EPC B Improvement Pathway (Non-domestic)

Overview

The EPC B Pathway is a structured service for non-domestic buildings that moves from baseline assessment to options appraisal and phased delivery planning. The aim is to improve the EPC rating while keeping measures practical to implement and maintain.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for let non-domestic property in England and Wales have been consulted on for a future trajectory towards EPC B. As policy detail and enforcement mechanisms can change, we treat this as a planning assumption and focus on a deliverable pathway aligned with your risk, investment horizon and replacement cycles. Read the GOV.UK consultation background.

Policy note: The policy position and supporting links on this page were last reviewed on 19/02/2026.

EPC outcomes depend on the assessment methodology and the quality of inputs. Our approach prioritises robust site evidence, a clear assumptions register and early identification of constraints, so improvement decisions are better informed and delivery risk is reduced.

Where upgrades proceed beyond feasibility, we align EPC improvement planning with building services design and operational considerations, including controls, commissioning intent and maintainability. See an example of delivery at Oceana House.

Who the service is for

• Landlords and asset managers planning upgrades to protect letting and asset value
• Managing agents seeking a clear scope and phased plan for implementation
• Occupiers coordinating improvements with landlord systems and lease boundaries
• Project teams preparing refurbishment programmes and plant replacement decisions

How the EPC B Pathway works

We follow a structured sequence so that assumptions are transparent and measures are screened for feasibility before a phased plan is set. Each step produces clear outputs to support decision making.

1. Baseline review. Review available EPC outputs, operation and maintenance information and known constraints. Output: baseline summary and information gap list.
2. Site audit. Capture plant, controls, lighting, zoning and constraints that affect EPC inputs and deliverability. Output: site evidence pack and plant and controls schedule.
3. Assessment build and assumptions register. Develop the baseline position in line with the current EPC methodology and record key assumptions. Output: assumptions register and rating sensitivities.
4. Options appraisal. Identify measures, consider interactions and screen for feasibility, disruption and dependencies. Output: prioritised measures list with constraints and risks.
5. Preferred pathway and phasing. Align measures with replacement cycles and programme realities to reduce abortive works. Output: phased EPC B pathway and implementation plan.
6. Delivery support. Provide requirements, procurement input and technical assurance through delivery and handover planning. Output: scope and performance requirements and handover readiness actions.

Decision points we confirm early

• Scope boundaries: landlord systems, tenant systems and any shared services responsibilities
• Electrical capacity: headroom, diversity and incoming supply and distribution constraints for electrification measures
• Heat strategy feasibility: emitter suitability, plant space, noise and external constraints
• Controls readiness: BMS capability, zoning and commissioning requirements to sustain performance

What we need from you to start

• Latest EPC and recommendation report (if available)
• Basic building details: primary use, floor area, typical operating hours and any planned refurbishments
• Any available services information: plant schedules, control descriptions and recent maintenance notes
• Access to landlord plant areas and representative occupied and tenant areas
• Known constraints: lease boundaries, access restrictions, programme and budget expectations

What we capture on site

We use a standardised audit approach so information relevant to EPC inputs and improvement planning is captured consistently during the site visit. This reduces rework, improves data quality and helps avoid avoidable modelling assumptions.

• Walk-through of landlord and shared plant, recording manufacturers, model references and nameplate data
• Measurements and photographic record of plant rooms and roof areas to confirm space, access and replacement constraints (including 3D imagery where helpful)
• Review of riser capacity and route constraints that could affect distribution and future upgrades
• Building Management System review to understand control intent, schedules and how systems operate in use
• Walk-through of occupied and tenant areas to record lighting, zoning, layouts and relevant fabric characteristics
• Review of available operation and maintenance information to confirm system descriptions and known issues

Modelling and pathway development

Using the information gathered on site, our team develops a baseline position in line with the current EPC methodology and documents the key assumptions that affect the outcome. Where appropriate, we use IES VE to test the engineering implications of interventions, for example heating strategy changes, ventilation system choices, distribution constraints and control performance.

The current approach aligned with Part L 2021 generally favours lower-carbon heat and can disadvantage fossil fuel heating in the rating. Where gas boilers are a constraint on the target rating, we help you assess alternatives, such as heat pumps and hybrid approaches, alongside distribution, controls, metering and electrical capacity implications.

Typical improvement measures

Measures vary by building type and existing systems. Our options appraisal focuses on the most relevant levers for the asset, rather than applying a generic list.

• Lighting and controls: luminaire efficacy, zoning, occupancy control and daylight response where appropriate
• HVAC performance: plant efficiency, distribution losses, ventilation strategy and heat recovery where suitable
• Controls and operation: setpoints, schedules, deadbands, interlocks and commissioning and seasonal tuning requirements
• Heat decarbonisation: heat pumps and hybrid options where viable, considering space, noise, electrical capacity and emitter suitability
• Metering: metering improvements where they support control, verification and ongoing performance management

Deliverables

• Baseline findings and a clear record of key assumptions used in the assessment
• A prioritised list of improvement measures with dependencies and constraints
• A phased EPC B pathway aligned with plant replacement cycles to reduce abortive works
• Indicative implementation plan to support budgeting, programme planning and stakeholder decisions
• Requirements input for M&E scopes, controls and metering where delivery support is included

Common risks we manage

• Insufficient site evidence leading to avoidable assumptions and rating risk
• Measures that improve the model but create comfort, maintenance or operational issues
• Controls changes not being commissioned or sustained, reducing expected outcomes
• Scope gaps between landlord and tenant systems that limit deliverability
• Electrical capacity constraints that are identified late in the decision process

Evidence from delivery

Our EPC B Pathway work is designed to translate into delivery. Where projects proceed beyond feasibility, we align assessment outputs with engineering design and implementation planning.

• Oceana House, Southampton: an EPC B Pathway study developed into an upgrade route that achieved an EPC A outcome following targeted building services upgrades and renewables integration
• Upgrade sequencing: measures were aligned to plant condition, space and replacement practicality to reduce abortive works and disruption
• Integrated delivery: sustainability and design input coordinated with contractor delivery to maintain technical intent

Read the Oceana House case study.

Glossary

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

An asset rating from A to G that reflects modelled regulated energy performance under standardised conditions.

MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards)

Regulations that set minimum EPC requirements for letting certain buildings, with future trajectories consulted on for higher minimum standards.

Part L 2021

The 2021 edition of the energy efficiency requirements within the Building Regulations, which influences the inputs and factors used within non-domestic energy assessment approaches.

SBEM

A common methodology used to assess non-domestic building energy performance within the National Calculation Methodology framework.

HVAC

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that typically have a significant influence on EPC outcomes and operational performance.

BMS (Building Management System)

The control system used to monitor and operate building services, which affects how well performance is sustained in use.

Useful links

• GOV.UK: Non-domestic PRS MEES consultation (EPC B trajectory)
• KJ Tait: Commercial EPC services

FAQs

These questions reflect common issues raised during early EPC B planning and are intended to support initial decisions on scope, data and programme.

Does EPC B by 2030 apply to all non-domestic buildings in England?

Proposals indicate a tightening of MEES expectations for let non-domestic buildings in England, with EPC B often referenced as a future minimum. The exact requirements, dates and scope can change, so we treat this as a planning assumption and align the pathway with your risk and investment horizon.

Do you provide the EPC certificate, or do you focus on improvement planning?

We can support the EPC assessment inputs and improvement planning. The core of the EPC B Pathway is identifying feasible measures, testing their likely impact and turning them into an implementable plan that can be delivered and operated.

What typically drives an EPC rating improvement in non-domestic buildings?

It depends on the building type and existing systems, but common levers include lighting efficiency and controls, HVAC efficiency and control strategy, ventilation heat recovery where appropriate and reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating where practical.

Will replacing gas boilers always be required to reach EPC B?

Not always. Under current approaches aligned with Part L 2021, fossil fuel heating can disadvantage the rating, but outcomes depend on the overall building model and the measures package. We assess alternatives in context, including space, distribution constraints and electrical capacity.

How long does an EPC B Pathway study typically take?

Timescales depend on building size, complexity and data availability. As a guide, a baseline audit and initial options appraisal can often be completed within a few weeks, with a more developed phased plan following once constraints and preferred measures are agreed.

Can you work with landlord and tenant boundaries?

Yes. We map scope boundaries early, identify dependencies between landlord systems and tenant fit-out and set out practical recommendations that reflect the lease and operational realities.

What are the main risks that cause EPC improvement projects to underperform?

Common risks include insufficient site evidence leading to assumptions, measures that look good in a model but are hard to deliver, controls changes not being commissioned and maintained and scope gaps between landlord and tenant systems.

Do you consider operational energy and comfort, not just the EPC score?

Yes. We aim to align EPC uplift with practical operation, occupant comfort and maintainability, because measures that cannot be operated reliably tend to lose performance over time.

Next steps

If you are considering EPC improvement works, the most useful starting point is a short summary of the building and any constraints, along with the latest EPC and recommendation report where available. This helps us confirm what information is already in place and what needs to be verified on site.

What to send

• The latest EPC and recommendation report (if available)
• Building details: primary use, floor area, typical operating hours and any major refurbishments planned
• Services information: plant schedules, control descriptions and any recent maintenance or upgrade records
• Known constraints: lease boundaries, access limitations, heritage considerations, programme and budget expectations
• Any available energy data and metering information (helpful, but not essential at the outset)

What happens next

1. We review what you provide and confirm any information gaps.
2. We advise a sensible scope for a baseline audit and options appraisal.
3. We set out a short programme, key assumptions to be tested and the likely decision points.

Contact the team

We will route your enquiry to the most appropriate office. If you already have a preferred replacement window for major plant, let us know. We can align the pathway with replacement cycles to reduce abortive works and improve deliverability.