A BER assessment is an on-site survey carried out by a SEAI-registered BER assessor who measures your home, records how it’s built and heated, and uses that data to calculate its energy rating. The visit itself takes about 1–2 hours, and your certificate — valid for 10 years — is usually lodged within a few days.
Here’s exactly what happens, what’s inspected, and how to prepare so it goes smoothly.
What the assessor inspects
A BER is an objective, evidence-based assessment. The assessor isn’t judging how your home looks — only how it performs against a standard methodology. They will:
| Element | What’s recorded |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Floor areas, room heights, overall building geometry |
| Walls | Construction type (cavity, solid, timber frame) and any insulation |
| Roof / attic | Insulation type and depth |
| Floors | Ground-floor construction and insulation |
| Windows & doors | Glazing type (single, double, triple) and frames |
| Heating system | Boiler, heat pump or other heat source, age and efficiency |
| Controls | Thermostats, zoning, time control |
| Hot water | Cylinder, lagging jacket, immersion |
| Ventilation | Draught-proofing, mechanical ventilation if present |
| Renewables | Solar PV, solar thermal, any on-site generation |
The assessor takes measurements and photographs and, where you can show evidence (receipts, spec sheets, plans), records the documented specification rather than a default assumption — which usually gives a better, more accurate rating.
How to prepare
A little preparation can both speed up the visit and improve your result, because documented upgrades count for more than assumed defaults:
- Dig out paperwork for insulation, the boiler or heat pump, windows and any solar install — receipts, spec sheets or BER-relevant certificates.
- Find floor plans if you have them; they help confirm dimensions.
- Know the build year and the dates of any major works or extensions.
- Clear access to the attic hatch, the boiler/heat pump, the hot water cylinder and every room.
- Note any upgrades the previous owner did, if you can evidence them.
Without evidence, the assessor must assume conservative default values, which can pull your rating down — so the paperwork is genuinely worth finding. For preparing the practical bits, see how upgrades feed in via how to improve your BER.
How long it takes and lasts
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| On-site survey | 1–2 hours |
| Modelling & lodging the cert | A few days |
| Certificate validity | 10 years |
The certificate stays valid for 10 years unless you carry out works that materially change the rating. If you insulate, switch heating or add solar, get a new assessment afterwards so the certificate reflects the improvements — important when selling, renting, or applying for a green mortgage.
What it costs
The fee is a private-market price, typically in the €150–300 range, and it’s worth getting a few quotes. There’s also an SEAI grant toward the assessment when you’re doing qualifying upgrades — full detail in our BER cert cost guide.
After the assessment
Your certificate shows a rating from A1 to G plus the energy figure in kWh/m²/year. To understand what that band means and how it compares to other Irish homes, read our BER ratings explainer.
Planning upgrades next? Check your grant eligibility at /grants/check-eligibility/.
Source: SEAI, 12 June 2026