What Happens During a TM44 Inspection? A Step-by-Step Guide

What Happens During a TM44 Inspection? Understanding the Process

If you’ve never had a TM44 inspection before, it’s natural to wonder what happens during a TM44 inspection and how to prepare for it. The good news is that the process is straightforward, non-disruptive, and designed to help you get the most from your air conditioning systems whilst meeting your legal obligations. This guide walks you through every stage so you’ll know exactly what to expect when your inspector arrives.

A TM44 inspection is a legal requirement for commercial buildings with air conditioning systems that have a combined effective rated output of 12kW or more. The inspection assesses the efficiency of your cooling systems and identifies opportunities for improvement — ultimately saving you money on energy bills whilst ensuring compliance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012.

Before the Visit: How to Prepare for Your TM44 Inspection

Proper preparation makes the inspection smoother and more valuable. Gathering relevant documentation in advance allows your inspector to spend more time assessing your systems rather than hunting for paperwork.

Documents to Gather

• 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

Don’t worry if you can’t locate everything — experienced inspectors work with whatever documentation is available and note any gaps in the final report.

Ensuring Safe Access

Your inspector will need to physically examine all air conditioning equipment, which often means accessing areas that aren’t part of normal daily operations. Before the visit, ensure safe access to roof-mounted plant, ceiling voids, plant rooms, server rooms, and any areas where indoor or outdoor units are located. If specialist access equipment is required — such as scaffolding or cherry pickers for high-level external units — discuss this with your inspector when booking so arrangements can be made in advance.

How Long Does a TM44 Inspection Take?

The duration of your TM44 inspection process depends on several factors. A straightforward single-site building with one or two air conditioning systems typically takes between one and two hours. Larger commercial premises with multiple systems, or complex multi-zone buildings, may require half a day or longer.

Factors that affect inspection duration include the number of separate air conditioning systems, building size and layout, accessibility of equipment, the quality and availability of documentation, and the complexity of control systems. Your inspector will provide a time estimate when you book, based on the information you supply about your premises.

What Happens During a TM44 Inspection: The Four Key Stages

When your inspector arrives, the inspection follows a logical sequence designed to assess every aspect of your air conditioning systems. Understanding these AC inspection steps helps you prepare and ensures nothing is overlooked.

Arrival and Health and Safety Briefing

The inspection begins with introductions and a brief health and safety discussion. Your inspector will ask about any site-specific hazards, access restrictions, or areas requiring permits to enter. This is also the time to share any concerns you have about particular systems or recent issues you’ve noticed.

Stage 1: Documentation Review

The first formal stage involves examining your maintenance records, refrigerant logs, commissioning data, and any previous inspection reports. This documentation tells your inspector how well the systems have been maintained, whether they’re operating as originally designed, and what improvements have already been made. Good records can positively influence the inspection outcome, whilst gaps in documentation are noted and may trigger recommendations for improved record-keeping.

Stage 2: Physical System Inspection

This is the hands-on portion of the TM44 site visit procedure. Your inspector will examine all indoor units, checking their condition, cleanliness, and positioning. Outdoor condensing units receive similar scrutiny, with attention paid to airflow, coil condition, and overall cleanliness. The inspection also covers pipework runs, electrical connections, filters, drainage systems, and refrigerant pipework insulation. Every component that affects system efficiency is assessed and recorded.

Stage 3: Controls and Operation Assessment

Modern air conditioning efficiency depends heavily on how systems are controlled. Your inspector evaluates thermostats, timers, zone controls, and any building management system integration. They’ll check whether controls are properly programmed, whether occupancy patterns are reflected in scheduling, and whether demand management features are being used effectively. Poor control strategies are among the most common causes of wasted energy, so this stage often yields significant improvement recommendations.

Stage 4: Maintenance Quality Assessment

Finally, your inspector assesses the quality and regularity of historic maintenance. This goes beyond simply checking whether maintenance has occurred — they evaluate whether the right tasks have been performed at appropriate intervals. Evidence of proactive maintenance, such as regular filter changes, coil cleaning, and refrigerant checks, demonstrates good stewardship. Reactive-only maintenance or extended gaps between services may trigger recommendations for improved maintenance regimes.

Handling Access Challenges During Inspection

Sometimes equipment cannot be safely accessed during the inspection visit. Roof units may require specialist access equipment that isn’t available on the day. Sealed ceiling voids might need opening by a specialist contractor. Server rooms may have security restrictions that prevent entry.

When access challenges arise, your inspector records them in the report and notes which equipment couldn’t be fully inspected. In most cases, a valid TM44 certificate can still be issued provided sufficient equipment was assessed. However, if significant systems remain uninspected, a follow-up visit may be recommended once access has been arranged. Your inspector will discuss the implications with you on site and agree the best way forward.

Common Issues Found During TM44 Inspections

Certain problems appear repeatedly during air conditioning inspection steps. Knowing what inspectors commonly find helps you understand why specific recommendations appear in your report.

• 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 system performance
• Inadequate or absent maintenance records

Each finding is documented and translated into practical recommendations in your final report.

After the Visit: Your Report and Certificate

Following the inspection, your inspector prepares the formal TM44 report and certificate. For most inspections, you’ll receive your documentation within five working days. Complex multi-system buildings may take slightly longer as the report must thoroughly document each system.

Your TM44 certificate confirms that the legally required inspection has taken place and is valid for five years. The accompanying report provides detailed recommendations split into two categories. Essential actions are those required for compliance or to address significant efficiency failures — these should be prioritised. Advisory improvements are optional but recommended changes that would enhance efficiency and reduce running costs — implementing these typically delivers measurable energy savings.

Share both documents with your maintenance contractor and facilities team. The recommendations form a practical roadmap for improving your air conditioning performance over the coming years. [INTERNAL LINK: what-is-tm44-certificate]

A Typical Inspection: What It Actually Looks Like

Picture a three-storey office building in central Middlesbrough. The facilities manager has prepared maintenance records from their contractor and confirmed roof access is available. At 9:30am, the inspector arrives at reception, signs in, and meets the facilities manager for a quick site briefing.

They start with the documentation review in the FM’s office, examining maintenance logs going back three years. The records show regular quarterly services — a positive sign. Moving to the ground floor, the inspector checks ceiling-mounted cassette units, noting their condition and cleanliness. Filters are examined, controls checked, and observations recorded on a tablet.

After covering all three floors, they head to the roof to inspect the external condensing units. The inspector photographs each unit, checks airflow, and examines pipework insulation. One unit has a partially blocked coil — this gets noted for the report. Back inside, they review the building management system settings with the facilities manager, identifying that overnight setback temperatures could be adjusted for greater efficiency.

By 11:45am, the physical inspection is complete. The inspector provides a verbal summary — systems are generally well-maintained, but the blocked coil needs attention and control settings could be optimised. The formal report and certificate will follow within the week. The facilities manager sees the inspector out, confident that their compliance obligations are met and armed with practical steps to improve efficiency.

Book Your TM44 Inspection Today

Understanding what to expect during an AC inspection what to expect helps you prepare properly and get maximum value from the process. As an Elmhurst-accredited inspector serving businesses across the North East and Yorkshire, I provide thorough, professional TM44 inspections with clear, actionable reports. [INTERNAL LINK: get-a-quote]

Whether you’re arranging your first inspection or your existing certificate is approaching its five-year expiry, get in touch for a straightforward quote and to discuss your requirements.

[META: Learn what happens during a TM44 inspection – step-by-step guide covering preparation, the four inspection stages, common findings, and your report.]