The new version of RdSAP 10 will come into effect on 15th June 2025. This represents a significant advancement in the government's ongoing efforts to improve housing in the UK, particularly for homes that require energy-efficient upgrades. These improvements aim to address fuel poverty, create warmer and more comfortable homes, and reduce carbon emissions.
Completing the EPC or EPR will take a bit longer, but if it helps the accuracy of the report, it will be a good thing and should lead to a more tailored approach for each property.Sean Johnson, Category Lead Surveyor - Retrofit Assessor at LivGreen Retrofit Specialists
The changes coming into effect will see the assessors collecting more detailed information about the property, increasing the accuracy of energy assessments and better reflecting the modern technology being used today.
While this is not a comprehensive list of all updates in RdSAP 10, we have extracted some of the key changes that all assessors should be aware of:
Windows – this is probably one of the most significant updates and will contribute to the more time needed at each property, as every window must be measured individually, collecting the following data:
Walls – Assessors will now be able to define two alternative walls per property in the software, whereas before, they would have had to split these into extensions. This will save some significant time when entering the data for walls.
Roof – The new update will introduce two new Room in Roof (RiR) types – True RiR and With Common Wall RiR. This will involve taking a few extra measurements and having a broader range of insulation thicknesses available, along with thermal conductivity values as part of the data entry.
Lighting – The data entry requirements for lighting have been expanded. Assessors must now record the total number of bulbs, including the quantity of LEDs, CFLs, and incandescent bulbs.
Ventilation – The data entry for assessments has been expanded to include several new categories. Previously, only the recording of open fireplaces was required. Now, assessors must also count all units, including flues, extract fans, blocked chimneys, and passive stack vents, among others.
As a qualified retrofit assessor and domestic energy assessor, I recognise that the recent RDSAP10 changes will significantly impact my role. The comprehensive updates introduced to RDSAP will enable me to deliver more detailed property assessments and produce higher-quality reports for my clients. While the assessment process may require a slight increase in time, the enhanced quality of the reports will ultimately benefit all people involved.
Luke Harrison, Retrofit Assessor at LivGreen Retrofit Specialists