Level 4 Award in Domestic Retrofit Assessment

Entry Requirements

As a regulated qualification, the Level 4 Award in Domestic Retrofit Assessment has some specific eligibility criteria. The minimum requirement for all methods of study is a Level 3 Domestic Energy Assessor qualification.

Course Content

The course is made up of nine modules that cover all aspects of retrofit assessment. Each module features extensive learning materials, expert led sessions, case studies and activities that are designed to give you an in-depth understanding of both theory and practice.

The modules are as follows:

Module 1 PAS 2035 and Retrofit Assessments
Gives an overview of PAS 2035 and how this impacts on the Retrofit Assessor’s role. It also covers the roles and responsibilities of others in the PAS 2035 retrofit process.

Module 2 Context of dwellings
‘Context of Dwellings’, is, in essence, looking at the areas that need to be addressed in preparation for carrying out a retrofit assessment. So, knowing what you need to have in order to do the assessments, as well as the information that will underpin them.

Module 3 Assessing the condition of a dwelling and recording any defects
This is the assessment of the condition of the dwelling and includes the recording of defects. It is critical that defects, including leaks and cracks, are addressed prior to the installation of new measures.

Module 4 The requirements of occupancy assessments
The occupancy of a dwelling; the number of people who live there, ages, lifestyle patterns, etc. is a key part in the successful planning of a retrofit. The occupants are often incorrectly left out of the process, so it is important this information is recorded.

Module 5 Ventilation requirements of a dwelling
Ventilation is an essential requirement for any home. It is needed to ensure there is fresh air for breathing, as well as for removing and reducing pollutants in the home. Adequate ventilation will also help to control the amount of moisture in the air and thus reduce the risk of condensation and problems such as mould growth. So, the key to a healthy home is a functional ventilation strategy, and for a design to facilitate this, a comprehensive understanding of a dwelling’s existing ventilation system should be recorded by the Assessor.

Module 6 Energy performance of a dwelling
This module covers estimating energy usage and cost, and carbon dioxide emissions using industry models, such as the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) or the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). A Retrofit Assessor should be familiar with the use of SAP or PHPP software to support their work.

Module 7 Significance of a dwelling
This module covers the classification of a building, i.e. ‘traditional’ or ‘protected’ and reporting on its age, built form, setting and so on.

Module 8 Retrofit assessment reports
This module includes a virtual retrofit assessment of a domestic dwelling, including being able to inspect for defects. Followed by the completion of the assessment report.

Module 9 Retrofit advice to customers
PAS 2035 spells out what retrofit advice needs to be provided on a project, and by whom, so this module sets out what the Retrofit Assessor’s responsibilities are in this respect.