Energy Performance Certificates: guide

Display requirements

EPCs must be displayed in two categories of larger non-domestic buildings that are frequently visited by the public: 

• buildings occupied by public authorities with a floor area of 250 m² or more ('public buildings') 

• other non-domestic buildings with a floor area of 500 m² or more 

Public buildings 

A public building is one where: 

• the conditioned (heated or cooled) area is over 250 m² 

• the building is occupied by a public authority 

• the building is frequently visited, at least weekly, by members of the public 

• the public have a right of access to the building, or to parts of it providing services directly to the public 

Examples include colleges, community centres, libraries, hospitals, benefit offices and crematoria. 

The owner of a public building meeting these criteria must obtain an EPC and display it in a prominent place. If the owner is not the occupier, the occupier must ensure the EPC is displayed in a prominent place. 

Other large buildings 

Other large buildings frequently visited by the public are buildings which: 

• have a floor area of more than 500 m² 

• are frequently visited by the public, at least weekly 

• members of the public have an express or implied licence to enter 

Examples include supermarkets, banks, sports clubs and shopping centres. 

The owner occupier of a building meeting these criteria must display an EPC only if they already have a valid one, for example from the building's construction, sale or rental. 

The key difference between the two categories is that public buildings must obtain and display an EPC, while other large buildings need only display one if they already have it. 

EPC placement 

Where a building is required to display an EPC it must be displayed within the building in a prominent place visible to visiting members of the public, such as the main entrance lobby or reception. 

Validity 

An EPC is valid for 10 years. For public buildings that do have to display an EPC, the EPC must be renewed immediately once this period has elapsed.  

For other large buildings, a new EPC does not need to be obtained following expiry of the previous one, until the building is about to be marketed for sale or rental. 

Enforcement 

If the enforcement authority (the local authority) believes there has been a breach of the legislation, it may impose a penalty charge notice on the building owner or occupier. 

Display Energy Certificates 

The requirement to display an EPC does not relate to Display Energy Certificates, which are separate to EPCs. 

Display Energy Certificates relate to the Assessment of Energy Performance of Non-domestic Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2016, made under Section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Under these regulations, a Display Energy Certificate can be produced as an option to defer implementing improvement measures identified in an action plan. 

More information about the requirements of the 2016 regulations can be found at: Energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings. 

In Scotland, all EPCs are produced using an asset rating, using SBEM or DSM software. A Display Energy Certificate is produced using an operational rating and is not valid for meeting the Scottish Energy Performance of Buildings regulations described on this page.