TM44 Air Conditioning Assessments - Non-Compliance Risks

A TM44 assessment is a mandatory inspection of a building's air conditioning (AC) system, which is undertaken every five years by an accredited assessor for systems with an effective rated output of more than 12 kW. 12 kW is not a significant output and considering the average kW for a condenser is between 2.2 kW to 6.5 kW this means that if you maintain circa five to six units on a building, then you will need to have these assessed in line with government legislation.

 The assessment evaluates the system's energy efficiency, safety, and effectiveness. It identifies faults, and provides recommendations for improvement to reduce costs, energy (kWh) and carbon emissions. The output report details the system's current performance, suggesting operational and maintenance changes, and recommending upgrades if necessary and appropriate.  

 Fines can and do get imposed for non-compliance as follows:

Penalties

• Initial fine: A minimum of £300 is issued for not having a valid inspection. 

• Weekly fine: The initial £300 fine can be repeated weekly until you have a valid certificate in place. 

• Failure to provide report: A further £200 fine can be issued if you fail to provide a copy of the report to an enforcement authority (like a Trading Standards Officer) within seven days of a request. 

Therefore, over say a monthly period, the cost could be in the region of £1,700 per month, per building, if the inspection has not been carried out.

 Costs for the inspection start from around £250 upwards, which is subject to the size and complexity of the air conditioning system, the building's size, and level of inspection required (Level 3 vs. Level 4, the latter of which are more complicated systems). Factors like the number of units, availability of system data, and the need for specific access methods also influence the final costing.

If you would like a quotation to bring your air conditioning system certification up to date, please contact us .