DEAP consists of a series of tabs or modules with equations or algorithms representing the relationships between the factors contributing to a dwelling’s energy performance. Reference data tables accompany the DEAP software. Mandatory fields are displayed with an asterisk (*). The BER assessor should proceed through the individual tabs and sub-tabs as shown in Table 1.1 below1, leading ultimately to the display of results in the ’Results‘ tab2:
1 - A number of parameters additional to those shown in the table are visible in DEAP but are not listed here as they do not require user data entry.
2 - The ’Result‘ section displays a detailed view of calculation results generated and used by DEAP throughout the DEAP calculation. This includes summary of data entries and results for lighting, heating, hot water, ventilation, the building envelope, gains/losses, Part L compliance and overall results. Evidence supporting entries within each section can be uploaded under the ’Evidence’ tab. Functionality in the ‘Results’ sub-tab allows the user to simulate results for previous years by selecting alternative electricity factors to the year the assessment is carried out
| Tab | Main user entry actions |
|---|---|
| My portal | Create new DEAP assessments/surveys |
| Start new survey | Administrative details of the dwelling and BER assessment including electricity Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), BER number, new/existing dwelling, TGD L version, construction date and dwelling type, planning details, Eircode. (Where a valid Eircode is not available, the default Eircode (A65 F4E2) should be used). |
| Ventilation |
Infiltration due to openings: Chimneys, open flues, fans/vents, flueless combustion room-heaters, draught lobby. Structural air tightness: Record results of an air permeability test if available in this section. Otherwise, record structure type, suspended ground floors. Attic hatch draught stripping (if any) and number of sheltered sides are also recorded in this section. Mechanical ventilation: Entries (where applicable) such as product characteristic database figures for fan power, heat recovery heat exchanger efficiency, make, model, number of wetrooms (+kitchen) ventilated, insulation of ductwork outside dwelling envelope. |
| Building: Floors, walls, roofs, doors (cont'd) |
Heat loss building element dimensions and U-values. Default U-values may be used for existing dwellings. When calculating a U-value for a new or existing dwelling roof, wall, or floor in DEAP, use the ’Description‘ entry for that element in DEAP to briefly describe how the U-value was obtained. The components of the building elements should be listed in the description (insulation type and thickness, plasterboard, blocks, etc.). Floor section includes storey height, principal floor area dimensions of all storeys (including floors with and without heat loss) to be considered in the assessment, room in roof floor area details, area of living room, and number of storeys. |
| Building: Rooms | Optional information on each room type, the storey in which it exists, the name of the room |
| Building: Windows | Window and glazed door dimensions, orientations, U-values, and shading characteristics. Defaults may be used for new or existing dwellings if acceptable non-default data is unavailable. Draught stripping and opening sections on windows are also included here. DEAP includes a searchable library of window types, which can be expanded over time by the assessor. |
| Building: Global Factors | Thermal bridging factor (categorised as default, non-default or one of the options applicable under relevant parts of building regulation’s part L), thermal mass category. |
| Space heating: Controls and responsiveness (individual heating system) | Heating system category, and subcategory, heat emitter type, controls details. |
| Space heating: Controls and responsiveness (group or district heating system) | Simplified list of options for heating system category, and subcategory, heat emitter type, controls details. |
| Space heating: Pumps and fans | Pumps for central heating (default or non-default energy consumption) and oil fuel, as well as gas boiler flue fan and presence of a warm air heating system. |
| Space heating: Heat sources (individual heating system) | Space heating appliance make/model, efficiency, efficiency adjustment and fuel data. CHP system if present, including efficiency (thermal and electrical). The HARP is searchable from within the ’Heat sources’ tab. Detailed heat pump data from Ecodesign can be entered in this section of the software. Additional data sources can be used subject to guidance in Heating Systems in Section 4. |
| Space heating: Heat sources (group or district heating system) | Percentage of heat from solar space heating system. Percentage of heat, fuel type, efficiency for one or more heat sources toward main space heating. CHP system, fuel type and efficiency. Distribution loss factor, details on charging basis (flat rate or based on heat consumed). District heating primary energy and CO2 details. |
| Cooling | Specify if there is a fixed cooling system installed, the fuel used by that system and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). |
| Space heating: Summer internal temperature | Effective air change rate of dwelling |
| Water heating: Options and storage | Water heating system characteristics, including supplementary electrical water heating, showers, baths, storage/distribution, wastewater heat recovery, hot water pipework losses, combi boiler. |
| Water heating: Solar |
Aperture area, zero loss collector efficiency, collector heat loss coefficient, annual radiation, overshading factor and dedicated solar storage data. Also includes details of solar collector make/model details. |
| Water heating: Heat source | Water heating appliance make/model, efficiency, efficiency adjustment and fuel data. Fraction of hot water met by CHP system. |
| Lighting and internal gains | Where lighting design details are available: enter lamp power, lamp types, efficacy (if known). Where lighting design unknown, the software will enter a default value. |
| Renewables | Specify renewable thermal, electrical or energy saving technologies not specified elsewhere in the assessment following guidance in Section 8: Other Energy Saving Devices. |
| Results | None |
| Evidence | Upload evidence supporting entries for each part of the assessment where available. |