PAS 2035:2019 offers an end-to-end framework for the application of energy retrofit measures to existing buildings in the UK and provides best practices for their implementation.
There are 27 million domestic buildings in the UK and the majority of them require significant energy efficiency improvements. Previous attempts to deliver retrofit measures were seen as a failure, as no universal standards or approach had been agreed upon, and several high-profile failures compounded the issue.
The result was the UK government’s 2015 commission of the Each Home Counts (ECH) review. This comprehensive review of the energy efficiency sector outlined 27 recommendations, including the establishment of a universally-recognised quality mark in the form of TrustMark.
Most significantly, the ECH review called for the establishment of an industry-wide Code of Practice, which resulted in the publication of the PAS 2035 document.
PAS 2035 is a specification for what is called ‘whole-house’ or ‘whole building’ retrofit. This is an approach to the installation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) which takes into account the requirement of the entire building, both from a technical standpoint and considering factors like occupancy comfort.
PAS 2035 is concerned with assessing domestic dwellings for energy retrofit. This involves identifying areas where improvements can be made and specifying and designing the relevant improvement measures. It is also concerned with the monitoring of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2035 is to be used in conjunction with PAS 2030: 2019, which sets out the standards required for installing EEMs.
From 30th June 2021, compliance with PAS 2035 and PAS 2030 is mandatory for all companies installing Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs), including domestic retrofit. An exemption lasting until the end of October 2021 was made for firms participating in Green Homes Grant and Local Authority Delivery Phase 1 schemes.
Retrofit is the installation of additional measures to a building that weren’t included in its initial design. Much of the UK’s housing stock does not adequately offer the levels of energy efficiency and sustainability that is required if the UK is to meet its target of Net Zero emissions by 2050. Because of this, a massive programme of domestic retrofit is a major priority of the UK government.
In the past there has been no overarching set of standards for delivering domestic retrofit. As a result, PAS 2035 was sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and designed by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
PAS 2035 is an overarching framework for preparing plans for domestic retrofit projects in the UK. Any retrofit designs that emerge from its specifications must be installed in accordance with the requirements outlined in PAS 2030.
PAS 2030 is a certification which businesses can achieve to demonstrate the compliance of their installations. Unlike PAS 2030, PAS 2035 is not a certification; it is a standard that sets out the specifications which compliant retrofitting must meet. Both PAS documents are to be taken as a whole and closely relate to each other.
PAS 2030: 2019 (which replaced PAS 2030: 2017) concerns the commissioning, installation, and handover of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2030: 2019 has been redeveloped to work alongside PAS 2035. Both documents should be seen as working together to create a single cohesive approach to domestic retrofit. Taken together, PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 lay down the steps all domestic retrofit projects should follow to gain compliance and ensure consumer satisfaction in accordance with the recommendations of the Each Home Counts Review.
By gaining PAS 2030: 2019 certification, retrofit installers can demonstrate that they have installed energy efficiency measures which meet the required specifications, and have delivered on customer requirements and expectations in accordance with TrustMark standards.
PAS 2030 accreditation can help homeowners gain funding for domestic retrofit, which in turn makes your business a more attractive proposition for customers. Being PAS 2030 certified can also help you win tenders, and work on energy efficiency schemes offered by Local Authorities who often require PAS 2030 compliance.
In order to become PAS 2030 certified, your business will need to demonstrate that you use a PAS-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure you have the correct processes in place to deliver consistent customer satisfaction and retrofit implementation.
Your installers will need to have relevant qualifications and competencies; each team will require a qualified retrofit professional, and one member will need to hold an NVQ. PAS 2030 certification requires you have up-to-date Health & Safety certification and you will also need to comply with PAS 2035 when assessing and designing retrofit plans.
A technical assessment of one of your energy efficiency installations will need to be carried out and any compliance issues addressed before you receive certification. An approved certification body will need to carry out the PAS 2030 assessment and certification. For more information, visit the TrustMark website.
Built environment businesses can get PAS 2030 certified. If you are a sole trader or organisation that offers services such as plumbing, installation of boilers and heating systems, lighting units, insulation or glazing, you can apply to an approved body for certification.
A number of professional roles are outlined in PAS 2035, including that of Retrofit Advisor, Retrofit Assessor, Retrofit Coordinator, Retrofit Designer and Retrofit Evaluator. It is not necessary that all of these roles are carried out by separate individuals, as long as whoever carries out each role has received the levels of training and certification required by PAS 2035, and that there are no unresolved conflicts of interest.
One of the key roles emerging from PAS 2035 is the role of the Retrofit Coordinator. Retrofit Coordinators ensure that all elements of domestic retrofit are properly managed and coordinated, and that a cohesive retrofit plan is designed and implemented. For more information on the role of the Retrofit Coordinator and how to gain the necessary training and certification, see our page on Retrofit Coordinator Training.
The Retrofit Assessor’s role is to gather information about the building that is the subject of retrofit work. Domestic retrofit assessments are very wide-ranging and include factors such as the building’s construction, structure, and architectural features. The assessment will also consider the building’s current condition, including any structural defects, and issues such as leaks, condensation and mould build-up. Current installations such as heating and hot water, lighting, and ventilation will be documented. Any protected status, conservation restraints, or planning permission requirements will be investigated before work can begin.
The Retrofit Assessor must also take into account information regarding the number of building occupants and special considerations including the presence of vulnerable people, or people with disabilities.
PAS 2035 specifies the domestic retrofit process that must be complied with to meet its requirements. The retrofit process begins with the assessments performed by the retrofit assessor. This is the foundation of all subsequent retrofit design plans.
In accordance with PAS 2035, the Retrofit Assessor provides their evaluation in an assessment report which may be scrutinised by the TrustMark quality assurance scheme. The work of the Retrofit Assessor is the basis on which the retrofit designer carries out their work and close cooperation is required between each role.
In 2012, the UK government created the Green Deal, a government funded scheme which offered homeowners, landlords, and tenants a way to pay for energy efficiency measures in their homes by raising the upfront capital needed to carry them out. The loans would be repaid via the savings made in reduced utility bills as a result of the energy efficiency improvements.
The government stopped offering financial backing for these green loans in 2015, but the loans became available again in 2017, this time backed by private investors. For installers to benefit from this funding they need to be PAS 2030 certified. In order to qualify for PAS 2030 certification, installers must show that they take a whole-house approach to delivering domestic retrofit.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme which began in 2013. Its purpose is to reduce carbon emissions and tackle the scourge of fuel poverty.
Companies that wish to participate in the ECO scheme must be TrustMark registered via an approved body. They must also have been awarded a PAS 2030 certification by a relevant certification body, and be PAS 2035 compliant.
The ECO scheme covers a wide range of measures, including: insulation and glazing, the installation of boilers and heating systems, and micro-generation systems such as solar panels.
ECO measures must comply with the ECO3 Order, a set of government legislation which is administered by Ofgem.
To find our more about PAS 2035 and PAS 2030, and what they mean for your business, contact The Retrofit Academy CIC today.
We’ve created a handy document that highlights the key principles of PAS 2035 and explains what it means for you.
We get asked many questions about implementing PAS 2035. We want to offer clarity around this complicated subject, so to help you put PAS into Practice, we’ve pulled the answers together into one easy-to-read document.
This step-by-step process map builds upon our ‘PAS 2035 Explained’ guide, which sets out what the new standards are attempting to do and how the new roles interrelate.
We’ve created a handy guide to explain the critical role of ventilation in retrofit, which outlines the ventilation requirements of the PAS 2035 standard.
T: 0330 055 7629
E: info@retrofitacademy.org
A: Barn 4, Dunston Business Village,
Stafford Road, Stafford, ST18 9AB
Terms & Conditions
Policies & Procedures
Copyright © 2022 The Retrofit Academy. All rights reserved
This award is looking for the best large projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award recognises and rewards retrofit professionals who excel in retrofit coordination.
This award is looking for the individual assessor or company that has done the most to engage customers and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the individual installer or company that has done the most to engage customers effectively and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the best small projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award is looking for the best social landlord (housing association, local authority or ALMO) retrofit client of the year. This will be an organisation who has demonstrated their commitment to decarbonising their housing stock, improving residents’ health and life chances.
This award is looking for the newest individual to the sector that has made the greatest contribution to low carbon retrofit in the last 12 months (up to and including December 2021).
This award is looking for the individual that has done the most to promote the retrofit agenda to customers.
The judges will be looking for evidence of:
• Successful engagement with the general public leading to better-informed retrofit clients
• Successful marketing leading to increased uptake of retrofit
• Evidence of adopting PAS 2035 key principles and articulating these to potential customers
Enter your details below to download the presentation
To become a retrofit coordinator you need to have a qualification in a built environment subject that is at least Level 3 with a minimum of 12 credits (your credits should be detailed on your certificate). Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to an A Level certification. If you hold a university degree relevant to the built environment this would also meet the entry requirements for this course.
If you don’t hold a relevant Level 3 qualification or above you may be eligible to enroll in a pre-assessment with The Retrofit Academy to ensure you meet the academic standards required for the course. Failing this, you would need to attain the relevant qualifications.
Our fast-track learning option is ideal for quickly training your team, to get them ready to be able to work on retrofit projects within 4-6 months of accreditation. Using a bespoke mix of eLearning, bootcamps and seminars, this retrofit coordinator training can be designed to meet the needs of your business. As well as learning essential skills and knowledge, cohorts will benefit from networking with peers, and will gain a deeper understanding of energy efficiency and whole house retrofit.
This option is for self-organised learners but includes additional support from our expert tutors, and is backed up by an intensive two-day online bootcamp offering a comprehensive overview of the key learning objectives of the course.
Working in groups via Zoom, bootcamps are a great way for students to understand the fundamentals of Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management, and appreciate the importance of the coordinator role.
This option is designed for chartered professionals who are comfortable managing their own learning and wish to study at their own pace.
The course consists of 12 training modules assessed via a mix of multiple choice questions and written assignments; all accessed via our Online Learning Platform.
All teaching and assessment is completed online at the student’s convenience and you have 12 months in which to complete the course. Although no teacher-led lessons are involved, students will have support from an Online Mentor and Tech Support to ensure everything flows smoothly.
The new PAS 2035 standard works alongside the PAS 2030: 2019 standard, and introduces a set of criteria that must be met to ensure the consistent delivery of domestic retrofit in the UK.
It means that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADs), and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) sectors must fully comply with its specifications. Schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) will also comply.
PAS 2035 represents a strong commitment to improving the energy efficiency of domestic buildings in the UK. It was designed in response to the UK government’s Each Home Counts Review, which was a comprehensive review of home energy efficiency. One major outcome of the review was the call for an industry-wide Code of Practice, which became PAS 2035.
The retrofit assessor’s role is to gather information about the building that is the subject of retrofit work. Domestic retrofit assessments are very wide-ranging and include factors such as the building’s construction, structure, and architectural features. The assessment will also consider the building’s current condition, including any structural defects, and issues such as leaks, condensation and mould buildup. Current installations such as heating and hot water, lighting, and ventilation will be documented. Any protected status, conservation restraints, or planning permission requirements will be investigated before work can begin.
The retrofit assessor must also take into account information regarding the number of building occupants and special considerations including the presence of vulnerable people, or people with disabilities.
One of the key roles emerging from PAS 2035 is the role of the retrofit coordinator. Retrofit coordinators ensure that all elements of domestic retrofit are properly managed and coordinated, and that a cohesive retrofit plan is designed and implemented. For more information on the role of the retrofit coordinator and how to gain the necessary training and certification, see our page on Retrofit Coordinator Training.
In order to become PAS 2030 certified your business will need to demonstrate that you use a PAS-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure you have the correct processes in place to deliver consistent customer satisfaction and retrofit implementation.
Your installers will need to have relevant qualifications and competencies; each team will require a qualified retrofit professional, and one member will need to hold an NVQ . PAS 2030 certification requires you have up-to-date health and safety certification, and you will also need to comply with PAS 2035 when assessing and designing retrofit plans.
A technical assessment of one of your energy efficiency installations will need to be carried out, and any compliance issues be addressed before you receive certification. An approved certification body like The Retrofit Academy will need to carry out the PAS 2030 assessment and certification.
PAS 2030: 2019 (which replaced PAS 2030: 2017) concerns the commissioning, installation, and handover of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2030: 2019 has been redeveloped to work alongside PAS 2035. Both documents should be seen as working together to create a single cohesive approach to domestic retrofit. Taken together, PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 lay down the steps all domestic retrofit projects should follow to gain compliance, and ensure consumer satisfaction in accordance with the recommendations of the Each Home Counts Review.
PAS 2035 is a specification for what is called ‘whole-house’ or ‘whole building’ retrofit; this is an approach to the installation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) which takes into account the requirement of the entire building; both from a technical standpoint, and considering factors like occupancy comfort.
PAS 2035 is concerned with assessing domestic dwellings for energy retrofit. This involves identifying areas where improvements can be made and specifying and designing the relevant improvement measures. It is also concerned with the monitoring of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2035 is to be used in conjunction with PAS 2030: 2019, which sets out the standards required for installing EEMs.
PAS’ stands for ‘publicly available specification’, and the number ‘2035’ refers to the government’s target date to raise as many homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C. The average EPC for housing in the UK is currently Band D.