What is a TM44 inspection?
A TM44 inspection is a statutory energy-efficiency assessment of a building's air-conditioning system. It follows the methodology set out in CIBSE Technical Memorandum 44 and is designed to assess how efficiently the system is operating, identify faults or control issues that may be wasting energy, and highlight practical opportunities to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.
Following the inspection, an accredited energy assessor produces an Air-Conditioning Inspection Report containing the findings and recommendations. In England and Wales, the report is lodged on the national Energy Performance of Buildings Register.
Does your building require a TM44 inspection?
In England and Wales, an inspection is required where the air-conditioning system has a combined effective rated output of more than 12kW. The threshold applies to the total capacity of systems under the same control, not simply to each individual unit.
This means a building can fall within the regulations even where every individual air-conditioning unit is smaller than 12kW. For example, four 3.5kW split systems under the same control have a combined capacity of 14kW and would be within scope.
If the installed cooling capacity is unclear, Ecotec can review available asset information and equipment data to help establish whether an inspection is required.
Who is responsible for arranging a TM44 inspection?
The legal responsibility sits with the person who controls the operation of the air-conditioning system — in other words, the person or organisation responsible for its technical functioning.
Depending on the building and lease arrangements, this may be the building owner, landlord, managing agent or occupier. Where a tenant has installed and controls its own air-conditioning equipment, responsibility will normally sit with that tenant. Facilities-management or maintenance contracts can also affect who has day-to-day responsibility, so the contractual arrangement should be considered where responsibility is unclear.
What happens if you don't have a valid TM44 report?
TM44 requirements are enforced by Local Weights and Measures Authorities, usually through Trading Standards. In England and Wales, failing to have a required air-conditioning inspection report can result in a fixed penalty of £300.
If an enforcement officer requests a copy of the report, it must normally be provided within seven days. Failure to provide it when required can result in a further £200 penalty.
Beyond the statutory penalties, an expired or missing report can also create avoidable compliance issues during property transactions, audits, tenders and facilities-management reviews.
How often is a TM44 inspection required?
In England and Wales, qualifying air-conditioning systems must be inspected at intervals of no more than five years. The next inspection date is therefore normally five years from the previous inspection.
For large property portfolios, keeping track of individual expiry dates can become a significant administrative task. Ecotec can help build a forward compliance programme from existing reports and available register data so upcoming inspections can be scheduled before certificates expire.
Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate regulatory arrangements, and Ecotec can confirm the applicable renewal requirements when managing UK-wide portfolios.
What does a TM44 inspection involve?
The inspection is non-intrusive and largely visual. The surveyor assesses the condition, operation and energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system and its controls, together with how the system is being used within the building.
Equipment and areas we may need to inspect
- Chillers, condensers and heat pumps
- Air handling units and associated ventilation equipment
- Control systems and Building Management Systems (BMS)
- A representative sample of indoor units, including fan coils and split systems
- Plant rooms, roof areas, ceiling voids and conditioned spaces where relevant equipment is located
Information we record
The surveyor will record information about the systems and the areas they serve, including building use, occupancy, operating hours and relevant characteristics that may influence cooling demand. The inspection also considers control settings, operating schedules, maintenance and practical opportunities to improve efficiency.
What you receive after the inspection
Ecotec will produce the required TM44 Air-Conditioning Inspection Report and, where applicable, lodge it on the relevant register. The report includes practical recommendations aimed at improving system efficiency, controls, operation and energy performance.
What information should I have ready for the survey?
Where available, it is helpful to provide air-conditioning asset lists, previous TM44 reports, O&M manuals, maintenance records, F-Gas or refrigerant records, drawings and relevant system information. These documents are not always essential, but having them available can make the inspection more efficient and help the assessor verify equipment and system details.
Will a TM44 inspection disrupt the building?
Usually very little. The inspection is non-intrusive and largely visual. Equipment will not normally be switched off, altered or dismantled, and the surveyor will work around normal site operations. Where access is restricted — for example on high-security or confidential sites — the surveyor will work within the agreed access arrangements and inspect only permitted areas.