrange private courses for thirty or more candidates. There is a nominal fee of £75 for attending the face-to-face training, which includes access to free of charge:

• Technical support
• Stroma's updated RdSAP 9.91 software (RSAP) Free of Charge
• Regular communications with developments and legislation
• Free of Charge Stroma Certification membership (no renewal fees are applied)

The DEA top-up training leads to a further examination, which is now available (February 2012) by the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) and will cost £90. The top up applies to Northern Ireland also, however, is not a current requirement for Scottish EPCs, even though the format of the EPC will change to include the Green Deal Advice.

Examination is in the format of supervised multiple-choice assessment, consisting of 40 questions typically lasting 60 minutes. There will be a charge for the examination and resits. Bookings for the exam can be placed via Stroma Certification, where you will be issued a voucher to attend scheduled examination. There is no restriction to the amount of resits available; however, the top-up qualification and assessment will no longer be available after October 2012. (At this point, the full revised DEA qualification would need to be taken).

To support the DEA up skill online training session, Stroma Certification provide lecture style training at the following locations and dates for all registered DEAs:

• London - 8th May 2012
• Bristol - 9th May 2012
• Birmingham - 10th May 2012
• Castleford - 11th May 2012

Private courses are also available for 30 or more attendees. You can apply for this training here, there will be a nominal fee of £75 for attending the training, which will include access to free of charge; technical support, the RdSAP 9.90 software, regular communications with developments and legislation and free of charge Stroma Certification membership for non-members.

Domestic Energy Assessors who wish to continue practicing and to maintain their certification after 1st April 2012 will need to undertake training in the new qualification and successfully pass the examination, prior to this date.

New Members looking to train as a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA)

Stroma Certification delivers a refreshed three-day DEA course, to include the newly required elements of a DEAs role plus the practical experience of property surveying and producing EPCs using Stroma's user-friendly RdSAP software, RSAP.

Day One Covers

• The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), discovering the targets and Governmental initiatives behind the EPC and existing residential property energy performance.
• How to work as a domestic energy assessor, in a safe, effective and professional manner.
• How to prepare a domestic energy assessment in order to produce an EPC
• Property construction types and system build properties for example timber frame or in-situ concrete
• RdSAP software RSAP overview

Day Two Covers

• Heating systems
• Domestic hot water
• Improving insulation techniques
• Renewable energy technologies overview
• Ageing properties
• Surveying and measuring properties – including best practise

Day Three Covers

• RSAP (RdSAP) software training (the new RSAP is available for training purposes however releases in summer 2012 in line with Governmental approval)
• Top up elements to meet the new Green Deal EPC implementation
• Mock exam evaluation

To qualify as a Domestic Energy Assessor, candidates are required to submit a portfolio of evidence of business skills and a sample of EPCs, plus successfully pass the 2 examinations. The initial DEA examination plus the top up multiple choice online examination to meet the new NOS, by the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE).