Technical review: Current accredited TM44 assessor to be confirmed
Last reviewed: 4 September 2026
Many building managers search for “TM44 certificate” when they need to know whether an inspection has been completed correctly. The terminology matters. A TM44 inspection is not simply a certificate issued after a quick visual check. The relevant compliance output is an air-conditioning inspection report prepared by an accredited energy assessor and lodged on the appropriate register.
This guide explains what the report should contain, how registration works and how to keep the evidence useful for future inspections, audits and property handovers.
Inspection, report, certificate and register
TM44 inspection
This is the professional assessment of the air-conditioning system. It considers operation, controls, maintenance condition, capacity and efficiency opportunities.
TM44 inspection report
This is the written document produced after the inspection. It records the building, assessor, inspection date, findings and recommendations.
Reference number
The report reference is generated when the report is lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register. Ask for the final number and keep it with the signed report.
Register
The assessor enters the report on the relevant register. A survey note or maintenance checklist is not automatically a valid TM44 report.
What information should the report contain?
The GOV.UK guidance states that an air-conditioning inspection report should include the building address, accredited assessor’s name, employer or trading address, inspection date, approved accreditation scheme and a valid reference number.
The technical content should explain:
- the system’s likely efficiency;
- faults identified and suggested actions;
- maintenance adequacy;
- controls and control settings;
- system size relative to cooling load;
- performance under typical operating conditions;
- key findings and recommendations.
A credible report is specific to the building. Generic text copied from another site should be treated cautiously, particularly when capacities, equipment schedules or operating hours do not match.
What recommendations might appear?
Recommendations vary by site. They may cover operating schedules, set points, zoning, sensors, simultaneous heating and cooling, maintenance, controls, system sizing or replacement options. A good report separates low-cost operational changes from measures requiring capital investment.
The report may identify cleaning, repair or controls work, but the inspection itself is normally not a physical maintenance visit. Any remedial work should have a separate scope, risk assessment and price.
Must every recommendation be implemented?
No. The GOV.UK guidance explains that there is no legal requirement to act on every recommendation. However, recommendations should be reviewed rather than ignored. Record the decision, owner, estimated cost, expected benefit, dependencies and target date.
Some items may be accepted immediately, some may require a capital business case and others may be rejected because of access, lease or operational constraints. Keeping this decision record demonstrates responsible energy management without claiming savings that have not been measured.
How long should the report be kept?
The latest report should be stored safely so it can inform future inspections and be passed to a new owner or manager. A building logbook is normally suitable. If there is no logbook, store it with operation and maintenance documents.
Keep related evidence together:
- the signed TM44 report;
- previous inspection reports;
- equipment schedules and manuals;
- maintenance records;
- refrigerant inspection records where applicable;
- EPC or DEC recommendations where relevant;
- controls information;
- records of completed improvements.
Good records reduce repeated data gathering and help a future assessor understand the system boundaries.
What happens when responsibility changes?
The latest report should be passed to anyone taking over responsibility for technical operation. If a new operator has not received the previous report, the regulations may require a new inspection within three months of the change in control.
Include the report, reference number, inspection date, system list and outstanding recommendations in the formal property handover pack. This is especially important when a lease, facilities-management contract or ownership changes.
How can you check whether a report is credible?
- Confirm the correct building address.
- Check that the system scope and capacities match the site.
- Verify the assessor’s current accreditation.
- Confirm the accreditation scheme is named.
- Check the inspection date and reference number.
- Ensure register lodgement is stated.
- Review whether recommendations are specific and prioritised.
- Check for missing signatures, unexplained figures or another client’s details.
Does a TM44 report replace an F-gas inspection?
No. F-gas obligations may cover refrigerant containment, leak checking, technician certification and record keeping. TM44 focuses on energy performance and improvement opportunities. Maintain both sets of records where applicable.
Should tenants receive the report?
Where tenants operate equipment or occupy part of a building, sharing the report can support coordination of schedules, access, maintenance and controls. The exact duties depend on ownership, technical control and lease terms. Document the arrangement rather than relying on an informal assumption.
How does the report support decarbonisation?
A TM44 report can provide evidence for a wider energy and decarbonisation plan. Recommendations may identify immediate operating actions, medium-term controls upgrades or replacement opportunities. It is not, by itself, a complete net-zero strategy; combine it with energy data, building-fabric review, heating analysis, renewable feasibility and financial planning.
Final document checklist
- Correct building and system scope
- Inspection date and assessor identity
- Accreditation scheme and reference number
- Clear findings and limitations
- Prioritised recommendations
- Register lodgement confirmation
- Storage location and next review date
Need help with a TM44 report?
See UEC Energy’s TM44 service or contact the team to review your building’s report and inspection timetable.
Source: GOV.UK air-conditioning inspection guide.
Making the report useful after handover
Create a compliance calendar
Record the inspection date, report reference, next due date, responsible person and storage location in a shared calendar. Add reminders several months before expiry so access, procurement and tenant coordination can be arranged.
Link recommendations to work orders
Each recommendation should have a status such as accepted, in progress, completed, deferred or rejected. Link completed actions to maintenance tickets, photographs, commissioning records or measured data where available.
Protect version control
Keep the signed final report separate from draft notes. Use a clear file name containing building, inspection date and reference number. Restrict editing rights so the evidence cannot be changed accidentally after handover.
Prepare for the next assessor
Provide the previous report, equipment schedule, controls information and records of completed measures to the next assessor. Explain changes in occupancy, operating hours, plant replacement or lease responsibilities since the last inspection.
When should advice be escalated?
If the report conflicts with a lease, enforcement notice, safety requirement or financial decision, obtain appropriate legal, safety or financial advice. A TM44 report is an energy assessment and should be used alongside—not instead of—other professional advice.
Use the report in everyday management
Do not file the report and forget it. Add key recommendations to the building’s planned-maintenance programme and discuss them at energy or facilities meetings. Where a recommendation affects comfort, controls or operating hours, involve occupants early and explain the reason for the change.
For a portfolio, create a summary register containing each building, system capacity, report date, reference number, next due date and open actions. This portfolio view can reveal repeated control problems and help prioritise investment without altering the technical findings of individual reports.
Where a report identifies an urgent safety concern, escalate it through the site’s safety and maintenance process immediately. TM44 is not a substitute for a statutory safety inspection, but its findings should not be left unreviewed when they point to an operational risk.