# Who can produce a commercial EPC, and at what level > Why a non-domestic EPC must come from an accredited assessor, how the required level depends on the building services, and what to check before instructing. Source: https://commercialepcupgrades.co.uk/who-can-produce-a-commercial-epc --- # Who can produce a commercial EPC, and at what level A non-domestic EPC cannot be produced by anybody who owns the software. It has to come from an assessor who is accredited, working within a registered accreditation scheme, and accredited at a level appropriate to the building. That last part catches people out, because the level is about the services in the building rather than its size. General guidance, not legal advice Energy performance rules for commercial property in England and Wales have changed repeatedly, and proposals have moved during consultation. This page describes the position as we understand it and is written to be useful rather than definitive. Check the current position and your own obligations with a solicitor or a qualified assessor before committing to capital spend. ## Complexity, not floor area It is natural to assume a bigger building needs a more qualified assessor. The relevant question is actually what services the building has: simple heating and natural ventilation sits at one level, while air conditioning, mechanical ventilation and more complex systems require a higher one, and some buildings require dynamic simulation modelling rather than the simplified method. So a small air-conditioned office can require a higher level of accreditation than a large, simply serviced warehouse. Instructing an assessor who is not accredited for your building wastes everybody’s time, because the certificate cannot be lodged. ## What to check before instructing - That they are currently accredited, and with which scheme. Accreditation lapses and it is worth confirming rather than assuming. - That their level covers the services in your building. Describe the heating, cooling and ventilation when you ask, not just the floor area. - Whether the building needs simplified or dynamic modelling, and whether they do the latter. - Professional indemnity cover, particularly where the certificate will support a transaction. - Whether the fee includes the recommendation report and lodging the certificate on the register. ## Independence is worth something An assessor who also sells the improvement work has an interest in what the recommendation report says. That does not make them dishonest, and plenty of good firms do both, but it is a reason to understand who you are instructing and why. Where a certificate is supporting a sale, a letting or a lender conversation, independence is worth more than the fee difference. ## Where the certificate ends up Lodged on the national register, where it is publicly searchable by address. That is worth knowing for two reasons: you can look up what a building already has before you commission anything, and so can a prospective tenant, buyer or lender. If you are about to market a property, it is worth looking at what is currently on the register against it. An old certificate that understates a building you have since improved is working against you in public. ## Questions we get asked ### Can anyone produce a commercial EPC? ### What level of assessor do I need? ### Should the assessor be independent of the contractor? ### Where can I see a building current certificate? Sources - A non-domestic EPC is an asset rating: it is based on the fabric of the building and its services rather than on metered consumption. [A guide to energy performance certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings, DCLG, 2014](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-performance-certificates-for-the-construction-sale-and-let-of-non-dwellings) Last updated 8 October 2026 . - [What happens in an assessment What they will need from you](https://commercialepcupgrades.co.uk/non-domestic-epc-assessment) - [How long it lasts Whether you need a new one](https://commercialepcupgrades.co.uk/how-long-does-a-commercial-epc-last) Next step ## Find out where your buildings actually sit Before you plan against a deadline it helps to know the gap. Tell us the building and one commercial contractor comes back with what it would take to close it. Or call [07367 293494](tel:+447367293494). Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.