Warmer Homes Workshop morning slides (KSN).

1. www.seai.ie

2. Surveys
Project Management
Best Practice
2

3. 3 www.seai.ie
KSN Surveys
• Constantly monitoring
• New staff
– Training academy
• Researching new equipment
• Standardising approach to communications to contractors e.g. appeals queries
• QA
– Analysing staff
– Analysing measures
– Toolbox talks/feedback

4. 4 www.seai.ie
KSN Surveys
BLK3D BLK360 BLK2GO Matterport 2D LiDAR & Gimbal AR Plan 3D
€€€ €€€€ €€€€€ €€€ €€ €
⏳ ⏳⏳⏳ ⏳⏳ ⏳⏳⏳ ⏳⏳⏳ ⏳⏳⏳
On site report Model to be
converted to
CAD offsite
Model to be
converted to
CAD offsite
Model to be
converted to
CAD offsite
Model to be
converted to
CAD offsite
Model to be
converted to
CAD offsite
Photo measure
+/- 1mm
+/- 1cm2 3D
Modelling
+/- 2cm2 3D
Modelling
+/- 3cm2 2D
Modelling
+/- 50cm2 3D
Modelling
Photo measure
+/- ???
Office backup
measurements
Office backup
measurements
Office backup
measurements
Office backup
measurements
Office backup
measurements
Inaccurate for
backup

5. 5 www.seai.ie
Scope of a survey
• Scope of a survey
– Suitability Survey to set out the scope of works to be installed
– Schedule of recommendations are made which then need validation by the contractor
– This is a steam-lined approach relevant to retrofitting at scale
• Contractor Role
– Responsible for the design and installation of the energy upgrades
– Carry out a technical assessment on the home to ensure the recommended upgrades are
technically feasible. Reviewing:
– Planning permission
– Access
– H&S
– Location of property – exposure zones
– Condensation risk analysis
– Sizing of rads etc
– Assessment of property – e.g. condition of roofs walls etc

6. 6 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice
• Each contractor must appoint a project manager for each house. It is vital that project managers are
the lead point of contact for homeowners ​
• Project managers should:​
– Take ownership for the project
– Manage the homeowner journey.​
– Agree and explain the works proposed to the property.
– Explain why work cannot be done if that is the case.
– Be the main point of contact for each applicant. ​
– Keep homeowners informed of progress throughout the project and update homeowners on any
proposed changes to the agreed works. ​

7. 7 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice
• Answer homeowner's questions and discuss any issues or concerns they may have.​
• Where subcontractors do not have English, ensure that the homeowner can communicate via their PM
• Let homeowners know when and who their sub contractors are and when they will be arriving.​
• Ask homeowners if they any requirements they might have that you should be aware of when working in
your home and check for any relevant notes on the database. ​
• Communicate these requirements to your sub contractors before any work starts e.g., do not park in front
of the neighbour. ​
• Good communication between the project manager and homeowner is important to help things run
smoothly.
• A lot of the complaints that we hear could possibly have been prevented by active project management

8. 8 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice

9. 9 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice

10. 10 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice

11. 11 www.seai.ie
Project Management Best Practice

12. Variations, Reworks, Appeals &
Communications
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13. 13 www.seai.ie
Variations, tech questions, appeals and reworks
• Information is key
– Speedier processing
• Public expenditure
– Subject to auditing
– Governance
• Questions: “what would I do here?”
– Make a proposal
Contractor
KSN
SEAI
0%
50%
100%
Pre Covid last 12 months last month
Pass rate
Pass rate
Period Pass rate
Pre Covid 80%
Last 12 months 54%
Last month 36%

14. 14 www.seai.ie
Variations
• Occasionally we need to reject variations due to lack of detail / clarity for what is being sought. We
understand this adds to frustration.
• Provide details for variation required
• Please consider that the person processing the variation has not been on site
• Details should back up
– Why the variation is needed
– Demonstrate the quantity of what is need

15. 15 www.seai.ie
Variations
• Example Variation Rejection:
• Photo and text only information submitted
• Variation could not be processed as length of pipe
could not be determined

16. 16 www.seai.ie
Variations
• Example Variation Approval
• Good detailed explanation note and substantiation
documentation submitted
• Variation easily processed

17. 17 www.seai.ie
Reworks – example
• Rework “left hand reveal not insulated”
• No indication works have been carried out
• Please assist us to assist you
– We will try figure out if the works were done
– We will call the homeowner
– All additional time
• Please reference the photo to the rework (especially if more than 1)
• Add comments
– Describe the works
– Particularly where a photo cannot demonstrate e.g. rad not heating
Reworks complete
Inspector photo

18. 18 www.seai.ie
Reworks – example
• Photo of before, in progress and after
• Comments describe what has been carried out
• Rework referenced

19. 19 www.seai.ie
Appeals
• Key pieces of information provided
• Well presented Flue too close to existing terminal
New extension on neighbouring house with
new boiler flue visible behind drainpipe
Contractor Appeal note:
The neighbour's boiler flue is not located in the
alleyway where our flue is located. They have
installed a new flue at the rear of the house as
shown in the photos attached.

20. 20 www.seai.ie
Appeals
• No grounds for appeal
• Remedial works still outstanding
• Misunderstanding of appeals process

21. 21 www.seai.ie
Tech queries - process
• Tech queries should be sought where a deviation from spec is required
• Variations for non-standard works should be clarified with a tech query prior to applying
for a variation
– Please include the email as backup to the variation
• Tech queries are brought to a weekly meeting
• Tech queries can be used as evidence on inspection
• Example – Combi boilers

22. 22 www.seai.ie
Potential for the Future
• Climate action plan
– Guaranteed future work
– Collaborate and work positively for years to come
• Working Together
– Improve moral
– Speed up processing
– Quicker turnaround times

23. 23 www.seai.ie
Attending inspections
• Covid prevented contractors and inspectors visiting homes together
• New contractors who have never met inspectors
• Purpose
– Contractor can clarify if something has been altered since installation
– Communicate with inspector exactly what the inspector noted
• What its not intended for
– Snagging
– Arguing
• Inspections are a sample of installations
– Samples indicate overall workmanship

24. Any Questions?
For technical queries:
Email inspections@betterenergyhomes.ie
Call 01 2776977
For registration queries:
Call 1850 927000
Email contractor@betterenergyhomes.ie