Glossary

A B C D E F H I L N O P R S T U W

A

Accredited/Accreditation

Authorisation, approval or recognition of meeting a standard.

AR - Advisory Report

Also referred to as a Recommendation Report, this is a mandatory document which accompanies an Energy Performance Certificate or Display Energy Certificate. An Advisory Report outlines cost-effective measures for saving energy and recommends various green technologies and the short, medium and long term paybacks which can be expected following implementation.

Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association (ATTMA)

The Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association (ATTMA) ensures that its members maintain high standards of service in air leakage testing and measurement applications. All members of ATTMA must be accredited by UKAS in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, with a scope covering air tightness testing to ATTMA Technical Standard 1 and BS EN:13829 (2001).

ATTMA membership is required to demonstrate competence in the completion of air leakage testing on non-domestic buildings in the UK, in accordance with the current Building Regulations Part L. The alternative (for domestic air testing) is BINDT (the British Institute for Non Destructive Testing.

Developing the role of airtightness evaluation in environmental control. The building industry can make important contributions to reducing the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases if it can design and construct buildings that are less prone to air leakage through the external envelope.

Awarding Body of the Built Environment (ABBE)
ABBE is a specialist awarding body providing nationally recognised qualifications for disciplines within the built environment sector.

B

British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT)

The Institute's aim is to promote and advance the science and practice of non-destructive testing, condition monitoring, diagnostic engineering and all other materials and quality testing disciplines. BINDT runs a recognised competent persons scheme for air leakage testing restricted to domestic properties only. Stroma is one of only two providers currently approved to deliver this training.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)

The leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building's environmental performance.

C

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC EES)

The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC EES) is a new mandatory emissions trading scheme that aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in the UK .

Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)

The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) is an obligation introduced by the Government on energy suppliers to achieve targets for promoting reductions in carbon emissions in the household sector and combating fuel poverty.

Certification

Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, or assessment.

CIBSE TM23

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers' Technical Manual 23 is a former air-tightness testing standard referenced in Part L (2002). It has subsequently been replaced by ATTMA TS1 (Air-Tightness Testing and Measurement Association Technical Standard 1).

Climate Change

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average. Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.

CO²

The chemical formula for carbon dioxide, a heavy odorless gas (CO2) formed during respiration and by the combustion or decomposition of organic substances; it is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis.

Community Energy Savings Programme

CESP measures will be funded by a new and additional obligation on energy suppliers and electricity generators and it is expected that around 100 schemes will be funded, benefiting some 90,000 households, delivering a saving of nearly 4mt of CO2 emissions.

Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)

The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England, setting new standards for energy efficiency (above those in current building regulations)[1] and sustainability which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the environmental impact of housing.

Communities and Local Government (CLG)
Stroma Accreditation Ltd has been approved by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to train and accredit energy assessors for existing dwellings, newly constructed dwellings, public buildings and non-domestic buildings

Compliance Testing

Conformance testing or type testing is testing to determine whether a system meets some specified standard.

To aid in this, many test procedures and test setups have been developed, either by the standard's maintainers or external organizations, specifically for testing conformance to standards.

CPD

Continuing Professional Development

Back To Top

D

Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is a British government department created on 3 October 2008 by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (energy) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (climate change)

Design Quality Indicators (DQIs)

he Design Quality Indicator (DQI) is a toolkit to measure the design quality of buildings.

DQI applies a structured approach to assess design quality based on the model by the engineer Vitruvius, the Roman author of the earliest surviving theoretical treatise on building in Western culture

Design Reiews

A comprehensive review carried out by experiecned air-tightness consultants.

Design Workshops

A simple but effective method of interrogating the air-tightness strategy and key drawn details.

Display Energy Certificate (DEC)

All public buildings require a Display Energy Certificate which shows the energy usage of the building and its overall energy performance on a scale of A-G, where A indicates the highest level of energy efficiency. The rating is calculated using the data gathered from the building's gas, electricity and water meters. A detailed survey of the building must be performed by a certified assessor and the resulting certificate and Advisory Report (AR) must be lodged by a government-approved certification scheme. The DEC is based on actual gathered operational data.

Stroma was the first company in the UK to lodge a live DEC. Our team of fully employed, certified energy assessors can carry out the survey, generate the certificate and lodge it with the government; Stroma was also the first 'live' certification scheme in this field in the UK.

Dynamic Simulation Model (DSM)

Dynamic Simulation Model (DSM) is a form of government-approved software that is used on more complex non-residential properties to produce a more accurate energy appraisal than would be possible using SBEM.

E

ENE 1

Dwelling Emission Rate, To limit emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere arising from the operation of a dwelling and its services.

ENE 5

ENE 5 is a Category of BREEAM of which three credits are available.

The aim is to reduce carbon emissions and atmospheric pollution by encouraging local energy generation from renewable sources to supply a significant proportion of the energy demand.

ENE 7

Ene 7 is a Category of the Code for Sustainable Homes of which two credits are available.

The aim is to reduce carbon emissions and atmospheric pollution by encouraging local energy generation from renewable sources to supply a significant proportion of the energy demand.

Energy Assessment

This refers to the preparation and issuing of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and the accompanying Recommendation Report (RR) and the carrying out of any inspections undertaken for the purposes of issuing the EPC or RR.

Energy Assessor

An energy assessor is an individual who is a member of an accreditation or certification scheme.

Energy Audit

An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows in a building, process or system with the objective of understanding the energy dynamics of the system under study. Typically an energy audit is conducted to seek opportunities to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s).

Energy Management

A continuous planning process that is used to accomplish the efficient use of energy in a building or system.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

All commercial properties require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which rates the energy efficiency of the building on a scale of A-G, where A signifies the highest level of efficiency. Unlike the DEC (which gives an Operational Rating) the EPC provides an asset rating of the building fabric and fixed services, based on a survey of the building. The survey must be performed by a certified assessor and the resulting certificate and Advisory Report must be lodged by a government-approved accreditation scheme.

Stroma was the first company in the UK to lodge a live commercial EPC. Our team of fully employed, certified energy assessors can carry out the survey, generate the certificate and lodge it with the government. In addition, we were the first live certification scheme in this field.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

The Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) is the Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD, 2003) of the European Parliament and Council on energy efficiency of buildings.

F

Fabric-First Approach

We have particular expertise in fabric design (new build) and retrospective improvement through air-tightness improvement, insulation stratergies, quantification and mitigation of thermal bridging.

Feed-in-Tariff (FIT)

A feed-in tariff (FiT, feed-in law, advanced renewable tariff or renewable energy payments) is a policy mechanism designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Fuel Poverty

In the UK Fuel poverty is said to occur when in order to heat its home to an adequate standard of warmth a household needs to spend more than 10% of its income on total fuel use.

H

Home Energy Advisory (HEA)

Home energy advisors will visit people in their homes to undertake an energy assessment of individual households to identify recommendations that will help to reduce costs and lower CO2 emissions.

Home Information Pack (HIP)

A Home Information Pack (HIP) is a collection of documents relating to a property and required by law for most homes put on the open market with vacant possession on or after 14 December 2007. There are a few exceptions, including mixed-use properties (such as a flat and shop being sold together), portfolio sales, or the sale of properties with leases originally granted for less than 21 years. The use of HIPs was suspended by the government on 20 May 2010. However, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) included within it is still a mandatory requirement.

Housing Quality Indicators (HQIs)

The Housing Quality Indicators (HQI) system is a measurement and assessment tool to evaluate housing schemes on the basis of quality rather than just cost. They incorporate the design standards required of affordable housing providers receiving funding through the NAHP

I

iSBEM

iSBEM is a freely available software interface program provided by the government which is used for SBEM calculations.

ISO 9001

The internationally recognised quality management system maintained by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). Stroma Technology and Stroma Contracting are both independently certified to this standard.#

ISO 14001

The internationally recognised environmental management system maintained by ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

ISO 17024

The internationally recognised standard for an organisation's certification program for individual persons, maintained by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). Stroma is accredited under ISO 17024 for the certification of individuals for the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) scheme.

ISO 17025

The internationally recognised laboratory quality standard and the main standard to govern testing and calibration services, maintained by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). Stroma is accredited under ISO 17025 for air-tightness and acoustic insulation testing and the calibration of air permeability test equipment.

Back To Top

L

Landmark

An information group set up to search EPCs and HCPs.

Legionella

egionella live within amoebae in the natural environment. Legionella species are the causative agent of the human Legionnaires' disease and the lesser form, Pontiac fever.

Legionella transmission is via aerosols — the inhalation of mist droplets containing the bacteria. Common sources include cooling towers, swimming pools (especially in scandinavian countries and other countries such as Northern Ireland), domestic hot-water systems, fountains, and similar disseminators that tap into a public water supply.

Natural sources of Legionella include freshwater ponds and creeks. Person-to-person transmission of Legionella has not been demonstrated. Once inside a host, incubation may take up to two weeks.

Initial symptoms are flu-like, including fever, chills, and dry cough. Advanced stages of the disease cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system and lead to diarrhea and nausea. Other advanced symptoms of pneumonia may also present.

Life Cycle Costing

A procurement evaluation technique which determines the total cost of acquisition, operation, maintenance, and disposal of items being acquired.

N

Nil-rated certificate

A certificate obtained for inclusion in the Home Information Pack (HIP) of a dwelling which has not been built to a Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) level.

National Indicator (NI 188)

National Indicator NI188 is about 'planning to adapt to climate change'. The indicator is a key driver for local action on adaptation. It measures progress on assessing and managing climate risks and opportunities, and incorporating appropriate action into local authority and partners' strategic planning. The indicator is 'process' based rather than outcome focussed to recognise that adaptation is an emerging field. Progress on this target is measured via a self assessment with each local authority reporting a level of preparedness they have reached from level 0 to level 4.

O

Operational Rating (OR)

A feature on the DECs showing the buildings ratings in certain areas.

Back To Top

P

Pre-test inspections

An inspection, prior to the test, carried out by our consultants who scrutinise the air barrier details throughout the building.

Part E

Compliant Sound Insulation Testing required on Houses/Flats and Rooms for residential purposes.

Part L

Conservation of fuel and power, technical guidelines requiring:

• Further reduction of 25% reduction in buildings CO2 emissions
• Flat Approach- favoured for new dwellings, a 20% betterment increases to approx 40%, which is CSH 3.
• Flat Approach- new naturally ventilated non dwellings- reduction in C02 emissions would increase current 23.5% betterment to approx 42.5%.
• Flat approach new mechanically ventilated or air conditioned non dwelling reduction up from 28% to approx 46%.
• Aggregate Approach- Roof lit warehouse has different energy requirements from side lit office.
• Design Stage commissioning plan and TER/BER calculations

R

RdSAP

Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) is the government-approved program used to carry out an energy assessment on an existing residential property in order to generate an EPC. The pre-fix reduced data acknowledges that the assessor will have to make assumptions about the building - such as age, wall thickness, type of insulation - when carrying out the assessment due to the absence of design information.

Stroma has developed its own industry-leading RdSAP software which is available free of charge to all Stroma-certified DEAs

Retrofit

Retrofitting refers to the addition of new technology or features to older systems. An example of this is car customizing, where older vehicles are fitted with new technologies: power windows, cruise control, remote keyless systems, electric fuel pumps, etc.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO)

As part of the government's commitment to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire, regulations have been reviewed and a number of changes implemented through the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Implemented in October 2006, the RRO applies throughout England and Wales and contains fire precautions and duties which are necessary to protect both people and buildings in the event of a fire. It also requires that a fire risk assessment be carried out annually on every non-domestic building, including:

• Shops
• Offices
• Sleeping accommodation (hotels, hostels etc.)
• Residential care and healthcare premises
• Pubs and entertainment venues
• Educational establishments
• Factories and warehouses
• Small, medium and large places of assembly
• Theatres and cinemas
• Open air events
• Transport premises and facilities

This assessment can only be completed by a competent fire risk assessor. Responsibility for compliance lies with the "responsible person".

Under the Order, anyone who has control in a building or anyone who has a degree of control over certain areas or systems may be designated a "responsible person". For example it will be the employer for those parts of premises they have any control over; the managing agent or owner for common parts of a premises such as corridors and stairways; or common fire safety equipment such as fire warning systems or sprinklers. It will also be the occupier of premises that are not workplaces such as a chairperson in a parish hall.

Any other person who has some control over a part of a premises may be the responsible person in so far as that control extends. Although in many premises the responsible person will be obvious, there may be occasions when a number of people have some responsibility.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

To meet our 2020 15% renewable energy target, we need to develop new ways of generating renewable energy in all sectors, including heat. Heat generated from renewable sources accounts for approximately 1% of total heat demand this may need to rise to 12% to hit our binding EU targets.

Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC's)

A Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator for eligible renewable electricity generated within the United Kingdom and supplied to customers within the United Kingdom by a licensed electricity supplier. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated.

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

The Royal Institute of British Architects is the UK body for architecture and the architectural profession. We provide support for our 40,500 members worldwide in the form of training, technical services, publications and events, and set standards for the education of architects, both in the UK and overseas.

S

Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM)

Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) is the computer program used to produce an evaluation of the monthly carbon emissions of a non-domestic property. It is acknowledged by the government as part of the national methodology for calculating the energy performance of a building and thus is used as the calculation tool for producing non-domestic EPCs.

Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)

Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP 2005) is the process required for a new residential property at both design stage and upon completion to calculate energy consumption and ensure compliance with Building Regulations. Once the assessment has been carried out on the completed building, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is issued.

Stroma's team of fully certified, fully employed energy assessors can carry out the SAP assessment and generate and lodge the EPC. Stroma Accreditation provides training and certification services for on construction domestic energy assessors.

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design (also called environmental design, environmentally sustainable design, environmentally-conscious design, etc) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

Back To Top

T

Technology Strategy Board

An organisation set up to push innovation in the UK and make the UK a global leader in innovation.

U

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole body recognised by the government to accredit organisations throughout the UK against internationally agreed standards. Stroma is accredited for air leakage testing and acoustic testing in accordance with ISO 17025 and for the certification of individuals under the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) scheme in accordance with ISO 17024.

The UK Climate Projections (UKCP09)

UKCP09 is the fifth generation of climate change information for the UK, and its projecrions are based on a new methodology designed by the Met Office. Climate science and computer modelling have advanced significantly – UKCP09 reflects scientists' best understanding of how the climate system operates, how it might change in the future, and allows a measure of the uncertainty in future climate projections to be included. No climate model can give a single definite answer to what the future will look like.

W

Working units (unless otherwise noted)
Area [m²]
Energy [kWh]
Energy density {kWh / m²]
Carbon dioxide emissions [kgCO₂]

Back To Top