A Commercial EPC — technically a Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (NDEPC) — is a legal requirement for every commercial building sold, let or newly built in England and Wales. Workshops, warehouses, factories and industrial units are a core part of our work, alongside offices, shops, pubs and other straightforward commercial premises. Our accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessors (NDEAs) produce Level 3 EPCs using SBEM modelling across the South West and beyond.
Workshops, warehouses, factories, industrial units and light-industrial estates are one of our most efficient survey types. We also cover offices, shops, pubs, restaurants and other straightforward commercial buildings. Our value is an experienced assessor, efficient site visits, practical understanding of commercial buildings, and technical advice available when a building needs to be improved rather than simply certified.
A Commercial EPC (NDEPC) is a legally-required A–G energy rating of a non-domestic building, produced from an SBEM asset-rating model by an accredited NDEA. Certificates are valid for 10 years and lodged on the government EPC Register.
On sale, on grant of a new lease, on assignment of an existing lease, and on practical completion of a new build or major refurbishment. The certificate must be advertised on the marketing particulars.
Since 1 April 2023 it is unlawful to let a non-domestic property in England and Wales rated F or G on its EPC, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. In its June 2026 interim response DESNZ confirmed a proposed EPC B minimum by 2031 for buildings over 1,000 m² only, where cost-effective; buildings under 1,000 m² remain at Band E with no further deadline currently defined. The 2027 EPC C milestone has been dropped. Our Commercial Energy Advice Reports pair with the EPC so a landlord can move naturally from EPC → advice → improvement modelling → MEES strategy → repeat EPC.
On-site NDEPC assessments across the whole South West including Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Barnstaple, Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, Taunton, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester. Bristol, Bath and North Somerset also covered.
From £180 for small units up to around 500 m². Medium (500–2,000 m²) typically £400–£800. Site visit usually within 1–2 weeks of quote; lodged within 5–7 working days of visit. Fair, transparent pricing and no VAT to pay.
A Commercial EPC — formally called a Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (NDEPC) — is a legal energy rating for any non-dwelling in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It rates the building from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is produced by an accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) using SBEM or DSM software. The certificate is valid for 10 years and is required whenever a commercial building is constructed, sold or let.
Yes, under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 you must have a valid Commercial EPC whenever a non-domestic property is marketed for sale or let, and on completion of a new build. Since 1 April 2023 the MEES Regulations (Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015) also make it unlawful to let a commercial property rated F or G in England and Wales, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. In its June 2026 interim response DESNZ confirmed the current Band E minimum stays for all lettings; a proposed EPC B by 2031 will apply to buildings over 1,000 m² only, where cost-effective — pending secondary legislation. The previously proposed 2027 EPC C interim milestone has been dropped.
All three produce the same official certificate. The level reflects the complexity of the building. A Level 3 EPC — the one we specialise in across the South West — covers simple buildings such as offices, shops, warehouses, small industrial units, pubs, cafés, surgeries and similar premises. Most small and medium commercial properties in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset fall comfortably into Level 3, which keeps the assessment efficient and the price proportionate.
SBEM — the Simplified Building Energy Model — is the government-approved calculation engine used to produce a Level 3 Commercial EPC. Our assessor measures the building, records fabric U-values, heating/cooling plant, lighting, ventilation and domestic hot water, and the SBEM software models annual CO₂ emissions. The rating is a comparison against a hypothetical notional building of the same geometry built to current Building Regulations.
Our Level 3 Commercial EPC pricing starts at £180 for simple small premises (up to around 500 m²). Medium warehouses, retail parades and offices of 500–2,000 m² are typically £400–£800. Larger or multi-unit properties are priced individually. Travel surcharges to more remote parts of Cornwall, North Devon and North Dorset are calculated at booking so the total is transparent before you pay.
For most Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall commercial properties we can attend site within 5–7 working days of booking. The survey itself takes 1–3 hours depending on size and complexity. The finished NDEPC is usually lodged on the national register and emailed to you within a further 5–7 working days. Urgent same-week service is available on request.
You cannot legally continue to let it unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. We offer a separate MEES Commercial Advice Report that models practical improvement options (LED lighting, heating controls, insulation, PV etc), their payback and the resulting rating. The advice report and the EPC are designed to work together so you have a defensible compliance file for your tenants, lenders and insurers.
Call 01392 980077 or get a quote online.