Explaining TM44 Inspections Guide

Overview

TM44 Inspections is the UK guidance legally required for assessing air-conditioning efficiency, supporting compliance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for systems over 12 kW.
Building owners/managers with refrigerant-based AC systems ≥12 kW (single or combined) must be inspected every five years, with reports lodged on the national EPBD register. This applies to any installed system with an effective rated output of more than 12kW, whether standalone or combined.
Non-compliance can lead to fines, while inspections provide detailed insight to cut energy use, costs, maintenance, and carbon emissions.
TM44 reports identify operational improvements, system right-sizing, and upgrade opportunities, helping organisations plan wider sustainability gains. They also assess air conditioning energy performance and the overall efficiency of system controls.

What Is TM44?

TM44 is the accepted guidance for the UK for judging the efficiency of air-conditioning units. The key role of the guidance is to support inspections to comply with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Under this legislation, inspections are legally required for qualifying systems across England and Wales.

However, they can provide assistance to any building owner or manager desiring further data on the efficiency of their air-conditioning system. The EPBD1 was initiated in 2003 and replaced a decade later by a recast Directive2.

The legislation required that European members devise ‘measures to establish a regular inspection of air-conditioning systems of an effective rated output of more than 12 kW’.

In practice, this means any installed system with an effective rated output of more than 12kW must be assessed by an accredited energy assessor at least every five years.

Who Needs a TM44?

Not all air-conditioning systems are equal; TM44 focuses on those that use refrigerants for cooling, and parts of other cooling methods such as cooled decks/ceiling slabs or those using aquifers for cooling.

The 12kW figure is a good rule of thumb, making any building owner or manager with a system of that scale subject to TM44. It is important to note that this applies to single large-scale units with an output of 12kW and to individual units that together reach or exceed 12kW. The size of an air conditioning system, including combined outputs, determines whether the inspection requirement applies.

When Is a TM44 Necessary?

Inspections timings are relevant here since each mandatory inspection must take place within five years of the previous one. According to TM44 guidance, the initial inspection must satisfy the following criteria:

Any system that began service on or after 1st January 2008, must have undergone an initial inspection within five years of the date service began.
Systems whose output exceeds 250kW must have undergone inspection no later than 4th January 2009.
Systems with a service start date prior to 1st January 2008 and whose output exceeds 12kW must have received inspection by 4th January 2011. From 6 April 2012, all TM44 air-conditioning inspection reports have been required to be lodged on the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Energy Performance of Buildings Register where a report and certificate are generated. Accredited assessors and members of the public may access this site to view and download their TM44 certificates and reports.
Only an accredited energy assessor is authorised to carry out and lodge a compliant TM44 inspection report.

Why is TM44 Important?

There are several benefits to having a TM44 inspection. Firstly, a company can avoid penalties for non-compliance. These penalties are costly, inviting a £300 fine per offence – meaning either a non-complying building or multiple units inside a single structure whose combined output is more than 12kW, and if an organisation fails to supply a copy of their inspection report within seven days of request by an enforcement authority, they can incur an additional fixed penalty of £200 per building or unit. Enforcement Officers can check at any time whether a building or unit is compliant.

Given that inspections are legally required in England and Wales, failure to comply can quickly escalate into repeated enforcement action.

TM44 is an excellent data gathering opportunity about a major source of utility costs, offering insight on how to:

Improve efficiency
Reduce electricity consumption
Decrease operating costs
Diminish carbon emissions
Reduce maintenance needs
Improve controls and settings
Identify technical flawsThe report will also highlight opportunities such as:
Improvement to operation
Improvements to replace less efficient systems
Replacement of oversized systems (scale of the system relative to cooling load)
When viewed with these gains in mind, TM44 can be thought of a necessary process that yields significant benefits down the line.

Particular attention is given to the control of an air conditioning system, ensuring it is configured correctly to minimise unnecessary air conditioning energy use.

Beyond compliance, having your air conditioning system inspected can uncover meaningful operational savings.

Securing your TM44 With EIC Partnership

The EIC team were among the first to receive UK accreditation for the delivery of air–conditioning inspections and actively follow any legislative changes so they can keep businesses ahead of the game.

Our accredited energy assessors are fully qualified to conduct TM44 inspections for systems across England and Wales.

The team can also provide Wrap Reports as standard, offering an overview of essential report findings including reference pictures, additional relevant data and a complete asset list of equipment found.

This includes a clear breakdown of the size of an air conditioning system, operational performance, and recommendations for improved control of an air conditioning system.

Alongside this extensive experience, clients will receive additional complimentary intelligence in other areas of sustainable improvement. EIC’s expertise in other fields like Energy Contract Procurement and Intelligent Building Management will position organisations to undertake other sustainable development projects seamlessly, with guidance and security.

For a full breakdown of EIC’s compliance services, and how your organisation can acquire TM44 Certification, get in touch with the EIC team.

We ensure your installed system with an effective rated output of more than 12kW remains compliant, efficient, and fully documented under current regulations.

With a century of combined experience in carbon and energy strategy, EIC Partnership is here to help you manage today and plan for tomorrow.

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EIC Partnership is the trading name for:

Energy Intelligence Centre Limited

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ESS (Utility Consultants) Limited

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The Monarch Partnership Limited

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