May 13th 2026
The Building Energy Rating (BER) scale is changing.
- A simplified Building Energy Rating Building Energy Rating scale for non-residential buildings will be introduced from May 24th 2026 under requirements of the European Union's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive , in advance of the Directive's national transposition on May 29th 2026.
- The BER scale will be simplified to A, B, C, D, E, F, G with all subcategories being removed. A (zero emissions) and G (worst performing), with new A0 (A zero) category to be introduced for zero-emissions buildings that do not use fossil fuels.
- The new BER certificate will consist of three pages comprising of renewable energy contribution, Global Warming Potential and additional energy use information. A QR code to link to information about your BER and the energy upgrade for the specific BER will be incorporated into the new certificate, allowing access to retrofit information for the owner/occupier.
- All existing BER certificates will remain valid for 10 years from their date of issue unless major renovations have taken place.
- These changes will lead to a standardised approach to BERs across the European Union, allowing for greater comparability of energy efficiency of building stock amongst EU Member States.
For further information please see the resources below: