Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2012

L.N. 376 of 2012

BUILDING REGULATION ACT

(CAP. 513)

MALTA RESOURCES AUTHORITY ACT

(Cap. 423)

Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2012

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 6(1) of the

Building Regulation Act and article 28(1) of the Malta Resources

Authority Act, the Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, after

consultation with the Building Regulation Office, the Malta

Resources Authority and the Malta Environment and Planning

Authority, has made the following regulations:-

(1)

The title of these regulations is the Energy Citation and

scope.

Performance of Buildings Regulations, 2012.

(2) The scope of these regulations is to transpose Directive

2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the

energy performance of buildings and to give effect to its provisions.

These regulations promote the improvement of the energy

performance of buildings within the European Union, taking into

account outdoor climatic and local conditions, as well as indoor

climate requirements and cost-effectiveness.

(1)

Unless otherwise stated in these regulations, the Interpretation.

definitions prescribed in the Act and in the Technical Guidance

Document F referred to in regulation 5, shall also apply.

(2) For the purpose of these regulations and unless the context

otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply

"the Act" means Building Regulation Act;

"advisory report" means a report made by an energy

performance of building (EPB) assessor, accompanying an Energy

Performance Certificate (EPC), worked on the basis of an assessment

of the energy performance of a building or heating or cooling

installations, and containing recommendations on how the energy

performance of the building or heating or cooling installations may be

improved in a cost-effective manner;

"air-conditioning system" means a combination of the

components required to provide a form of indoor air treatment, by

which temperature is controlled or lowered;

"asset rating" means an energy performance rating based on

(a)

data for the building as actually constructed;

(b)

calculations of the energy used in a building for

heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and lighting; and

(c)

standard input data in relation to internal and

external climates and building occupation, and representing the

intrinsic energy performance potential of the building under

standardised conditions of weather and building occupation;

"authorised officer" means a person authorised by the Director

of the Building Regulation Office to monitor and ensure compliance

with these regulations;

"the Authority" means the Malta Resources Authority as

established by article 3 of the Malta Resources Authority Act, or any

other entity that is authorised to act on its behalf;

"body corporate" means a body or legal entity, such as an

association, company, person, the government, government agencies,

corporation, or institution, identified by a particular name and bearing

a distinct and separate legal personality or legal status from that of its

members, also known as corporate entity;

"boiler" means the combined boiler body-burner unit, designed

to transmit the heat released from burning to fluids;

"building" means a roofed construction having walls, for which

energy is used to condition the indoor climate, and which may refer to

the building as a whole or part thereof which has been designed or

altered to be used separately;

"building element" means a technical building system or an

element of the building envelope;

"building envelope" means the integrated elements of a building

which separate its interior from the outdoor environment;

"the Building Regulation Board" means the Board as

established by article 3 of the Act;

"the Building Regulation Office" shall have the same meaning

as assigned to it under article 2(1) of the Act;

"building unit" means a section, floor or apartment within a

building which is designed or altered to be used separately;

"cogeneration" means the simultaneous generation in one

process of thermal energy and electrical and, or mechanical energy;

"the Commission" means the European Commission as

established by the Treaty on the European Union as amended by the

Lisbon Treaty of 2009;

"cost-optimal level" means the energy performance level which

leads to the lowest cost during the estimated economic lifecycle,

where

(a)

the lowest cost is determined taking into account

energy-related investment costs, maintenance and operating

costs including, where applicable, energy costs and savings, the

category of building concerned, earnings from energy produced,

throughout the estimated economic lifecycle together with any

disposal costs, if applicable; and

(b)

the estimated economic lifecycle is determined

according to the remaining estimated economic lifecycle of a

building where energy performance requirements are set for the

building as a whole, or to the estimated economic lifecycle of a

building element where energy performance requirements are

set for building elements. The cost-optimal level shall be

deemed to be obtained where the cost benefit analysis within the

range of performance levels, calculated over the estimated

economic lifecycle, is positive;

"design rating" is an energy performance rating based on

(a)

calculations done at the design stage, of the energy

used in a building for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water

and lighting;

(b)

standard input data related to internal and external

climates and building occupancy; and

(c)

the design characteristics of the building as

complete with permanently installed finishes, fixtures, fittings

and mechanical and electrical installations to render that

building habitable and good for its intended use under

standardised conditions of weather and building occupancy;

"development permission application" means an application for Cap. 504.

a development permit issued by the Malta Environment and Planning

Authority in terms of the Environment and Development Planning

Act;

"district heating" or "district cooling" means the distribution of

thermal energy in the form of steam, hot water or chilled liquids or

other fluids, from a central source of production through a network to

multiple buildings or sites, for the use of space or process heating or

cooling;

"dwelling" means a building or building unit used or intended to

be used for domestic purposes and usually containing eating, living,

sleeping and sanitary facilities;

"effective rated output" means the maximum calorific output,

expressed in kW, specified and guaranteed by the manufacturer as

being deliverable during continuous operation while complying with

the useful efficiency indicated by the manufacturer;

"Enemalta" means the Enemalta Corporation as established by

article 3 of the Enemalta Act;

"energy from renewable sources" means energy from renewable

non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal,

hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas,

sewage treatment plant gas and biogases;

"energy performance assessment (EPA)" means an assessment

of the energy performance of a building or a mechanical or electrical

system carried out by an EPB assessor for the purpose of assigning an

EPC;

"energy performance certificate (EPC)" means a certificate

issued by an EPB assessor recognised by the Building Regulation

Office or by a person designated by it and authorised to act on its

behalf. The methodology used by the EPB assessor shall conform

with the methodology adopted in accordance with regulation 4;

"energy performance of a building (EPB)" means the calculated

or measured amount of energy, needed to meet the energy demand

associated with a typical use of the building, which includes, inter

alia, energy used for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and

lighting;

"EPB assessor" means a person who has already been registered

with the Authority before the coming into force of these regulations

or is duly registered with the Building Regulation Office after it has

taken into consideration that such person is in possession of

(a)

a degree in architecture or in architecture and civil

engineering, or civil engineering, or building services, or

mechanical, or electrical engineering conferred by the

University of Malta, or an equivalent degree, and who has also

successfully undertaken a period of training on the assessment

of the energy performance of buildings built in Malta, and such

training is approved by the Building Regulation Board; or

(b)

in the case of an EU citizen, a registration

certificate as an EPB assessor in any other Member State

Provided that in the case of a person who comes to Malta

to provide such services for the first time, the service provider or EPB

assessor shall, in terms of regulation 9(1) of the Recognition of S.L. 451.03

Professional Qualifications Regulations, inform the Building

Regulation Office in a written declaration to be made at least two

weeks in advance. Such declaration shall be renewed each year if the

service provider intends to provide temporary or occasional services

during that year

Provided also that for the first provision of services

whether on a temporary or permanent basis, or if there is a material

change in the situation substantiated by the documents, the Building

Regulation Office may, in terms of regulation 9(2) of the Recognition S.L. 451.03

of Professional Qualifications Regulations, require that the

declaration and the registered certificate be accompanied by the

following documents

(a)

proof of the nationality of the service provider;

(b)

an attestation certifying that the holder is legally

established in a Member State for the purpose of pursuing the

activities concerned and that he is not prohibited, even

temporarily, from practising;

(c)

evidence of professional qualifications;

"EPC data file" means an electronic file which contains a report

on the outcome of an EPA, which is completed by an EPB assessor

and provided to the Building Regulation Office for the purpose of

notifying it of the record to be made or updated on the EPC register in

respect of a particular building, and it shall be deemed to include any

calculations and related data or documents accompanying such

report;

"EPC record" means the current and any previous EPC, any

advisory report, any EPC data file and any related data or documents,

as the case may be, pertaining to a building or boiler or

airconditioning installation;

"EPC register" means a database of EPC records and related

data or documents established, operated, and maintained by the

Building Regulation Office;

"EPC system" means the registers, procedures and rules

established, operated, and maintained by the Building Regulation

Office for the purpose of administering EPCs and related activities in

accordance with these regulations;

"European standard" means a standard adopted by the European

Committee for Standardisation, the European Committee for Electro-

technical Standardisation or the European Telecommunications

Standards Institute and made available for public use;

"existing building" means any building which

(a)

is already constructed prior to the date of entry into

force of these regulations; or

(b)

is in the course of construction or earmarked for

construction and has a valid development permit in terms of

these regulations prior to the date of entry into force of these

regulations;

"heat pump" means a machine, a device or installation that

transfers heat from natural surroundings such as air, water or ground

to buildings or industrial applications by reversing the natural flow of

heat, such that it flows from a lower to a higher temperature. In the

case of reversible heat pumps, it may also move heat from the

building to the natural surroundings;

"independent energy performance assessor" means an energy

performance of building assessor who is not the owner or tenant of

the building being assessed, or an employee of the owner, or of any

contractor responsible for the construction, finishing and, or

installation of mechanical or electrical services of a building for

which an EPC is being requested or inspections of boilers, or lighting,

space heating or space cooling systems are made;

"installation" means a system providing artificial lighting, water

heating, space heating or space cooling or space ventilation in any

combination;

"major renovation or alteration" means a renovation or

alteration

(a)

which affects a building by 25% or more of its

volume before such an intervention; or

(b)

where renovation of 25% or more of windows or

roofs or external walls is made; or

(c)

where renovation of 25% or more of any energy

consuming installations for artificial lighting, or heating or

cooling of air or water or space ventilation is made; or

(d)

where a change-of-use development permission

application concerning buildings, is submitted to the Malta

Environment and Planning Authority, save all exclusions in

regulation 5(5);

"Malta Environment and Planning Authority" means the

Authority as established by article 6 of the Environment and Cap. 504.

Development Planning Act;

"Member State" means a state which is a member of the

European Union;

"the Minister" means the Minister responsible for the building

industry and policy;

"nearly zero-energy building" means a building that has a very

high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Schedule

I. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required shall be

covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable

sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or

nearby;

"new building" means any building which does not fall under

any of the categories of existing building;

"non-residential building or premises" means any building or

premises, or any part of a building or premises, which is not used or is

unsuitable for use as a residential building or habitation, and includes

industrial buildings, places of assembly, offices, schools and shops;

"owner" means

(a)

a person who has the exclusive and full ownership

of the building and who acting in his own name, or as an agent

for or on behalf of another person, is entitled or shall be so

entitled to receive the rent of the building;

(b)

where the building is subject to usufruct, the bare

owner or the usufructuary;

(c)

an emphyteuta;

(d)

any one of the spouses, where the building to

which the EPC relates forms part of the community of acquests;

"person" means any natural or legal person;

"primary energy" means energy from renewable and non-

renewable sources and which has not undergone any conversion or

transformation process;

"prospective buyer or tenant" means a person who

(a)

is in the process of entering a sale agreement with

another person or with the agent of such other person for the

purpose of purchasing a building; or

(b)

enters a promise of sale agreement with another

person or the agent of such other person for the purpose of

purchasing a building; or

(c)

enters a contract of letting and hiring, whether

verbally or written, to rent a building;

"recognised energy performance training provider" means a

person who is registered with the Building Regulation Office and who

provides an energy performance training course that is recognised as

valid by the Building Regulation Office;

"register of EPB assessors" means a database containing a list of

EPB assessors registered with the Building Regulation Office and any

other related data established, operated, maintained and owned by the

Building Regulation Office;

"residential building or premises" means a building or premises,

or any part of a building or premises, which is used or is suitable for

residential or habitation purposes, which has sleeping

accommodation, and includes a hotel or an institutional building;

"technical building system" means technical equipment for the

heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, lighting or for a combination

thereof, of a building or building unit;

"unincorporated body" means a body or business which is

privately owned, often owned by one person having unlimited

liability owing to the non-registration of the business as a company

and which on the contrary of corporate bodies lacks legal personality;

"useful floor area" means the area needed to carry out the

activities of the building in question including waiting and circulation

spaces and excluding garages, storage spaces, plant rooms and yards.

These regulations provide for requirements as regards

Applicability.

(a)

the common general framework for a methodology

for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings

and building units;

(b)

the application of minimum requirements for the

energy performance of new buildings and new building units;

(c)

the application of minimum requirements for the

energy performance of

(i) existing buildings, building units and

building elements which are subject to major renovation;

(ii) building elements which form part of the

building envelope and that have a significant impact on the

energy performance of the building envelope when they

are retrofitted or replaced; and

(iii) technical building systems whenever they are

installed, replaced or upgraded;

(d)

national plans for increasing the number of nearly

zero-energy buildings;

(e)

energy certification of buildings or building units;

(f)

regular inspection of heating and air-conditioning

systems in buildings; and

(g)

independent control systems

for

energy

performance certificates and inspection reports.

The methodology for calculating the energy performance Adoption of a

of buildings shall be in accordance with the common general methodology

calculating the

energy

framework set out in Schedule I.

performance of

buildings.

(1)

The Building Regulation Board shall take the Setting of

necessary measures to establish minimum energy performance minimum

energy

requirements for buildings or building units, with a view to achieving performance

requirements.

cost-optimal levels. The energy performance shall be calculated in

accordance with the methodology referred to in regulation 4. Cost-

optimal levels shall be calculated in accordance with the comparative

methodology framework referred to in regulation 6. Reference shall

also be made to the Technical Guidance Document F on the EPB

published by Government Notice 1002 of 2006, as may from time to

time be amended, as the Building Regulation Board shall determine.

(2) The Building Regulation Board shall take the necessary

measures to establish minimum energy performance requirements for

building elements that form part of the building envelope and which

have a significant impact on the energy performance of the building

envelope when they are replaced or retrofitted, with a view to

achieving cost-optimal levels.

(3) When setting requirements, the Building Regulation Board

shall differentiate between new and existing buildings and between

different categories of buildings. These requirements shall take into

account general indoor climate conditions, in order to avoid possible

negative effects such as inadequate ventilation, as well as local

conditions and the designated function and the age of the building.

(4) Minimum energy performance requirements shall be

reviewed at regular intervals which shall not be longer than five years

and, if necessary, shall be updated in order to reflect technical

progress in the building sector.

(5) The following categories of buildings shall be exempted

from the requirements of these regulations

(a)

buildings officially protected as part of a

designated environment or because of their special architectural

or historical merit, in so far as compliance with certain

minimum

energy

performance

requirements

would

unacceptably alter their character or appearance;

(b)

buildings used as places of worship;

(c)

temporary buildings with a time of use of two years

or less, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential

agricultural buildings with low energy demand, and non-

residential agricultural buildings which are in use by a sector

covered by a national sectoral agreement on energy

performance;

(d)

stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area

of less than 40 m 2 ;

(e)

a building classified as scheduled property (Grade

One) by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority under

article 81 of the Environment and Development Planning Act;

(f)

a building, the construction of which is subject to

the Control of Fireworks and other Explosives Regulations;

(g)

a building constructed for the Enemalta

Corporation, the Water Services Corporation or any other

similar entity, and used as a generation, transmission or

distribution station;

(h)

glasshouses used solely for agricultural purposes;

(i)

a building constructed for use by the Armed Forces

of Malta in connection with their military requirements.

(1)

The Building Regulation Board shall establish Calculation of

standard cost-optimal levels based on macro-economic scale and cost-optimal

levels of

micro-economic scale of minimum energy performance requirements minimum

energy

using the comparative methodology framework established in performance

accordance with Schedule III and relevant parameters, such as requirements.

climatic conditions and the practical accessibility of energy

infrastructure, and compare the results of such standards with the

minimum energy performance requirements set out in the Technical

Guidance Document F.

(2) The Building Regulation Board shall report to the

Commission all input data and assumptions used for such standards

and the results thereof. The report may be included in the Energy

Efficiency Action Plans (EEAP) referred to in regulation 13(2) and

(3) of the Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services S.L. 423.34

Regulations. Such report shall be submitted to the Commission at

regular intervals, which shall not be longer than five years. The first

report shall be submitted by 21st March, 2013.

(3) If the result of the comparison performed in accordance

with sub-regulation (2) shows that the minimum energy performance

requirements in force are significantly less energy efficient than cost-

optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements, the

Building Regulation Board shall justify this difference in writing to

the Commission in the report referred to in sub-regulation (2). Such

report shall, to the extent that the difference cannot be justified, be

accompanied by a plan outlining appropriate steps to significantly

reduce the difference by the next review of the energy performance

requirements as referred to in regulation 5(1), (2), (3) and (4).

(1)

The Building Regulation Office in collaboration New buildings.

with the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority shall take the

necessary administrative measures to establish a monitoring system

whereby the minimum energy performance requirements established

in accordance with regulation 5 for new buildings, and buildings

which shall be undergoing major renovations, are met and enforced.

(2) For new buildings, the Building Regulation Office in

collaboration with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority

shall establish a system whereby the technical, environmental and

economic feasibility of high-efficiency alternative systems such as

those listed below, if available, is considered and taken into account

at the application stage by the designer

(a)

decentralized energy supply systems based on

energy from renewable sources;

(b)

cogeneration;

(c)

district or block heating or cooling, if available,

particularly where it is based entirely or partially on energy

from renewable sources;

(d)

heat pumps.

(3) The analysis of alternative systems referred to in sub-

regulation (2) shall be documented and available for verification

purposes. Such analysis of alternative systems may be carried out for

individual buildings or for groups of similar buildings or for common

typologies of buildings in the same area. As far as collective heating

and cooling systems are concerned, the analysis may be carried out

for all buildings connected to the system in the same area.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall, in

collaboration with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority,

take the necessary administrative measures to establish a system to

monitor and enforce the upgrading of the energy performance of the

building or, in the case of buildings which undergo major renovation,

the renovated part thereof, in order to meet minimum energy

performance requirements set in accordance with regulation 5, in so

far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible.

(2) Such requirements shall be applied to the renovated

building or building unit as a whole. Additionally or alternatively,

requirements may be applied to the renovated building elements.

(3) The Building Regulation Board shall determine these

minimum energy performance requirements in accordance with

regulation 3. The Building Regulation Board and the Building

Regulation Office shall, in collaboration with the Authority,

encourage, in relation to buildings undergoing major renovation,

high-efficiency alternative systems, as referred to in regulation 7(2),

in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible.

(1)

The Building Regulation Board shall, for the Technical

purpose of optimising the energy use of technical building systems, building

systems.

establish system requirements in respect of the overall energy

performance, the proper installation, and the appropriate

dimensioning, adjustment and control of the technical building

systems which are installed in existing buildings. Such system

requirements may also be applied to new buildings.

(2) System requirements shall be established for new,

replacement and upgrading of technical building systems and shall be

applied in so far as they are technically, economically and

functionally feasible.

(3) The system requirements shall cover at least the following

(a)

heating systems;

(b)

hot water systems;

(c)

air-conditioning systems;

(d)

large ventilation systems; or

(e)

a combination of such systems.

(4) Where the guidance contained in any technical guidance

document issued in connection with these regulation relates only to

the particular requirements of these regulations, any construction

works and the installation of any permanent mechanical or electrical

services shall also comply with the requirements of any other laws

and regulations that are operative for the control of construction

works and installations.

(5) The Minister shall encourage the introduction of intelligent

metering systems whenever a building is constructed or undergoes

major renovation, whilst ensuring that this encouragement conforms

with paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to the Electricity Market S.L. 423.22

Regulations, 2011 regarding measures on client protection.

(1)

The Building Regulation Board shall establish a Nearly zero-

energy

system to monitor and enforce that after 31 December 2018

buildings.

(a)

all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings;

and

(b)

new buildings occupied and owned by public

authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings.

(2) The Authority in collaboration with the Building

Regulation Board and the Building Regulation Office shall draw up

National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) and other national

plans, if need be, for the purpose of covering future plans, in order to

increase the number of nearly zero-energy buildings.

(3) The Board shall also develop policies and take measures

such as the setting of targets in order to stimulate the transformation

of buildings that are refurbished into nearly zero-energy buildings,

and shall draw up reports including such measures and inform the

Authority and the Commission about such reports. Upon notification

of the reports, the Authority shall include the mentioned targets in the

Energy Efficiency Action Plans mentioned in sub-regulation (2), as

set out in regulation 13(2) and (3) of the Energy End-use Efficiency

and Energy Services Regulations and inform the Commission about

such targets.

(4) The national plans shall include, inter alia, the following

elements

(a)

the detailed application in practice of the Authority

regarding the definition of nearly zero-energy buildings,

reflecting the national conditions, and including a numerical

indicator of primary energy use expressed in kWh/m 2 per year.

Primary energy factors used for the determination of the

primary energy use may be based on national yearly average

values and may take into account relevant European standards;

(b)

intermediate targets for improving the energy

performance of new buildings by 2015, with a view to preparing

the implementation of sub-regulation (2);

(c)

information on the policies and financial or other

measures adopted in the context of sub-regulations (2) and (3)

for the promotion of nearly zero-energy buildings, including

details of national requirements and measures concerning the

use of energy from renewable sources in new buildings and

existing buildings undergoing major renovation in the context of

regulations 10, 11 and 17(5) of the Promotion of Energy from

Renewable Sources Regulations.

(1)

In view of the importance of providing appropriate

financing and other instruments to catalyse the energy performance of

buildings and the transition to nearly zero-energy buildings, the

Authority shall take all appropriate steps to consider the most relevant

such instruments in the light of national circumstances.

(2) The Authority in collaboration with the Building

Regulation Office shall also take into account the cost-optimal levels

of energy performance when providing incentives for the construction

or major renovation of buildings for such consumers who want to

make the best use of energy resources.

(3) The provisions of these regulations shall not prevent the

Authority from providing incentives for new buildings, renovations

or building elements which go beyond the cost-optimal levels.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall provide all Energy

necessary measures to establish and maintain a system of registration performance

certificates

of the EPC. The EPC shall include the EPB and reference values such (EPCs).

as minimum energy performance requirements, in order to make it

possible for owners or tenants of the building or building unit to

compare and assess its energy performance.

(2) The EPC may include additional information such as the

annual energy consumption for non-residential buildings and the

percentage of energy from renewable sources in the total energy

consumption.

(3) The EPC shall include recommendations for the cost-

optimal or cost-effective improvement of the EPB or building unit,

unless there is no reasonable potential for such improvement

compared to the energy performance requirements in force. The

recommendations included in the EPC shall cover

(a)

measures to be carried out in connection with a

major renovation of the building envelope or technical building

system(s); and

(b)

measures for individual building elements

independent of a major renovation of the building envelope or

technical building system(s).

(4) The recommendations included in the EPC shall be

technically feasible for the specific building and may provide an

estimate for the range of payback periods or cost-benefits over its

economic lifecycle.

(5) The EPC shall provide an indication as to where the owner

or tenant can receive more detailed information, including as regards

the cost-effectiveness of the recommendations made in the EPC. The

evaluation of cost effectiveness shall be based on a set of standard

conditions, such as the assessment of energy savings and underlying

energy prices and a preliminary cost forecast.

(6) In addition, the EPC shall contain information on the steps

to be taken to implement the recommendations. Other information

such as energy audits or incentives of a financial or other nature and

financing possibilities may also be provided to the owner or tenant.

(7) Certification for building units may be based

(a)

on a common certification of the whole building; or

(b)

on the assessment of another representative

building unit with the same energy-relevant characteristics in

the same building.

(8) Certification for single-family houses may be based on the

assessment of another representative building of similar design and

size with a similar and actual energy performance quality if such

correspondence can be guaranteed by the expert issuing the EPC.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall establish and

maintain a system to monitor and enforce that an EPC is issued for

(a)

buildings or building units which are constructed,

sold or rented out to a new tenant which are privately owned or

occupied;

(b)

buildings where a total useful floor area over 500

m2 is occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by

the public. Such threshold of 500 m 2 shall be lowered to 250 m 2

after 9 July 2015.

(2) The requirement to issue an EPC does not apply where a

certificate, issued in accordance with these regulations, for the

building or building unit concerned, is available and valid until expiry

date of certificate.

(3) The owner of a building shall ensure that when buildings

or building units are constructed, sold or rented out, the EPC or a

copy thereof is shown to the prospective new tenant or buyer and

handed over to the buyer or new tenant on the date of entering the

promise of sale or rent agreement at the latest.

(4) As a derogation from sub-regulations (1) and (3), where a

building is sold or rented out prior to construction, the seller shall

provide a design rating EPC for the building, and which in such case

shall be handed over to the buyer or tenant, at the latest once the

building has been constructed, and no alterations from the energy

performance characteristics of the building specified in the certificate

have been made. If alterations which change the energy performance

characteristics of the building have been made during construction, a

new EPC has to be provided to the buyer or tenant.

(5) The owner or his agent shall ensure that where buildings,

building units and building units in a building having an EPC are

offered for sale or for rent, the energy performance indicator of the

EPC of the building or the building unit, as the case may be, is stated

in the advertisements in commercial media.

(6) The provisions of this regulation shall be implemented in

accordance with applicable national rules on joint ownership or

common property.

(7) The categories of buildings referred to in regulation 5(5)

shall be excluded from the application of sub-regulations (1), (3), (5)

and (6).

(1)

An owner or his agent shall obtain an EPC in the Energy

form prescribed by these regulations when a building is constructed, Performance

Certificate

sold or rented.

(EPC) and

Energy

Performance

(2) To be valid, the EPC shall be obtained from an Assessment

(EPA).

independent EPB assessor after it is registered with the Building

Regulation Office.

(3) As from the date indicated in this sub-regulation, a person

or agent acting on behalf of the owner who commissions the design of

a new building shall have in his possession an EPC based on the

design rating of the building and in the form prescribed by these

regulations by the date such person or agent submits a full

development permission application to the Malta Environment and

Planning Authority

(a)

as from 2nd January, 2009 in relation to dwellings;

and

(b)

as from 1st June, 2009 in relation to all other

buildings.

(4) As from the date indicated in this sub-regulation, a person

or agent acting on behalf of the owner who offers a building for sale

or letting, shall provide an EPC to the prospective buyer or tenant

within the period of the promise of sale or at the time of signing of the

sale agreement, or rent agreement. The EPC shall be in the form

prescribed in these regulations and shall be based on the design rating

of the building if the building is not yet constructed and, or finished,

or on the asset rating, if the building is already constructed and

finished

(a)

as from 2nd January, 2009 in relation to dwellings;

and

(b)

as from 1st June, 2009 in relation to all other

(5) In the event that the person or agent indicated in sub-

regulation (4) does not provide the prospective buyer or the tenant

with an EPC within the period indicated in sub-regulation (4), the

buyer or the tenant shall have the right to engage an assessor to issue

the necessary certificate and, in all cases, the prospective buyer or

tenant shall have the right to deduct the expenses incurred for the

issue of the EPC from the amount of the sum agreed for the sale or the

payments of the rent due.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulations (1), (2),

(3) and (4), the procurement of an EPC shall not apply to the

following categories of buildings

(a)

a building classified as scheduled property (Grade

One) or (Grade Two) by the Malta Environment and Planning

Authority under article 81 of the Environment and Development

Planning Act;

(b)

a building, the construction of which is subject to

the Control of Fireworks and other Explosives Regulations;

(c)

a building constructed for the Enemalta

Corporation, the Water Services Corporation or any other

similar entity, and used as a generation, transmission or

distribution station;

(d)

a building, or parts of a building, housing solely

industrial or agricultural processes or livestock husbandry

which require adherence to specific sectoral regulations;

(e)

temporary buildings with a planned time of use of

two years or less;

(f)

glasshouses used solely for agricultural purposes;

(g)

stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area

of less than 50 m 2 ;

(h)

a building constructed for use by the Armed Forces

of Malta in connection with their military requirements; and

(i)

a building used as a place of worship.

An EPC issued in terms of these regulations shall

be valid for a period of ten years from the date of its first issue,

provided that no major renovation or alteration occur in the building.

(2) The EPC shall include reference values and shall be

accompanied by a recommendation report. The recommendation

report shall indicate cost-effective measures for improving the EPB.

(3) Any report or data file in connection with the production of

an EPC shall conform to national data protection laws in force.

(4) If after the construction of the building or the installation

of mechanical and electrical services in new buildings it results that

such construction or installation of services is different from the

design on which a design rating EPC has been obtained, a new EPC

based on the asset rating of the building shall have to be secured by

the owner before the expiry of the periods indicated in regulation

14(4). The provisions of regulation 14(5) shall also apply.

(1)

EPC li jkun inħareā skont dawn ir-regolamenti DispoŜizzjoni-

għandu jkun validu għal Ŝmien għaxar snin mid-data meta jkun jiet

x’jaqsmu ma’

inħareā għall-ewwel darba, kemm-il darba ma jkunx sar xi restawr EPC.

jew tibdil fil-bini.

(2) L-EPC għandu jinkludi valuri ta’ referenza u għandu

jkollhom rapport ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet. Dak ir-rapport ta’

rakkomandazzjonijiet għandu jindika miŜuri ekonomiëi għat-titjib tal-

EPB.

(3) Kull rapport jew inkartament tad-data f’dak li għandu

x’jaqsam mal-produzzjoni ta’ EPC għandu jkun konformi mal-liāiijet

dwar il-protezzjoni u l-privatezza tad-data nazzjonali, li jkunu fis-

seħħ.

(4) Jekk wara l-kostruzzjoni tal-bini jew l-installazzjoni ta’

servizzi mekkaniëi u elettriëi f’bini ādid jirriŜulta illi din il-

kostruzzjoni jew installazzjoni ta’ servizzi tkun differenti mid-disinn

li għalih ikun inkiseb design rating EPC, EPC ādid baŜat fuq l-asset

rating tal-bini għandu jiāi Ŝgurat mis-sid qabel ma jiskadi Ŝ-Ŝmien

imsemmi fir-regolament 14(4). Id-dispoŜizzjonijiet tar-regolament

14(5) għandhom japplikaw ukoll.

(1)

For apartments or dwellings designed or altered for Apartments or

separate use in blocks having common or identical water heating, dwellings

designed for

space heating or space cooling systems, the EPC may be issued either separate use.

for the building as a whole or on the assessment of a representative

apartment or dwelling unit in the same block.

(2) For apartments or dwellings designed or altered for

separate use in blocks that do not have a common water heating,

space heating or space cooling system, the EPC shall be issued for

each individual apartment or dwelling unit.

Where a total useful floor area over 500 m 2 of a Display of

(1)

building for which an EPC has been issued in accordance with energy

performance

regulation 12(1)(b) is occupied by public authorities and frequently certificates.

visited by the public, the EPC shall be displayed in a prominent place

clearly visible to the public. In such a case the threshold shall be

lowered to 250 m 2 by 9 July, 2015.

(2) Where a total useful floor area over 500 m 2 of a building

for which an EPC has been issued in accordance with regulation

12(1)(b), is frequently visited by the public, the EPC shall also be

displayed in a prominent place clearly visible to the public.

(3) Public authorities shall take into account the leading role

which they should exercise in the field of EPB, inter alia, by

implementing the recommendations included in the EPC issued for

buildings occupied by them within its validity period. The Authority

in collaboration with the Building Regulation Office shall, in terms of

these regulations and other national legislation, where applicable, and

also subject to the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, collect all

necessary information and statistics from public authorities as regards

and in relation to the recommendations to be implemented by public

authorities which are to be included in their EPCs.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall provide all

necessary measures to establish and maintain a system for the

registration of certificates in connection with the regular inspection of

the accessible parts of systems used for heating buildings, such as the

heat generator, control system and circulation pump(s), with boilers

of an effective rated output for space heating purposes of more than

20 kW.

(2) Such inspection shall include an assessment of the boiler

efficiency and the boiler sizing compared with the heating

requirements of the building. The assessment of the boiler sizing does

not have to be repeated as long as no changes were made to the

heating system or as regards the heating requirements of the building.

(3) The frequency of such inspections shall be decreased or

increased as appropriate, where an electronic monitoring and control

system is in place. The Building Regulation Board shall set different

inspection frequencies depending on the type and effective rated

output of the heating system whilst taking into account the costs of

the inspection of the heating system and the estimated energy cost

savings that may result from the inspection.

(4) Heating systems with boilers of an effective rated output of

more than 100 kW shall be inspected at least every two years. For gas

boilers, this period may be extended to four years.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall provide all

necessary measures to establish and maintain a system for the

registration of certificates in connection with the regular inspection of

the accessible parts of air-conditioning systems of an effective rated

output of more than 12 kW.

(2) Such inspection shall include an assessment of the air-

conditioning efficiency and the sizing compared to the cooling

requirements of the building. The assessment of the sizing shall not

be repeated as long as no changes were made to this air-conditioning

system or as regards the cooling requirements of the building. The

frequency of such inspections shall be decreased or increased as

appropriate, where an electronic monitoring and control system is in

place.

(3) The Building Regulation Board shall set different

inspection frequencies depending on the type and effective rated

output of the air-conditioning system, whilst taking into account the

costs of the inspection of the air-conditioning system and the

estimated energy cost savings that may result from the inspection.

(4) In providing measures referred to in sub-regulations (1)

and (3), the Building Regulation Office shall, in so far as this is

economically and technically feasible, establish and maintain a

monitoring system for the enforcement of inspections to be carried

out in accordance with the inspection of heating systems and other

technical systems referred to in regulation 18 and the inspection of

leakages referred to in Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European

Parliament and of the Council on certain fluorinated greenhouse

gases.

(1)

An inspection report shall be issued after each Reports on the

inspection of a heating or air-conditioning system. The inspection inspection

heating and air-

report shall contain the result of the inspection performed in conditioning

systems.

accordance with regulations 18 and 19 and shall include

recommendations for the cost-effective improvement of the energy

performance of the inspected system.

(2) The recommendations may be based on a comparison of

the energy performance of the system inspected with that of the best

available feasible system and a similar system for which all relevant

components achieve the level of energy performance required by

these regulations. The inspection report shall be handed over to the

owner or tenant of the building.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office may demand, from Production of an

the owner of a building in terms of these regulations, or the agent of EPC.

such owner, the production of an EPC in respect of the building or the

installations within a building as required by these regulations, and if

the building owner or the agent of such owner, as the case may be,

refuses or fails to produce without reasonable cause the EPC, such

person shall be guilty of an offence, unless such person provides the

requested EPC within sixty days after the request was made.

(2) Where a person produces an EPC to an authorised officer

but refuses or fails to permit the said officer to read and examine the

EPC or the associated report, such person or other persons involved in

such a case shall be guilty of an offence, and the authorised officer

may demand of the person or persons their name and identification

card number and official address.

(1)

The EPA and certification shall be carried out using Energy

procedures, including calculation methods and software, approved by performance

assessment

(EPA) and

the Building Regulation Board.

certification.

(2) In carrying out the EPA of a building or installation, an

assessor shall comply with any direction given by the Building

Regulation Board in relation to the manner in which the assessment is

to be carried out.

(3) An EPB assessor may refuse to carry an EPA of a building

or installation if in the opinion of the assessor any part of the building

or installation is in such a condition that it would not be safe or

practicable to carry out that assessment.

(4) An endorsed EPC shall not be issued by the assessor to the

building owner or his agent, as the case may be, unless and until it is

accepted in the register maintained by the Building Regulation Board.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office may revoke an

EPC and EPC data file or report compiled by an EPB assessor where

it has reasonable grounds for believing that the EPC or data file or

report was not completed or issued in accordance with these

regulations, and shall enter such revocation in the EPC record of that

building and the register maintained by the Building Regulation

Office.

(2) Where an EPC or EPC data file or report is revoked, the

Building Regulation Office shall inform the EPB assessor, giving

reasons for the revocation, and shall also inform the person who

commissioned the EPC, the owner or tenant of the building, as the

case may be.

(3) The Building Regulation Office may demand in writing,

the waiving of an EPC which has been revoked within fourteen days

of the making of such demand.

(4) Where an EPC or data file, or report is revoked under this

regulation

(a)

a request for the reimbursement of the fee or part

thereof may be made by the person who paid a fee or

contributed in the fee for the relevant EPB assessment to the

EPB assessor who carried out the assessment; and

(b)

the EPB assessor shall be obliged to make the

reimbursement in whole or in part, as the case may be, referred

to in paragraph (a), within twenty-eight days of the receipt of

the request, if such assessor is satisfied that the fee or a

contribution to the fee was paid by the person making the

request.

(1)

After an EPC has been registered with the Building Alteration,

Regulation Office and signed by the assessor, no person shall, either cancellation

addition to an

in writing, drawing or in any other manner alter, cancel, or add EPC

reports.

anything to the EPC or to any related report or to a printed copy of an

EPC or to any related report or entry made therein.

(2) No person shall produce

(a)

a printed copy of any EPC or report for any

building or installation, which copy has been altered or added

contrary to sub-regulation (1), or upon which the figures have

become illegible or the colour has become altered by fading or

otherwise; or

(b)

an EPC or report save for those provided in relation

to the particular building for which it was issued; or

(c)

an EPC or report which has become void or the

validity of which has expired; or

(d)

any imitation of a registered EPC or report.

(3) The Building Regulation Office may require the owner of a

building or, as the case may be, through his agent, to surrender to it an

EPC or report where the Building Regulation Office has reason to

believe that the EPC or report contains particulars which are not

correct and, upon being so required, the owner of the building or, as

the case may be, the owner’s agent, shall surrender the relevant

documents to the Building Regulation Office.

(1)

All data, documentation and records issued by an Records, data

EPB assessor and submitted to the Building Regulation Office in and

documentation.

relation with the carrying out of an EPC under these regulations shall

become the property of the Building Regulation Office which has the

power to demand from the assessor any such data, documentation or

records as it considers appropriate.

(2) The lawful EPC record in relation to a building or

installation shall be that maintained on the EPC register kept by the

Building Regulation Office.

(3) The most recent EPC record entered in relation to a

building or installation on the EPC register by the Building

Regulation Office shall be deemed to supersede any previous EPC

record for that building or installation.

(1)

Subject to sub-regulations (3) and (4), the Building Registration of

Regulation Office may register EPB assessors to assess the energy EPB assessors.

performance of buildings, and provide reports in relation to hot water

boilers, space heating and space cooling systems in accordance with

these regulations.

(2) In registering an EPB assessor, the Building Regulation

Office shall designate the type of energy performance certification

and also the category of buildings in respect of which the EPB

assessor is authorised to carry EPAs and certifications.

(3) The Building Regulation Office shall not consider a person

for registration as an EPB assessor unless

(a)

the person makes an application for registration to

the Building Regulation Office in the form specified by it for

such purpose;

(b)

the application for registration is accompanied by

such fee as may be specified by the Building Regulation Office;

and

(c)

the person meets any other requirements specified

by the Building Regulation Office.

(4) In considering an application for registration as an EPB

assessor, the Building Regulation Office shall be satisfied that the

applicant has the necessary qualifications and, if required, has

successfully completed a training course provided by the Building

Regulation Office or an energy performance training provider

recognised by the Building Regulation Office as suitable for

providing such training for buildings constructed, or installations

carried out in Malta in the relevant category of buildings and

designated type of certification.

(5) An EPB assessor who is registered by the Building

Regulation Office in respect of one type of certification or one

category of building may apply to the Building Regulation Office to

be registered in respect of another type or category of buildings, and

may be so registered, subject to compliance with the provisions set

out in sub-regulations (3) and (4) and the payment of such fee as may

specified by the Building Regulation Office.

(6) An EPB assessor shall be required to renew his registration

at such reasonable frequency as may be determined by the Building

Regulation Office, subject to the payment of such registration

renewal fee as may be specified by the Building Regulation Board.

(7) The Building Regulation Office shall provide each EPB

assessor with a certificate of registration for the designated type and

category of buildings to which his registration pertains, and the

certificate, if requested by the owner of a building or the owner’s

agent, or authorised officer, shall be presented for inspection to the

person making such request.

(8) Where the Building Regulation Office suspends or

terminates the registration of a person as an EPB assessor, it shall

register the suspension or termination of the appointment and the date

on which the registration was suspended or revoked.

(9) The Building Regulation Office may, having regard to all

the circumstances of the case, suspend or terminate the registration of

an EPB assessor following

(a)

failure by the EPB assessor to attend a course of

periodic training if required by the Building Regulation Office

or to satisfactorily complete such a training course; or

(b)

failure by an EPB assessor to comply with a

direction under these regulations; or

(c)

failure by an EPB assessor to carry out a building

EPA for EPC purposes in a fit and proper manner, or failure to

maintain or provide satisfactory data, documentation or records

of any such assessment; or

(d)

the committing, or aiding or abetting the

committing, by the EPB assessor, of an offence under these

regulations; or

(e)

the forming of an opinion by the Building

Regulation Office that the EPB assessor has ceased to be

capable of performing his functions properly and efficiently

under these regulations.

(10) A suspension or termination of registration under sub-

regulation (9) shall be notified to the person concerned in writing

including reasons for the suspension or termination and the Building

Regulation Office shall inform the person of the appeal procedure

under sub-regulation (11).

(11) A person whose registration has been suspended or

terminated under sub-regulation (10) may, within fourteen days from

the said suspension or termination, appeal to the Building Regulation

Board or the Committee of Appeal against the decision regarding the

suspension or termination taken by the Director of the Building

Regulation Office, as established under the Act, in terms of the

provisions relating to appeal under articles 12 and 13 of the said Act,

or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be.

(12) A person whose registration as an EPB assessor has lapsed

or been suspended or terminated may be directed by the Building

Regulation Office to destroy any data or documentation provided by

building owners or their agents, and any copies thereof, in relation to

EPB assessments carried out by him in his capacity as an EPB

assessor. Alternatively, the Building Regulation Office may withdraw

such data or documentation.

(13) A person who purports to be an EPB assessor for a

designated category of buildings, or for EPB inspections on

installations, or an authorised officer under these regulations shall be

guilty of an offence in terms of these regulations.

(14) A person who, purporting to give information to an EPB

assessor, to the Building Regulation Office or to an authorised officer

for the performance of his functions under these regulations, makes a

statement that he knows to be false or misleading in a material

particular or fails to disclose a material particular shall be guilty of an

offence in terms of these regulations.

(15) An EPB assessor who issues an EPC or makes a statement

or report, which he knows to be false or misleading in a material

particular, shall be guilty of an offence in terms of these regulations.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office may, from time to

time, issue directions to EPB assessors in relation to

(a)

the manner in which the EPB assessments are to be

carried out;

(b)

the manner in which an EPC and accompanying

advisory reports are to be issued;

(c)

the qualifications and training requirements for

EPB assessors;

(d)

the records, data bases and documentation to be

maintained by assessors;

(e)

codes of practice to be respected by assessors; and

(f)

such other matters as are reasonably necessary for

the proper administration of the EPC system.

(2) An EPB assessor shall comply with any direction given

under sub-regulation (1).

(1)

The registered EPB assessor shall pay to the EPC registration

Building Regulation Office such fee as may be determined by it in fee.

respect of each EPB assessment carried out on a building or

installation and submitted as an EPC data file by such assessor to the

Building Regulation Office for the purpose of registering and issuing

an EPC and related advisory report.

(2) The revenue from the fee specified in sub-regulation (1)

shall be used solely by the Building Regulation Office to defray costs

incurred by it in establishing, operating, and maintaining the EPC

system including publicising the said system.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall establish, Registers held

operate and maintain a register of EPB assessors, an EPC register by

Regulation

comprising EPCs, advisory reports, inspection reports on Office.

installations, EPC data files and related data or documents and any

other register that the Building Regulation Office considers necessary

for the proper administration of the EPC system.

(2) Any register established under sub-regulation (1) may be

held in non-legible form provided it is capable of being reproduced in

legible form.

(3) Each register established under sub-regulation (1) shall be

a public record and shall be kept under the management of the

Building Regulation Office.

(4) In relation to the registers established under sub-regulation

(1), the following access rights shall apply

(a)

extracts from the register of the EPB assessors,

comprising the name, such assessor’s employer, if any, and

place of business, contact details, and the designated type,

whether buildings or installations, of the energy assessment

certification system to which such assessor’s EPC registration

applies, shall be made available to public inspection on the

internet or, during office hours, at the offices of the Building

Regulation Office;

(b)

subject to compliance with the provisions of the

Data Protection Act, the Building Regulation Office may allow Cap. 440.

publication or access, on a restricted or an open basis, to any

extract from any register maintained by the Building Regulation

Office under these regulations where the Building Regulation

Office is satisfied that such publication or access is in the public

interest;

(c)

other than as provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b),

a data file or other extract from a register relating to an EPC for

a particular building shall only be made available to

(i) the EPB assessor that carried out the relevant

EPB assessment, or such assessor’s formal employer; or

(ii) an EPB assessor undertaking any subsequent

EPB assessment of the relevant building, or such

assessor’s employer; or

(iii) the relevant building owner, or the agent of

that building owner, through an EPB assessor.

(1)

In any proceedings a certificate signed by an

authorised officer of the Building Regulation Office containing only

information stated in that certificate to be taken from a register

maintained by the Building Regulation Office shall be sufficient

evidence of the facts stated therein unless there is proof to the

contrary.

(2) In any proceedings a document purporting to be a

certificate under sub-regulation (1) shall be deemed to be a certificate

for all legal intents and purposes, and to have been signed by an

authorised officer of the Building Regulation Office, unless there is

proof to the contrary.

(3) A certificate under sub-regulations (1) and (2) that

purports to bear a facsimile signature of the authorised officer of the

Building Regulation Office or a copy of such signature applied by

means of a stamp or produced by a computer, shall be deemed to have

been signed by an authorised officer, unless there is proof to the

contrary.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall establish and

maintain a monitoring system for the enforcement of energy

performance certification of buildings and the inspection of heating

and air-conditioning systems to be carried out in an independent

manner by qualified and, or accredited experts, whether operating in a

self-employed capacity or employed by public bodies or private

enterprises. Experts shall be accredited according to their

competence.

(2) The Building Regulation Office shall make available to the

public information on training and accreditations. It shall ensure that

either regularly updated lists of qualified and, or accredited experts or

regularly updated lists of accredited companies which offer the

services of such experts are made available to the public.

(1)

The Building Regulation Office shall ensure that Independent

independent control systems for EPCs and reports on the inspection control system.

of heating and air-conditioning systems are established in accordance

with Schedule II. The Building Regulation Office may establish

separate systems for the control of EPCs and for the control of reports

on the inspection of heating and air-conditioning systems.

(2) The Building Regulation Office may delegate the

responsibilities for implementing the independent control systems.

Where the Building Regulation Office decides to do so, it shall ensure

that the independent control systems are implemented in compliance

with Schedule II.

(3) The Building Regulation Office shall ensure that the EPCs

and the inspection reports referred to in sub-regulation (1) are made

available to the Authority or other bodies, organisations and or

entities, whether private or public on request.

(1)

The EPC assessor shall take all necessary measures Information.

to inform the owners or tenants of buildings or building units of the

different methods and practices that serve to enhance energy

performance.

(2) The EPC assessor shall in particular provide information to

the owners or tenants of buildings on EPCs and inspection reports,

their purpose and objectives, on cost-effective ways to improve the

EPB and, where appropriate, on financial instruments available to

improve the EPB.

(3) The EPC assessor shall ensure that guidance and training

are made available for those responsible for implementing these

regulations. Such guidance and training shall address the importance

of improving energy performance, and shall enable consideration of

the optimal combination of improvements in energy efficiency, use of

energy from renewable sources and use of district heating and cooling

when planning, designing, building and renovating industrial or

residential areas.

In order to facilitate the effective implementation of these Consultation.

regulations, the Building Regulation Board in collaboration with the

Authority shall consult the stakeholders involved, including local

authorities, in accordance with the relevant applicable national

legislation. Such consultation is of particular importance for the

application of regulations 10 and 33.

Any person who contravenes any of the requirements of

these regulations shall be guilty of an offence in terms of these

regulations.

(1)

The Director of the Building Regulation Office

may appoint persons to be authorised officers for the purpose of

enforcing these regulations.

(2) An authorised officer shall be in possession of a warrant of

appointment and shall, upon request, produce the warrant of

appointment.

(1)

An authorised officer may enter, inspect and

examine a building or any part of a building or installation for the

purpose of forming an opinion as to whether or not an EPC data file

or certificate issued for the building, or part of the building, or

installation is warranted.

(2) An authorised officer may do all such things and make all

such requirements in relation to the building and installations, as are

reasonably necessary for the purpose of carrying out an inspection

under sub-regulation (1).

(3) A person who -

(a)

fails to permit an inspection of a building, or

installation, under this regulation;

(b)

without reasonable cause fails or refuses to comply

with any request or requirement made by an authorised officer

under this regulation;

(c)

obstructs, impedes, interferes with or assaults an

authorised officer in the exercise of a power under this

regulation;

(d)

gives to an authorised officer information which is

false or misleading in a material respect; or

(e)

alters, suppresses, or destroys any EPC data file,

related calculation, EPC, advisory report, book, document or

record, including a printed copy thereof, and including

electronic data, which the person concerned has been requested

or required to produce, or may reasonably expect to be required

to produce,

shall be guilty offence in terms of these regulations.

(1)

Criminal proceedings for an offence under these Criminal

regulations shall be heard either before the Court of Magistrates proceedings.

(Malta) or the Court of Magistrates (Gozo), both as a Court of

Criminal Judicature, and shall be in accordance with the provisions of

the Criminal Code regulating such procedure.

(2) Where any person, whether voluntarily or negligently, acts

or purports to act as a director, manager, secretary or other officer or

member of a body, whether corporate or unincorporate, and in so

doing contravenes any provision of these regulations, such person

shall be guilty of an offence, and shall, on conviction, be liable to the

penalties in terms of regulations 39 and 40.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Code, the Cap. 9.

Attorney General shall always have the right to appeal before the

Court of Criminal Appeal from any judgement given by the Court of

Magistrates (Malta) or the Court of Magistrates (Gozo), both as a

Court of Criminal Judicature, in respect of proceedings taken in

relation to any offence committed against these regulations.

Any administrative penalty or sanction imposed by the Administrative

Building Regulation Office, in accordance with article 22 of the Act, penalties.

upon any person who infringes any provision of these regulations or

who fails to comply with any directive or decision given by the

Building Regulation Office in ensuring compliance with these

regulations shall be due to the Building Regulation Office as a civil

debt constituting an executive title for the purpose of Title VII of Part Cap. 12.

I of Book Second of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure as

if the payment of the debt had been ordered by a judgement delivered

by the Civil Court.

A person found guilty of an offence shall, on conviction, Offences and

penalties.

be liable to

(a)

a fine not less than five hundred euro (€500) and

not exceeding one thousand and five hundred euro (€1,500) if

contravening regulations 14(1), (3), (4), 15(4), 17(1) and (2), 18

and 19;

(b)

a fine not less than one thousand and five hundred

euro (€1,500) and not exceeding five thousand euro (€5,000) if

contravening regulations 21, 22(1), (2) and (4), 23, 24 and

26(12), (13), (14);

(c)

a fine not less than one thousand and five hundred

euro (€1,500) and not exceeding five thousand euro (€5,000), or

to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or to

both fine and imprisonment, if contravening regulation 37(3).

(1)

Any Technical Guidance Document issued in

relation to these regulations may be issued either in the Maltese

language or in the English language, or in both languages.

(2) Any EPC or report issued in accordance with these

regulations may be issued either in the Maltese language or in the

English language, or in both languages.

(1)

The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations

and the Minimum Requirements on the Energy Performance of

Buildings Regulations are hereby being revoked, and article

97(1)(f)(i) and (n)(viii) of Part V of the Code of Police Laws is

hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (1), the

revocation of the regulations and the repeal of the article of the Code

of Police Laws mentioned therein, shall not affect the validity of the

Technical Guidance Document F on the EPB as published by means

of Government Notice 1002 of 2006 and, or any subsequent

amendments made thereto.

Schedule I

(Regulation 4)

Common general framework for the calculation of energy performance of

buildings

1. The energy performance of a building shall be determined on the basis

of the calculated or actual annual energy that is consumed in order to meet the

different needs associated with its typical use and shall reflect the heating energy

needs and cooling energy needs (energy needed to avoid overheating) to maintain

the envisaged temperature conditions of the building, and domestic hot water

needs.

2. The energy performance of a building shall be expressed in a

transparent manner and shall include an energy performance indicator and a

numeric indicator of primary energy use, based on primary energy factors per

energy carrier, which may be based on national or regional annual weighted

averages or a specific value for on-site production.

The methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings should

take into account European standards and shall be consistent with relevant EU

legislation, including Directive 2009/28/EC on the Promotion on the Use of

Energy from Renewable Sources.

3. The methodology shall be laid down taking into consideration at least

the following aspects

(a)

the following actual thermal characteristics of the building

including its internal partitions

(i)

thermal capacity;

(ii) insulation;

(iii) passive heating;

(iv) cooling elements; and

(v)

thermal bridges;

(b)

heating installation and hot water supply, including their

insulation characteristics;

(c)

air-conditioning installations;

(d)

natural and mechanical ventilation which may include air-

tightness;

(e)

built-in lighting installation (mainly in the non-residential

(f)

the design, positioning and orientation of the building, including

outdoor climate;

(g)

passive solar systems and solar protection;

(h)

indoor climatic conditions, including the designed indoor

(i)

internal loads.

4. The positive influence of the following aspects shall, where relevant in

the calculation, be taken into account

(a)

local solar exposure conditions, active solar systems and other

heating and electricity systems based on energy from renewable sources;

(b)

electricity produced by cogeneration;

(c)

district or block heating and cooling systems;

(d)

natural lighting.

5. For the purpose of the calculation buildings should be adequately

classified into the following categories

(a)

single-family houses of different types;

(b)

apartment blocks;

(c)

offices;

(d)

educational buildings;

(e)

hospitals;

(f)

hotels and restaurants;

(g)

sports facilities;

(h)

wholesale and retail trade services buildings;

(i)

other types of energy-consuming buildings.

Schedule II

(Regulation 32)

Independent control systems for energy performance certificates

and inspection reports

1. The competent authorities or bodies to which the competent authorities

have delegated the responsibility for implementing the independent control system

shall make a random selection of at least a statistically significant percentage of all

the energy performance certificates issued annually and subject those certificates

to verification.

The verification shall be based on the options indicated below or on

equivalent measures

(a)

validity check of the input data of the building used to issue the

energy performance certificate and the results stated in the certificate;

(b)

check of the input data and verification of the results of the

energy performance certificate, including the recommendations made;

(c)

full check of the input data of the building used to issue the

energy performance certificate, full verification of the results stated in the

certificate, including the recommendations made, and on-site visit of the

building, if possible, to check correspondence between specifications given

in the energy performance certificate and the building certified.

2. The competent authorities or bodies to which the competent authorities

have delegated the responsibility for implementing the independent control system

shall make a random selection of at least a statistically significant percentage of all

the inspection reports issued annually and subject those reports to verification.

Schedule III

(Regulation 6)

Comparative methodology framework to identify cost-optimal levels of energy

performance requirements for buildings

and building elements

The comparative methodology framework shall enable Member States to

determine the energy performance of buildings and building elements and the

economic aspects of measures relating to the energy performance, and to link them

with a view to identifying the cost-optimal level.

The comparative methodology framework shall be accompanied by

guidelines outlining how to apply this framework in the calculation of cost-optimal

performance levels. The comparative methodology framework shall allow for

taking into account use patterns, outdoor climate conditions, investment costs,

building category, maintenance and operating costs (including energy costs and

savings), earnings from energy produced, where applicable, and disposal costs,

where applicable. It should be based on relevant European standards relating to

these regulations.

By calculating the costs of the energy efficiency measures during the

expected economic lifecycle, the cost-effectiveness of different levels of minimum

energy performance requirements is assessed by the Member States. This will

allow the determination of cost-optimal levels of energy performance

requirements.

€3.42