The TM44 Inspection Process — A Step-by-Step Guide

The TM44 Inspection Process: What to Expect

If you have never been through the TM44 inspection process before, it is natural to wonder what it involves and how to prepare. The good news is that the process is straightforward, non-disruptive, and designed to deliver genuine value alongside legal compliance. This guide walks through every stage so you know exactly what to expect. The TM44 inspection process is a legal requirement for commercial buildings with air conditioning systems totalling 12kW or more — required under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012.

Before the TM44 Inspection Process Begins: How to Prepare

Good preparation makes the TM44 inspection process smoother and produces more useful recommendations. Gather the following before your inspector arrives:

• Maintenance service records from your current contractor
• Commissioning records from when systems were installed
• Previous TM44 inspection reports if applicable
• System manuals and specification sheets
• Floor plans showing equipment locations
• F-Gas refrigerant records and certificates

Missing documents do not prevent the TM44 inspection process from proceeding — gaps are noted in the report. Also ensure safe access to all equipment: roof-mounted plant, ceiling voids, plant rooms, and server rooms. If specialist access equipment is needed for high-level external units, discuss this at booking.

How Long Does the TM44 Inspection Process Take?

A straightforward single-site building typically takes one to two hours. Larger premises with multiple systems or complex multi-zone buildings may require half a day or more. Factors affecting duration include the number of systems, building layout, equipment accessibility, documentation quality, and control system complexity. AirCert provides a time estimate at booking based on your system details.

The TM44 Inspection Process: Four Key Stages

The TM44 inspection process follows a logical sequence covering every aspect of your air conditioning systems.

Arrival and Health & Safety Briefing

The TM44 inspection process begins with a brief health and safety discussion — site-specific hazards, access restrictions, and permits to enter. This is also the opportunity to flag any concerns about particular systems or recent issues.

Stage 1: Documentation Review

The first formal stage of the TM44 inspection process examines maintenance records, refrigerant logs, commissioning data, and previous inspection reports. This tells your inspector how well systems have been maintained, whether they are operating as designed, and what improvements have already been made.

Stage 2: Physical Assessment

The hands-on core of the TM44 inspection process. Every indoor unit is checked for condition, cleanliness, and positioning. Outdoor condensing units are assessed for airflow, coil condition, and cleanliness. Pipework, electrical connections, filters, drainage, and refrigerant insulation are all examined and recorded.

Stage 3: Controls and Operation Assessment

A critical element of the TM44 inspection process — thermostats, timers, zone controls, and building management system integration are all evaluated. Poor control strategies are among the most common causes of energy waste and frequently yield the most valuable improvement recommendations.

Stage 4: Maintenance Quality Assessment

The final TM44 inspection process stage evaluates not just whether maintenance has occurred, but whether the right tasks have been performed at appropriate intervals. Reactive-only maintenance or extended gaps between services typically trigger recommendations for improved regimes.

Common Issues Found During the TM44 Inspection Process

• Dirty filters restricting airflow and reducing efficiency
• Blocked or damaged condensing unit coils
• Missing or damaged pipework insulation
• Poorly programmed or overridden controls
• Systems running continuously rather than on scheduled timers
• Cooling and heating operating simultaneously in the same zones
• Oversized systems operating inefficiently at partial load
• Refrigerant leaks affecting performance

After the TM44 Inspection Process: Your Report and Certificate

Following the TM44 inspection process, AirCert prepares the formal report and certificate — typically issued within five working days. Your certificate confirms legally required compliance and is valid for five years. The accompanying report provides prioritised recommendations in two categories: essential actions addressing compliance or significant efficiency failures, and advisory improvements that deliver measurable energy savings.

Share both documents with your maintenance contractor and facilities team. The recommendations form a practical roadmap for improving performance over the coming years. For a full explanation of what certificates contain, visit our TM44 report and certificate page.

The TM44 Inspection Process in Practice

A three-storey office building in central Middlesbrough. Maintenance records prepared, roof access confirmed. At 9:30am the AirCert inspector arrives, signs in, and conducts a brief site briefing with the facilities manager.

Documentation review takes 30 minutes — records show regular quarterly services, a positive sign. Ground floor cassette units are checked: condition, cleanliness, filters, controls. The process repeats across all three floors. On the roof, each condensing unit is photographed and assessed — one has a partially blocked coil, noted for the report. The BMS is reviewed with the facilities manager: overnight setback temperatures can be adjusted for greater efficiency.

By 11:45am the TM44 inspection process is complete. A verbal summary is provided — systems are well-maintained, blocked coil needs attention, controls can be optimised. Certificate and report follow within the week.

Book Your TM44 Inspection With AirCert

AirCert delivers the TM44 inspection process professionally and efficiently across the North East and Yorkshire. Elmhurst Level 3 and Level 4 accredited, locally based in Middlesbrough, with fixed transparent pricing and same-week availability for most requirements.

Get in touch today for a no-obligation quote.