The following requirements come into place on 1 October 2010.

The core requirement is that the evidence provided by an energy assessor to a Scheme, and retained by that Scheme, must be sufficient for an independent assessor to generate an EPC with an identical SAP rating as the QA assessor based on the evidence provided, and that the evidence provided should be of such a nature that an independent assessor will be reasonably certain that the evidence provided relates to the particular energy performance certificate.

DCLG proposes to seek input from the Conventions Group as to subsequent development of the evidence requirements. However as a starting point the DCLG requirement is that Schemes to require that their members provide sufficient material such that there is a reasonable expectation that the EPC could be recreated by the QA assessor without the need for the QA assessor to have access to the input data file.

DCLG sees that Schemes must require a level of evidence from EAs sufficient to meet the core requirement, and that this evidence must include the provision of photographs, site notes, floor plan, and data file and / or RdSAP data collection forms, which relate to the particular building being assessed.

Table A below provides the minimum level of evidence which must be required by Schemes as part of the QA of OCDEA, and the minimum action which Schemes have to implement should the evidence not be available. However, the over-riding principle is that Schemes have to be able to demonstrate to DCLG that the evidence that has been collected is of sufficient quality and detail that a proper assessment of the EAs domestic energy certificate can be undertaken.

Schemes must have provided all OCDEAs with a set of Scheme requirements associated with OCDEA QA such that it is clear to OCDEAs what Scheme QA procedures and requirements are, and what will happen to them should these requirements not be met, before 15 September 2010.