What Is a TM44 Inspection? Guide for UK Businesses

The purpose of the assessment

The inspection is designed to provide information and recommendations that help improve the efficiency of air-conditioning. An assessor examines accessible equipment, plant arrangements, control systems and relevant documentation in the context of the site.

A report can flag inefficiency, inappropriate operation or opportunities for better control. Recommendations are not a promise of specific savings, and the report does not by itself repair faulty equipment.

• Visual review of accessible air-conditioning equipment.
• Consideration of controls, operating conditions and available technical records.
• Recommendations relevant to energy performance and system operation.
• Written inspection findings and applicable lodgement arrangements.

Which buildings may be in scope?

Offices, hotels, retail premises, education sites, healthcare buildings and other properties may have qualifying systems. The decisive questions concern the system output, relevant controller and local legal framework, not the building sector or whether the premises already holds an EPC.

In England and Wales, the more-than-12 kW threshold can include relevant units grouped within a building under one person's control, and the normal maximum interval is five years. A residential, HMO or mixed-use label does not by itself establish an exemption; review the actual installation and control boundary.

Where do the legal duties come from?

For England and Wales, the Energy Performance of Buildings regulations establish the inspection duties. CIBSE TM44 describes the technical inspection methodology. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regulatory frameworks, so a UK-wide service description must not imply one uniform national rule.

Qualifying inspections in England and Wales must be no more than five years apart. First-inspection dates depend on when the system was first put into service and the relevant transitional rules; January 2011 is not a universal starting date for every installation. The person controlling technical operation must retain the report and pass it to a new controller.

Who carries out a TM44 inspection?

An accredited energy assessor must carry out the statutory assessment. Accreditation and the suitability of the assessor's level for the actual equipment are critical. For a complex site or multi-building estate, technical scoping should be completed before availability or coverage is confirmed.

Ask the office to specify the assigned assessor, reporting scope and whether lodgement is included in the quoted service.

What should you receive afterwards?

The owner or operator should receive the inspection report and, where required, a lodged reference that can be checked using the appropriate official service. Review the property address, date, assessor details and the air-conditioning plant covered.

Retain this evidence alongside, but separately from, EPC, F-Gas, service and maintenance records. In England and Wales, reports produced on or after 6 April 2012 need a valid reference generated through lodgement. The different documents serve different purposes, and the date of downloading a report is not its inspection date.

What benefits can follow from the recommendations?

Recommendations may identify inefficient scheduling, unsuitable controls, maintenance concerns or a mismatch between cooling capacity and the building's needs. The operator can assess useful changes, costs and practical constraints, then check outcomes against suitable energy records. A report does not itself repair equipment or establish that energy savings have occurred.

There is no legal requirement under the England and Wales inspection regime to implement the energy-efficiency recommendations. Separate safety and refrigerant duties may still apply. No fixed saving, extension of equipment life, comfort improvement or protection from every future penalty is guaranteed.

How does TM44 relate to EPC and F-Gas?

An EPC assesses a building's overall energy performance. A DEC records operational energy performance for qualifying public buildings. F-Gas requirements concern applicable refrigerants and associated obligations. TM44 is an inspection of qualifying air-conditioning systems for energy efficiency. One inspection does not automatically satisfy the other requirements.

Facilities managers should use a joined-up compliance schedule while keeping the document types and renewal obligations distinct.

What should an inspection cost?

Fees vary with the number and capacity of units, whether systems are centralised, the complexity of controls, access arrangements, travel and assessor accreditation. An 'instant certificate' price without a genuine system review should be treated cautiously.

For multi-site portfolios, a coordinated evidence review and staged assessment can help avoid unnecessary repeat visits, subject to assessor coverage and practical arrangements.

What happens if a required report is missing?

First establish the building, applicable national framework and inspection evidence. Current GOV.UK England and Wales guidance states a £300 penalty for failing to have a required report, with a separate £200 penalty for failing to provide it within seven days of a lawful enforcement request. A missing online result alone does not establish a breach or penalty.

Follow any actual notice and resolve missing evidence promptly. Do not rely on older £800 claims, assumed repeat or daily fines, or a belief that booking an inspection extends an authority's deadline. A maintenance invoice is not a substitute for the report.

How to arrange a suitably scoped inspection

Start with the full address, UK nation, contact details, existing report and any known plant information. The office can review the equipment, control arrangements, site access and deadline before confirming a suitable accredited assessor, quotation and attendance. Unknown equipment details can be flagged for follow-up.

Agree whether travel, parking, congestion-related costs, VAT, report preparation and lodgement are included. Attendance, report completion and lodgement are separate stages. An enquiry does not guarantee a same-day estimate, an urgent slot, a fixed fee or a report within 24–48 hours.

How to keep guidance current when rules change

Use current national legislation and government guidance when reviewing a duty, penalty or inspection interval. A consultation, prediction or reference to net zero is not evidence that a proposed change has entered into force.

Review the actual report and cooling installation when planning future work. Confirm any new requirement through an official source before changing procurement or renewal schedules, rather than relying on old articles predicting stricter enforcement or automatic integration with MEES.