12 May 2026

With the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) announcing upcoming changes to Building Energy Ratings (BER) ratings and certificates, we caught up with our sustainability expert and Director, Niall Coughlan, to learn more and discover what this means for developments across Ireland.

The SEAI’s changes to BER certification cover a variety of areas, including a revised rating structure and updates to how information is presented. With all BERs published after 24 May affected, the news has generated significant interest across the industry. However, at present, the changes are largely cosmetic and primarily lay the groundwork for the future introduction of the Zero Energy Building (ZEB) Standard. They are not expected to impact on compliance with current Building Regulations.

Simplifying the BER rating scale

One of the most notable updates is the move away from the familiar multi-tiered system (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, etc.) to a simplified A–G scale. The only exception is at the top end, where the A rating will now be divided into two categories: A and A0. Despite this structural shift, the underlying energy performance thresholds remain broadly consistent:

  • An A rating will begin at 75 kWh/m²/year, which aligns with the current A3 rating.
  • Current A2 ratings (25–50 kWh/m²/year) and A1 ratings (below 25 kWh/m²/year) will effectively fall within the new upper bands.
  • The newly introduced A0 rating will begin at 42 kWh/m²/year.

This new A0 category is likely intended to align with anticipated revisions to Part L regulations and the transition toward Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) over the next 12–18 months.

Building Regulation requirements remain unchanged
It’s important to emphasise that BER ratings themselves are not referenced in Building Regulations, and that compliance with Part L is based on achieving specific energy performance criteria, not a particular BER grade.

While there is typically a correlation between Part L compliance and achieving an A2 or A3 rating, this is simply a by-product of meeting energy efficiency standards, and not a regulatory requirement. As such, we do not expect the revised BER format to alter compliance obligations.

Additional metrics on BER certificates
The updated BER certificates will include some new data points, although much of the information is already calculated within existing methodologies. The primary additions are:

  • Global Warming Potential (GWP)
  • Operational Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Details on how these metrics will be calculated are still limited. However, their inclusion is another precursor to future regulatory requirements, particularly around embodied carbon and lifecycle analysis, which are expected to form part of upcoming Part L / ZEB updates.

 

Potential impact on agreements
In the short term, there may be implications for residential developments where contractual agreements specify a particular BER rating (e.g. A2). With the removal of distinctions such as A2 & A3, these agreements may need to be revisited.

A practical solution would be to define performance requirements in terms of energy consumption (kWh/m²/year) rather than relying on rating labels, ensuring clarity and consistency under the new system.

What are the next steps?
The SEAI will be taking the DEAP software offline from 21 May to 23 May. When the system becomes available again on 24 May, the new version will be in place and all certificates published thereafter will be issued in the new format. This will be the first time assessors have access to the amended DEAP software and, while some teething problems are to be expected, we are hopeful that any impacts will be minimal.

As more information becomes available, stakeholders across the construction and property sectors will be better positioned to understand and adapt to the revised framework.

 

For more information on the upcoming changes, and to discuss how these will impact your developments, contact Niall Coughlan.

To learn more about how our sustainability specialists are supporting schemes across Ireland, head to our dedicated Sustainability Services webpage by clicking here.