Work in progress about the recast of the EPBD shows that the requirements for the inspection of air conditioning systems could change.

The proposal for the recast of the EPBD by the European Commission (13 November 2008) as well as the European Parliament legislative resolution of 23 April 2009 give trends about these possible changes.

1. Member States could be asked to consider the ratio between the inspection costs and the energy cost savings to decide about the inspection frequency.
2. The revised Directive could describe the content of the inspection report and require that it is given by the inspector to the owner or tenant.
3. European Parliament suggested that inspection:

-         is extended to systems with reversible heat pumps;

-         concerns systems of an output of more than 5 kW (instead of 12 kW);

-         is extended to ventilation systems, with “an assessment of the airflows”;

-         may be suspended if electronic monitoring and control system is used.

4. European Parliament also asked that Member States are allowed, by derogation to regular inspection, to take measures to ensure “the provision of advice to users on the replacement of air conditioning systems or on other modifications to the air conditioning system which may include inspections to assess the efficiency and appropriate size of the air conditioning system”. For such derogations, the revised Directive would explain what happens if the report of equivalence between implemented measures and regular inspection, that has to be provided by Member States, is not found convincing enough by the European Commission.

To know more about the EPBD recast, have a look at the following links:

http://www.buildup.eu/publications/1275

http://www.buildup.eu/news/1878