United Kingdom TM44 choice for England and Wales building managers

For a TM44 inspection in England or Wales, appoint an accredited assessor, define the systems and capacities in scope, and accept the final report only after it has been lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register with a valid reference number.[1]

Compare TEAM Energy, AccuTemp and ACI Reports

The main documented difference is whether the provider uses in-house assessors or coordinates a partner network. The cited pages contain no independently measured service-performance evidence, so vendor claims about accuracy, actionability or smooth delivery do not establish a performance ranking.[4][6]

TEAM Energy

• Delivery model: TEAM offers inspections through named in-house assessors, including Richard Quigley, Helder Galrinho and Silas Anthony.[4]
• Stated coverage: Its guidance is UK-wide, but the cited page does not define the inspection service area.[4]
• Report and lodgement: TEAM offers a report, compliance record or certificate and recommendations; the cited page assigns responsibility for Register lodgement to an accredited assessor.[4]

AccuTemp

• Delivery model: AccuTemp coordinates equipment identification, access and records, then arranges an accredited assessor through its partner network.[5]
• Stated coverage: The cited page does not define the service area.[5]
• Report and lodgement: Its service extends through to the report and registration information, but the cited page does not name the party responsible for lodgement.[5]

ACI Reports

• Delivery model: ACI offers accredited TM44 inspections, flexible scheduling and reports it describes as providing actionable insights.[6]
• Stated coverage: ACI claims nationwide coverage without specifying whether this means the whole United Kingdom or Great Britain.[6]
• Report and lodgement: ACI refers to inspection reports, but the cited page does not explain who handles lodgement.[6]

TEAM may suit a buyer seeking an in-house delivery model; AccuTemp offers partner-network coordination; and ACI promotes nationwide, flexible scheduling.[4][5][6] Confirm availability for the building’s location and make lodgement responsibility contractual.

Confirm whether the system and controller are in scope

Commission an inspection where an air-conditioning system has an effective rated output of more than 12kW. Inspections must be no more than five years apart. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate requirements.[1]

Effective rated output is the manufacturer-stated maximum calorific output in kW delivered continuously while meeting the manufacturer’s stated useful efficiency.[1] Include smaller units where their combined output exceeds 12kW: units in one building controlled by one person are treated as one system.[1]

Use the official threshold of more than 12kW. TEAM also uses the wording “12kW or more” and treats two 6kW units as likely to be in scope, but this conflicts with the government guidance; a combined capacity of exactly 12kW should not automatically be treated as exceeding the threshold.[1][4]

Identify who controls the system’s technical functioning. The owner usually remains the controller despite outsourced day-to-day operation; a full-repairing-and-insuring occupier may control it, while facilities-management or servicing contracts can affect responsibility or leave parallel duties.[1]

Put enforceable requirements in the inspection brief

Procure the TM44 inspection and lodged report as a specific appointment, not under a generic energy-audit brief. Include these clauses:

• System boundary: “Provide a schedule of every included unit and system, showing location, effective rated output, evidence source and system boundary. Explain how multiple-unit capacities have been aggregated.” Capacity evidence may come from rating plates, manuals, manufacturer websites or maintenance records.[1]
• Controller: “Record the party responsible for the system’s technical functioning and flag any uncertainty or potentially shared duty before inspection.” Do not assume responsibility rests with the landlord, occupier or maintenance contractor.[1]
• Assessment: “Report on likely efficiency and improvements, faults, maintenance adequacy, controls and settings, installed capacity relative to cooling load, and optimisation under typical operating conditions.”[1]
• Accreditation: “Name the energy assessor and approved accreditation scheme, and provide current membership details.” Only reports produced and lodged by accredited assessors are valid.[1]
• Data gathering: “Identify anyone assisting with data collection.” On a large, complex building or portfolio, data gatherers must have a contractual relationship with the assessor or the assessor’s employer; the assessor must supervise and be able to verify their data.[1]
• Delivery: “Provide the final report as soon as practicable after inspection, but only after it has been entered on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register and issued with a valid reference number.”[1]

Provide previous TM44 reports, equipment schedules and manuals, maintenance history, F-Gas records and details of building or system changes.[5] Also supply floor plans showing units and plant areas, occupancy and operating information, BMS access, control schedules and a knowledgeable site contact.[6]

Arrange safe access to plant rooms, outdoor condensers, above-ceiling units and restricted areas, including the necessary keys, codes, removable panels, ladders and site-safety arrangements.[6]

Commission excluded work separately

A TM44 inspection does not include equipment cleaning or control adjustments.[1] It also does not replace routine maintenance, health-and-safety inspections or F-Gas obligations.[1][5]

• Remedial work: Procure physical work arising from the recommendations under a separate scope and price, using a provider competent to perform it.[1]
• F-Gas compliance: Maintain separate arrangements for applicable refrigerant-leak checks and technician or company certification.[1][5]
• Process cooling: Clarify uncertain system boundaries before appointment. The official guidance is aimed at comfort cooling and does not intend dedicated process cooling to be covered, although the regulations contain no exemption restricting inspections to occupant-comfort systems.[1]

Verify the lodged report before accepting it

Make acceptance conditional on the lodged inspection report, not merely a provider-branded certificate or draft.[1]

• Identity: Check the building address, inspection date, assessor’s name, employer or self-employed trading name and address, and approved accreditation-scheme name.[1]
• Scope: Match the system boundaries, asset list and capacities to the brief and the equipment on site.[1][2]
• Content: Confirm the report addresses likely efficiency, faults, maintenance adequacy, controls and settings, system size against cooling load, optimisation under typical conditions, and key recommendations.[1]
• Lodgement: Require a valid reference number. For reports produced on or after 6 April 2012, this number can be generated only after lodgement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register.[1]
• Quality: Query another client’s details, unexplained figures, missing signatures, mismatched equipment or generic recommendations unrelated to the building.[2]

TEAM refers separately to a certificate and says it should be displayed. The government guidance identifies the lodged report and valid reference number as the relevant evidence and does not state a display requirement.[1][4] Treat a vendor certificate as supplementary unless the lodged report is also supplied.

What to confirm with each provider

AccuTemp publishes 30-day quotation validity, contract formation on written acceptance and receipt of the agreed deposit, and VAT exclusion; the cited pages do not publish an actual TM44 price, turnaround or cancellation rule, so obtain those in written quotations and proposed contracts.[4][5][6]

• total price, VAT treatment and quote assumptions;
• minimum charges, travel charges and portfolio discounts;
• payment terms and contract length;
• cancellation, rescheduling and refund terms;
• turnaround guarantees and formal service levels;
• provider or site eligibility restrictions;
• assessor allocation and any use of data gatherers;
• proposed inspection duration and sampling method;
• treatment of inaccessible equipment;
• confirmed geographical coverage; and
• the party responsible for lodgement and the evidence supplied.

Send each bidder the same asset list, system boundaries and access assumptions, then compare responses line by line. Treat omissions as matters requiring clarification rather than included services.

Keep the report and handover evidence

Retain the latest fully signed report with the building log book or operation-and-maintenance records.[1] Keep applicable EPC or DEC recommendation reports, refrigerant-leakage records and preparatory information for packaged or centralised cooling systems alongside it.[1]

An internal cover sheet can record:[3]

• the inspection date and next due date;
• the assessor and accreditation scheme;
• the asset list and capacities;
• recommendations and actions considered or completed; and
• the person responsible for the file.

The regulations do not require implementation of the report’s recommendations, although the government guidance says cost-effective action can improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions and operating costs.[1]

Act within three months if no report is handed over

The controller must retain the latest report and give it to anyone assuming control of the system.[1] If control transfers without the report, the new controller must arrange an inspection within three months of the transfer.[1]

Record the transfer date, attempts to obtain the previous report, the appointed assessor and the inspection booking in the evidence file.

References

1. gov.uk (gov.uk)
2. TM44 Inspection Reports and Certificates | UEC Energy (uec-energy.co.uk)
3. TM44 & Business Insurance: Compliance Risks for UK Buildings (tm44.uk, 2026)
4. TM44 Inspection Requirements & Regulations Guide – TEAM Energy (teamenergy.com)
5. TM44 Inspections Explained: Rules, Costs & Timing (accutemp.co.uk)
6. 5 Steps to Streamline Your TM44 Survey | ACI Reports (acireports.co.uk)