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THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION OF MALTESE BUILDINGS

REGULATIONS, METHODOLOGIES ANDIMPLEMENTATION

Perit Stephen Pulis B.E.&A.(Hons.), M.Sc. (Conservation Tech.), A.&C.E.

Chief Architect & Civil EngineerBuilding Regulation Office

Ministry for Resources and Rural AffairsMalta

Friday, 5th October 2012

The Building Regulation Office is at present responsible for drafting and setting new building regulations for Malta and for implementing the introduction of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2008. as per EU Directive 2002/91/EC and now the EPBD Recast 2010/31/EU

Finding practical solutions to the new regulations and improving on them

It is also the entity that will eventually carry out enforcement of building regulations

The Building Regulation Office

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC) introduced a system of certification that displays the overall energy consumption of buildings with added benefits to the tenants.

EU Directive 2002/91/EC

As a result of this directive, Malta’s Legal Notice 238 of 2006 which came into force on 1st November 2006 and then Legal Notice 261 of 2008 (Minimum Requirements on the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2008) transposed this directive.

The same legislation established that the Minimum Requirements indicated in Technical Guidance Document F should apply to all new buildings and also to existing buildings that undergo major renovation or alteration.

Minimum requirements on the Energy Performance of Buildings - Legal background

The tasks implied by Article 7 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive were a major challenge, in technical terms (availability of appropriate procedures) as well as in terms of required resources (inspectors, financial means, etc).

Existing software had to be evaluated and if possible adapted for local requirements to avoid re-inventing the wheel.

The methodology had to incorporate both heating and cooling calculations for residential dwellings and non-residential buildings.

EU Directive 2002/91/ECThe EPBD calculation methodology


With these new regulations all Architects (Periti) and Services Engineers have to ensure that new buildings and major extensions conform to Maltese Laws.

The Minimum Requirements on the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations aim at:

Fulfilling part of the requirements of the EU Directive 2002/91/EC by transposing articles 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Improving the quality of buildings

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings by using higher specification of building materials to reduce the passage of heat through the building and designing apertures to decrease the effect of solar overheating.

Introducing control of heating and cooling systems

Setting the minimum criteria for artificial lightingsystems and introducing lighting controls

Setting new minimum standards for wells and reservoirs that have to be used for the collection and conservation of rainwater


Minimum requirements on the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2008 - Summary

There is room for more creativity and ideas. Architects (Periti) and Services Engineers have to:

Design details of elements (such as fenestration, recesses, avoiding bridging), structure, mechanical & electrical services.

Specify characteristics of materials & components (thermal resistance, solar energy transmission, etc)

Design solutions for saving energy in buildingsExterior blinds and louvers

Design solutions for saving energy in buildingsShades and daylight control

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Design solutions for saving energy in buildingsInsulation materials

Roof insulation Heat absorbing glass Double glazing Simple exterior blinds Specifically designed

architectural elements Façade projections to

change the orientation of windows, etc.

Practical examples of how to save energy in buildings

Section 2 - Resistance to the passage of heat through the building fabric

Maximum U values in W/m2 K Table F.1

Exposed wall 1.57

Exposed floor 1.57

Non-exposed floor 1.97

Roofs 0.59

Window and rooflight openingsMaximum U values for walls, floors & roofs in Table F.1

Each of the building elements must meet the set maximum U values


Resistance to the passage of heatMaximum allowable U-values

This is the maximum

allowable U value for windows


… design … & provide solutions

Limitations for windows and rooflights Table F.2

Building typeWindows and rooflights

with the following U values in W/m2K

Aggregate area as % of the area of the exposed walls bounding the building.

Windows & doors Rooflights

Residential buildings 5.8 20%

10% of roof area

Industrial and storage buildings 5.8 15%

Offices, places of assembly 5.8 25%

Showrooms, shops 5.8 50%

Roofs 5.8 20%

Section 2 - Resistance to the passage of heat through the building fabric

Better U values will trade in for larger areas of openings

Trade-offs are allowed in the design of glazing only when better U values are specified for building elements

These trade-offs only apply to winter heating conditions.

The summer requirements have to be met as well.

No trade-offs are allowed to introduce poorer construction elements

Solar overheating

Maximum allowable areas of glazing -Table F.9

Orientation of opening

Max allowable area of opening (%) using minimal correction factor of 0.95

for glazing/blind combination

NSNEE/SE/SW/NWWHorizontal (rooflights)

2520171297

Architectural shading

Architectural shading

The national calculation methodology for residential buildings in Malta is called the EPRDM (Energy Performance of Residential Dwellings in Malta)

The calculation procedure takes account of the weather climatology and net energy required for space heating and cooling, water heating, lighting, and ventilation, after subtracting any savings from energy generation technologies.

The EPBD calculation methodology Residential buildings

It calculates the annual values of delivered energy consumption (energy use), primary energy consumption, and CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, both as totals and per square metre of total useful floor area of the dwelling per annum.

The procedure is compliant with the EPBD and consists of a monthly calculation within a series of individual modules containing equations or algorithms representing the relationships between various factors which contribute to the annual energy demand of the dwelling.

The EPBD calculation methodology Residential buildings

The calculation methodology SBEMmt for non-residential buildings is based on the UK’s Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) national calculation tool but has been adapted for Malta and uses: local weather data an activity database suitable for Malta (this

defines the standardised assumptions of occupancy, lighting, cooling, ventilation etc)

a construction database and inference procedures suitable for Malta

The EPBD calculation methodology Non-residential buildings

As a result of EU Directive 2002/91/EC, the new Maltese regulations stipulate that all buildings that are designed, sold or rented from 2009 onwards have to be designed, sold or rented with the Energy Performance Certificate.

The Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC

The EPCs are the end-product of the certification process. This document shows the calculated energy use rating for existing (asset rating) or designed (design rating) residential buildings and includes recommendations for improving their energy performance.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Overview

The energy use or EPRDM rating scale ranges from 0kWh/m2.yr (calculated low energy use due to high energy efficiency) to 280kWh/m2.yr (calculated high energy use due to low energy efficiency). The dwelling’s CO2 emission rate or DCER is also shown on a scale ranging from 0kg/m2.yr to 70kg/m2.yr beneath the main energy use scale.

The same energy use rating scale is used for those buildings that were designed before the implementation of the minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings.


The real benefit of any EPC lies in the recommendations given to the building owner. The energy performance assessor may also include a cost estimate for implementing such measures, and the calculated energy savings and the impact on the energy rating if all measures were implemented.

These recommendations are all tailored for the certified building and are not selected from a common database based on typical situations.


The MRA charges a €75 registration fee for each certificate registration, which covers part of the expenses used to run and update the EPC web portal. Those building owners, or their agents, who fail to provide an EPC within 60 days after being demanded by the authority can incur a fine between €500 and €1,500.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Legislative Requirements

Software used to calculate the Energy Performance Rating of Dwellings in Malta (EPRDM)

4) Building Services -details on the HVAC, DHW, lighting and Renewable and Low/Zero Carbon technologies (entered into the Building Services form)

2) Building fabric – U-values and Cm values for all constructions (entered into the Project Database form)

3) Geometry of the building along with details of air-permeability (entered into the Geometry form)

1) General informationabout the building/certifier/owner etc.. (entered into the Generalform)

Software used to calculate the Energy Performance Rating of Non-Dwellings in Malta (SBEMmt)

How are the energy performance certificates registered and issued?

The Energy Performance Certificates are being issued from a web-based system that has a centralised register and archive. The same system has built-in security features and automatically carries out preliminary checks on the quality of certificates being issued. This system is called the “EPC Portal”

The Energy Performance Certificate Website Portal registration Process

The Energy Performance Certificate of Dwellings in Malta

Objectives

Walk-through survey of building, lighting, HVAC and plugin equipment

Energy Consumption: kWh/yr – survey analyses use distribution of electricity bill

Carbon dioxide emissions: tons of CO2/yr Water Consumption: m3/yr

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Energy Audits of Government Owned Buildings

BE&A Dissertation on The Thermal Properties of Concrete Blockwork (June 1992)

Thermal resistance calculations on locally produced Hollow concrete Blocks (June 1992)Thermal conductivity measured at 1.3173W/m2K

Resistance concrete block

m2K/WSurface Resistance

internal m2K/WSurface Resistance

external m2K/WU-value concrete block

W/m2K

115mm (4.5") HCB (non loadbearing) 0.2015 0.1200 0.0600 2.6212

150mm (6") HCB 0.2210 0.1200 0.0600 2.4938

180mm (7") HCB 0.2460 0.1200 0.0600 2.3474

230mm (9") Single Density type HCB 0.2828 0.1200 0.0600 2.1608

230mm (9") Double Density type HCB 0.2660 0.1200 0.0600 2.2422

The thermal conductivities refer to walls with 7mm mortar joints between blocks - no rendering applied.

UPGRADING OF U-VALUES

Case studies

Pre 2007 Before Min requirements

Uwalls = 1.58, 2.35, 2.7W/m2KUroof = 2.27W/m2KUglazing = 5.7W/m2K

2007 - 2012As per Min Requirements

Uwalls = 1.57W/m2KUroof = 0.59W/m2KUglazing = 5.7W/m2K

2013 - 2016Improved U values by 30%


2017 -Improved U values by another 20%


Case reference 01a 01b 01c 01d

EPRDM - compact terraced house w/oAC (kWh/m2.yr) 136 103 88 79.9Percentage EPRDM improvement over the preceding Requirements as per Doc F 2007 15% 26%Percentage EPRDM improvement over the situation preceding Doc F 2007 24% 35% 41%

Case reference 02a 02b 02c 02dEPRDM - compact terraced house withAC (kWh/m2.yr) 79.6 64.76 60.05 57.7Percentage EPRDM improvement over the preceding Requirements as per Doc F 2007 7% 12%Percentage EPRDM improvement over the situation preceding Doc F 2007 19% 25% 28%

UPGRADING OF U-VALUES

Case studies (contd.)

Pre 2007 Before Min requirements

Uwalls = 1.58, 2.35, 2.7W/m2KUroof = 2.27W/m2KUglazing = 5.7W/m2K

2007 - 2012As per Min Requirements


2013 - 2016Improved U values by 30%


2017 -Improved U values by another 20%


Case reference 07a 07b 07c 07d

EPRDM - 3 bedroom flat w/o AC (kWh/m2.yr) 232.25 158.21 144.6 136.81Percentage EPRDM improvement over the preceding Requirements as per Doc F 2007 9% 15%Percentage EPRDM improvement over the situation preceding Doc F 2007 32% 38% 41%

Case reference 10a 10b 10c 10dEPRDM - fully detached penthouse w/oAC (kWh/m2.yr) 334.49 233.23 209.36 194.7Percentage EPRDM improvement over the preceding Requirements as per Doc F 2007 10% 18%Percentage EPRDM improvement over the situation preceding Doc F 2007 30% 37% 42%

The Building Regulation Office in co-ordination with the Ministry for Resources & Rural Affairs Public Relations Office has been actively involved in informing the public on the EPCs by taking part in several events such as:

The promotion of the Display Campaign of certificates in public buildings and schools.

Weekly information sessions and programmes on Radio and Television broadcasts with live phone-ins from the public and video footage on energy efficient design principles in local buildings.

Several seminars and presentations targeted towards different audiences such as the general public, architects and engineers, building contractors, estate agents, research bodies and students. Seminars have been sometimes organised as single events or as part of a larger trade fair venue or conference setting.

The Energy Performance Certificate National Information and Communication Campaigns

Promoting energy efficiency themes with brochures and videos in various events through a supporting campaign called the Switch campaign.

Preparing and delivering a series of lectures for an in-service course for teachers on Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

Delivering lectures on the EPC and the centralised Web Portal during the EPRDM Energy Performance Assessors’ courses for Dwellings.

Co-ordinating summer courses for young students on energy efficiency of buildings & climate change.

Contributing towards the creation of brochures and web information material with frequently asked questions on the EPC and tips on energy saving measures.

The Energy Performance Certificate National Information and Communication Campaigns

The government provided incentives mainly in the form of rebates/subsidies or grants on the purchase and installation of:

Double glazing.

Solar water heaters.

Roof insulation.

PV panels.

Micro wind turbines.

The Energy Performance Certificate National Incentives and Subsidies

Evolution of Minimum quality requirements in building regulations

Before Legal Notice 261 of 2008 was introduced, there was no legislation regulating minimum energy performance requirements in buildings. The new legislation has introduced requirements for:

thermal insulation in roofs limits on window sizes depending on solar gains improved glazing the imposition of power and timing regulating controls on heating and

cooling systems the conservation and re-use of rainwater in specially designed systems and increased awareness of the benefits obtained from renewable energy

sources.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Impact at National Level

The minimum thermal efficiency values of walls and other elements will in future be upgraded so as to be able to reach the targets that are imposed by the Recast of the Directive.

Large projects are being referred to the BRO for consultation before their planning permits are issued. Appropriate revisions are being requested in cases where the buildings do not meet the minimum requirements. There are cases where the project proposals now exceed the minimum requirements.

Local manufactures of concrete blockwork are now manufacturing improved blocks with good structural and better thermal properties. Local manufacturers of apertures are seeking new suppliers of materials to introduce better insulated aperture frames and glazing. A considerable number of importers of domestic appliances are also taking up a market share by providing solar panels, solar water heaters and domestic wind turbines.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Impact at National Level

Take immediate steps to tighten existing minimum requirements using the Cost Optimal Methodology in line with the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU and the concept of nearly zero-energy buildings.

Elemental requirements will be linked to benchmark energy footprints for the different building categories (cost optimality).

Introduce new legislation to enforce the certification system.

Carry out more studies and gather more data on EPBD implementation in order to make the general public more aware of the benefits that can be derived out of the EPC schemes.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Future Planning

The Building Regulation OfficeMinistry for Resources and Rural AffairsProject HouseFloriana

Perit Stephen PulisChief Architect & Civil Engineer

Tel no: 22997343Email address: [email protected]

Contact details

2012-10-05 - The Energy Performance Certification of ...ftz.org.mt/wpdemo/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/perit... · 1 THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION OF MALTESE BUILDINGS

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