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Part L · Non-domestic

SBEM Calculations
in Birmingham & the West Midlands

NDEA-accredited SBEM and BRUKL Report delivery across Birmingham & the West Midlands — Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell. 5 day turnaround. Local knowledge of the Birmingham Development Plan and the emerging Birmingham Plan 2042, plus every Part L Vol 2 requirement for non-domestic buildings.

NDEA L4/5
accredited assessors
EES/030713
5 day
typical turnaround
7 LPAs
covered across
the West Midlands

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NDEA accredited · 5 day turnaround · BRUKL + EPC included

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Accredited & Registered ATTMA Accredited Elmhurst Approved Assessor SITMA Accredited BPEC Registered DesignBuilder

NDEA-accredited SBEM and BRUKL Report delivery for non-domestic schemes in Birmingham & the West Midlands.

SBEM Calculations Birmingham commercial non-domestic

Birmingham & the West Midlands represents one of the UK's busiest commercial property markets — major office redevelopments, logistics warehouses around Aston and Erdington, mixed-use towers in the city centre, and retail conversions across all seven metropolitan boroughs. Non-domestic schemes in this area need to demonstrate compliance with Part L Volume 2 of the Building Regulations — the part covering commercial, retail, hospitality, industrial and education buildings. Build Envelope is NDEA Level 4 and Level 5 accredited (EES/030713) and based in Worcester.

SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) is the government-approved BRE methodology for calculating the energy performance of non-domestic buildings. It produces the BRUKL Report (Building Regulations UK Part L) required by Building Control, plus the commercial EPC for marketing and MEES compliance.

The Birmingham Development Plan and the emerging Birmingham Plan 2042 set particularly clear expectations for non-domestic schemes — we model your specification against both Part L and the locally adopted policy thresholds so your scheme passes both Building Control and planning. Most of our work in this area is delivered in 5 working days from receipt of a complete information pack.

Whether you are at outline planning, detailed design, or pre-completion stage, we deliver a fully accredited SBEM and BRUKL package ready for Building Control submission and EPC lodgement.

Part L Vol 2 compliance

BER ≤ TER
Building Emissions Rate must be lower or equal to the Target Emissions Rate — Part L 2021 Vol 2, England
Commercial EPC matters for MEES. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards already require an E rating to let. The bar is rising to C (2027) and B (2030). Schemes assessed now should target C or above to protect lettability and investment value.
Levels 4 & 5 accreditation. Most standard commercial buildings need NDEA Level 4. Complex buildings — district heating, CHP, high-rise mixed-use — need Level 5. We hold both, so we can assess any building type.

From drawings to BRUKL Report.

A typical SBEM assessment is delivered in 5 working days from receipt of complete drawings and HVAC / lighting specification.

01
Information gathering
We send a project information pack — geometry, glazing schedule, HVAC system spec, lighting design, controls, renewables. Accurate inputs = accurate result.
02
iSBEM modelling
We model the building in iSBEM software against Part L 2021 Vol 2. If the spec doesn't pass, we identify the most cost-effective changes to get BER ≤ TER.
03
Spec optimisation
Where the design margin is tight we model alternative spec options — fabric, glazing, HVAC efficiency, controls, renewables — so you can pick the lowest-cost compliant route.
04
BRUKL & EPC issued
Final iSBEM run produces the BRUKL Report for Building Control and the commercial EPC. We lodge the EPC and provide all documentation needed for sign-off.

Information that speeds up your SBEM — and reduces revisions.

The fastest SBEM turnarounds happen when we receive the full information pack up front: building geometry, construction U-values, glazing schedule, HVAC spec (heating / cooling / ventilation / DHW), lighting design and controls, plus any renewables. Inputs that match the as-built reality reduce revisions late in the project.

If the design isn't complete yet, send what you have. We can run an early-stage SBEM using sensible assumptions and refine when the missing information lands — this is often the right approach when a planning deadline is tighter than the design programme.

Major commercial planning conditions in the West Midlands frequently require Design Stage SBEM at submission. Get in touch early and we will work back from your submission date.

SBEM information checklist

Architectural drawings Plans, sections, elevations, site plan — PDF or CAD. Need to extract geometry, zones and orientations.
Construction U-values Wall, floor, roof and party-wall build-ups. Manufacturer data sheets are ideal — or send construction notes and we'll calculate.
HVAC strategy Heat source, cooling, ventilation system, DHW, controls. Mechanical schematics or designer's specification.
Lighting design Lamp type, luminous efficacy, controls (occupancy / daylight dimming) per zone.
Glazing schedule U-value, g-value, frame factor for each window / curtain wall / rooflight.
Renewables (PV / heat pumps / etc.) kWp, orientation, overshading for any photovoltaic, solar thermal, ASHP or GSHP systems.

SBEM delivery across all 7 LPAs in the West Midlands.

Local knowledge of each the West Midlands LPA's Local Plan policies and planning condition templates for non-domestic schemes.

Birmingham City Council
Birmingham city centre, Aston, Edgbaston, Digbeth — commercial regeneration under the Birmingham Development Plan and Net Zero policy.
Solihull MBC
Solihull town centre, Shirley, Touchwood — offices, retail and mixed-use schemes under the Solihull Local Plan.
Coventry City Council
Coventry city centre, business parks, student accommodation, hotels — under the Coventry Local Plan 2017.
Wolverhampton & Dudley MBCs
Wolverhampton, Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen — commercial regeneration and Black Country logistics.
Walsall & Sandwell MBCs
Walsall, West Bromwich, Smethwick — Black Country industrial conversions, warehousing, and brownfield commercial schemes.
Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth & wider
North Birmingham plus border zones into Staffordshire — flexible coverage on commercial schemes that span boundaries.

Outside the West Midlands? See our SBEM pages for Bristol, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire.

Common questions about SBEM Calculations in Birmingham & the West Midlands.

BRUKL stands for Building Regulations UK Part L. It is the formal output of an SBEM assessment that demonstrates a non-domestic building's compliance with Part L Volume 2.

Building Control will not sign off without the BRUKL Report, and a commercial EPC cannot be issued without it.

Yes for any new non-domestic building, significant extension (typically >100m² or >25% of existing floor area), major refurbishment, or change of use to a non-domestic class.

If you are unsure whether your project needs it, send us the planning description and we will confirm.

5 working days from receipt of a complete information pack is standard. For urgent submissions we routinely accommodate faster turnarounds.

SBEM is desk-based, so location within the West Midlands makes no difference to delivery time.

Yes. We deliver SBEM across all 7 local planning authorities in the West Midlands, working to each LPA's submission templates and planning condition wording.

Yes. Our dual NDEA Level 4 and Level 5 accreditation covers complex commercial buildings including district heating, CHP, high-rise mixed-use, and buildings with multiple zones and control strategies.

We identify the lowest-cost specification changes to bring BER ≤ TER — typically improvements to fabric U-values, glazing performance, HVAC efficiency, lighting controls, or addition of renewables.

We re-run the SBEM at no extra cost during the same project.

The commercial EPC is produced directly from the SBEM result. MEES currently requires E to let; the bar rises to C by 2027 and B by 2030.

Buildings assessed now that hit C or above are better positioned for future lettability and value.

NDEA L4/5 accredited

Need an SBEM Calculation or BRUKL Report in Birmingham?

5 day turnaround across the West Midlands. Send us your drawings, HVAC schedule and lighting design — we'll quote within one working day and deliver a Building Control-ready BRUKL plus your commercial EPC.

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