PAS 2038 Guide
The British Standard for Retrofitting Non-domestic Buildings
Driving Quality in Non-Domestic Retrofit
First introduced in 2021, PAS 2038 is the British Standard that provides a robust framework for retrofitting non-domestic buildings to improve energy efficiency. These buildings – offices, schools, hospitals, retail spaces, and industrial facilities – contribute to 23% of the UK’s carbon emissions, making them a critical focus for retrofit efforts. PAS 2038 is essential for meeting the UK’s net-zero goals by 2050.
Whether your priority is securing government funding, improving building functionality, or achieving sustainability goals, PAS 2038 ensures retrofit projects deliver precise, high-quality, and lasting results.
Why PAS 2038 Matters
Improving non-domestic buildings is challenging, but with PAS 2038, professionals have a structured, whole-building approach to guide every stage of the retrofit process, from assessment to evaluation. It helps reduce energy use and costs, enhance building performance, and comply with environmental targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
By adopting PAS 2038, retrofit professionals can confidently align their projects with industry best practices and drive meaningful environmental change.
What Does PAS 2038 Cover?
PAS 2038 provides detailed requirements for managing retrofit projects in non-domestic buildings, focusing on:
- Project Management: From inception to completion, ensuring clear goals and accountability.
- Building Assessments: Evaluating energy performance, occupancy patterns, and structural condition.
- Improvement Planning: Creating medium to long-term strategies tailored to each building.
- Design and Installation: Specifying materials and measures that align with performance goals.
- Testing and Handover: Ensuring installed measures perform as intended through rigorous commissioning.
- Evaluation: Reviewing outcomes to confirm energy savings and minimise the performance gap.
PAS 2038 applies to a wide range of non-domestic buildings, including commercial properties, public sector buildings including schools and hospitals, leisure centres, industrial, and multi-residential spaces such as hotels and student accommodation.
Core Principles of PAS 2038
PAS 2038 promotes high standards in non-domestic retrofit by following these key principles:
- Whole-Building Approach: Treating the building as an interconnected system for sustainable results.
- Tailored Solutions: Adapting retrofit measures to meet the unique needs of each property.
- Minimising Performance Gaps: Ensuring predicted energy savings are realised.
- Occupant Well-Being: Prioritising comfort, safety, and productivity.
These principles ensure retrofitting achieves both energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction while addressing environmental goals.
Key Roles in PAS 2038
Delivering a successful retrofit project requires a collaborative team of professionals, including:
- Lead Professionals: Acting as project managers, often architects, engineers, or surveyors.
- Energy Assessors: Evaluating the building’s energy performance and compliance.
- Retrofit Designers: Specifying and planning measures to achieve energy targets.
- Site Managers and Installers: Ensuring quality installation and adherence to PAS 2038 standards.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures every aspect of the retrofit process is handled with expertise and precision.
Understanding Non-Domestic Retrofit
COMING SOON – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE ON DECARBONISING NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS
Retrofitting non-domestic buildings, like offices, schools, and healthcare facilities, requires a comprehensive understanding of unique challenges, from PAS 2038 compliance to managing complex systems. Our Understanding Non-Domestic Retrofit course equips you with the knowledge and practical tools to deliver high-quality projects that align with net zero goals.
This CPD-accredited course covers:
- PAS 2038 Compliance: Learn how to meet industry standards for retrofitting non-domestic properties.
- Key Retrofit Challenges: Understand the complexities of balancing energy efficiency with safety, comfort, and usability.
- Practical Planning Insights: Develop strategies to manage risk, improve outcomes, and meet sustainability targets.
- Whole-Building Approach: Dive into fabric-first principles and integrated system upgrades for long-term impact.
This course is designed for architects, facilities managers, project coordinators, and other professionals involved in non-domestic retrofit. With flexible online access, it’s never been easier to build your expertise and confidently deliver impactful retrofit projects.
PAS 2038 FAQs
The PAS 2038 provides the framework for improving the energy efficiency of existing commercial properties, ensuring projects are completed to high standards and comply with government guidelines.
Coming soon: Our new introductory course Understanding Non-Domestic Retrofit
If you’re involved in retrofitting non-domestic buildings, PAS 2038 is an essential framework. This includes professionals such as architects, engineers, surveyors, facilities managers, and energy assessors. Organisations looking to demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable building practices will particularly benefit from adopting this standard, as it ensures projects meet both quality and environmental goals.
PAS 2038 promotes what’s known as a “whole-building” approach. This means every retrofit project is planned with the entire property in mind, ensuring measures like insulation, ventilation, and airtightness are implemented effectively. By addressing these critical elements, PAS 2038 reduces energy use, cuts emissions, and creates safer, more comfortable environments for occupants.
This standard applies to non-domestic buildings of all kinds, including commercial properties, public sector facilities, retail and commercial spaces and multi-residential buildings such as hotels, hostels, and student housing. Individual homes and flats are not covered under PAS 2038 but fall within the scope of PAS 2035.
The performance gap occurs when the energy savings from a retrofit fall short of predictions. PAS 2038 aims to minimise this gap by promoting rigorous project evaluation, ensuring that measures are properly tested, commissioned, and fine-tuned to meet intended energy performance targets.
Non-domestic buildings contribute around 20% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. PAS 2038 provides a roadmap for reducing these emissions through energy efficiency measures. By enabling organisations to meet government targets and improve building performance, PAS 2038 plays a key role in achieving net zero by 2050.
Organisations can adopt PAS 2038 by:
- Establishing a qualified project team.
- Assessing the building’s energy performance and retrofit needs.
- Developing a detailed improvement plan aligned with net-zero goals.
- Following the PAS 2038 framework for design, installation, and evaluation.
Accessing professional training and guidance, such as through our resources, ensures a seamless transition to compliance.
The Understanding Non-Domestic Retrofit course by The Retrofit Academy offers:
- Six Modules: Covering the PAS 2038 process, retrofit strategies, and managing retrofit risks.
- Real-World Case Studies: Practical insights into retrofitting diverse non-domestic buildings.
- Certification: Achieve the Retrofit Academy Award in Understanding Non-Domestic Retrofit.
Completing this course ensures you gain the knowledge and tools needed to confidently deliver retrofit projects in line with PAS 2038.
