The Steps To Take Following Your TM44 Inspection
If you have an industrial air conditioning unit fitted in your home or commercial building, then you must understand your legal responsibilities when it comes to TM44 responsibilities. Failing to comply with the regulations relating to air conditioning units can cause serious environmental harm and result in hefty fines. To help you understand your legal responsibilities, we’ve put together a useful guide on everything you should know about TM44 assessments and the steps you need to take following the inspection.
When do I need a TM44 inspection?
Since January 2011, any air conditioning unit with a cooling output of more than 12 kw must be inspected by an authorised energy assessor at least once every five years. You must still arrange a TM44 inspection if you have multiple units that are less than 12 kw. For example, if you have three small air conditioning units giving out 6 kw each. Once you have a TM44 inspection carried out, you must continue to inspect your air conditioning system regularly to identify any issues with the unit.
What happens during the assessor’s visit?
When you arrange a TM44 inspection, an accredited energy auditor will visit your home or commercial property to assess the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. This person must have received the necessary training and assessments to ensure that they can conduct a fair and accurate assessment. The easiest way to ensure this is by arranging the inspection through a professional and reputable energy agency. The TM44 inspector will complete a visual inspection of your air conditioning system and also inspect its tools and controls. Following the green energy survey, you will be given a detailed report outlining the current energy efficiency of your air conditioning system. You will also be provided with recommendations to increase the efficiency of your air conditioning system.
What action should I take following the inspection?
As mentioned above, your assessor will provide you with detailed recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of your air conditioning unit and equipment. You will also be informed of any faults with your system and given suggested actions to improve your unit. This might involve free or low-cost solutions as well as replacements or alternatives. The recommendations are strongly advised, but there is no obligation to carry them out. That being said, you are expected to complete any recommended energy improvements that are reasonable and within your control. Completing upgrades to your air conditioning unit may seem expensive. However, you should keep in mind that the TM44 inspection guidance aims to make your air conditioning unit more energy-efficient, which in turn, will improve its performance and lower operational costs. The money spent on energy-efficient upgrades should be quickly recovered through the cost-saving benefits.
Why is the inspection important?
Having your air conditioning unit inspected by a professional energy assessor will improve its efficiency, reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. It will also make your system cheaper to run which will save you money on energy bills. Concerns over global warming are growing and homeowners and businesses have a social responsibility to minimise their environmental impact. Having your air conditioning system inspected regularly will help to lower carbon emissions and make your unit as eco-friendly and cost-effective as possible.
Are there any fines for not getting a TM44 inspection?
Under UK law, any owner of an air conditioning system with an output of more than 12 kw (or with multiple units with a combined output of 12 kw) must have the system professionally inspected every five years. If you fail to arrange an inspection or fail to keep a copy of the report, then you could face a fine of up to £300 per unit or offence. The Trading Standards Enforcement officers can also issue you with an additional £200 fine for non-compliance on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis. You must log a copy of your most recent TM44 inspection report on the Government database. An enforcement officer can log on at any time to check that your air conditioning unit is compliant with the relevant inspection regulations.
Summary
Having an industrial air conditioning unit that does not comply with the relevant regulations may result in serious pollution and cause problems later down the line. A TM44 inspection will make sure that your air conditioning system and equipment is running in the most efficient way possible. This will lower harmful emissions and should save you money in the long run by cutting your energy costs.
