CIBSE has flagged up a potentially severe shortage of assessors needed to implement the Energy Performance of Buildings directive.

Thousands of air conditioning systems need to be inspected over the next six months, but it has only accredited ‘a handful’.

The inspection of all air-conditioning systems with a power greater than 250kW is compulsory by January 2009 and requires reports recommending improvements to efficiency.

CIBSE puts the problem down to lack of client demand and says the government should make building owners more aware of the requirements.