BRL 9500: who needs the certificate?
The certificate is needed by anyone who prepares an energy label, or who is involved in doing so as a company. These are self-employed EP advisers, consultancies and installation companies with an assessment department. The person who carries out the assessment needs a personal EP adviser certificate. The company that person works for needs a company certificate, as RVO explains .
Anyone without a certificate may not issue a valid energy label. The Bbl sets this out, as iPLO summarises . If you are not yet sure whether you need a label, read whether BRL 9500 is mandatory first.
Two certificates, two roles. The person proves that they are competent. The company proves that it works according to the guideline.
Which party needs what?
| Party | Personal certificate (EP adviser) | Company certificate (BRL 9500) |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed EP adviser | Yes | Yes, through their own company or through a certified umbrella organisation |
| Consultancy with several advisers | Yes, per adviser | Yes, one certificate for the consultancy |
| Installation company with an assessment department | Yes, per adviser | Yes, for the company that makes labels |
| Property manager who only commissions labels | No | No, but the adviser you hire does need one |
The fourth row is important. As an owner or manager, you do not need to obtain a certificate yourself. You do need to make sure your adviser has one.
Example 1: a self-employed adviser
Lisa de Vries is a fictional example of a self-employed EP adviser. She makes labels for homes in Utrecht and Amersfoort. She completed a training course and passed the exam for EP-W/B and EP-W/D. That is her personal certificate.
Lisa does not work as a certifying company herself. That is why she joins a certified umbrella organisation. In this way, she uses the BRL 9500-W certificate of that organisation. You can read more about this route in the requirements for the person.
Example 2: a consultancy with four advisers
Bureau Hoekstra Energie is fictional and has four advisers. Two advisers do homes, and two do offices and shops. The consultancy therefore needs a company certificate for BRL 9500-W and for BRL 9500-U.
Each adviser has their own personal certificate. The consultancy arranges the quality manual and has the company assessment carried out. For company certification, read company certification.
Example 3: an installation company
Installatiebedrijf Jansen from Zwolle is also fictional. It has its own technical department. After a heat pump installation, that department also issues labels. The company employs one adviser and holds a BRL 9500-W certificate.
Without a certificate, the technical department may not issue labels, even if the engineer has years of experience. The company must then outsource the assessments to a certified adviser.
What happens without a certificate?
A label from someone without a certificate is not valid. This has immediate consequences. A buyer or tenant cannot use the label, and the sale or rental gets stuck.
RVO also reports that a label is only valid once it is registered in EP-Online (the Dutch national register for energy labels). An adviser without a certificate cannot do this. You can read more about registration on registration in EP-Online.
When is the certificate not needed?
The certificate is not needed if you do not commission a label yourself and do not carry out an assessment. A housing association that only commissions labels therefore does not need its own BRL 9500 certificate. It does need to choose a certified adviser.
How do you check whether someone is certified?
Ask the adviser two things. First, which personal certificate do they hold, and for which category (EP-W/B, EP-W/D, EP-U/B or EP-U/D)? Then, which company do they work for, and which certifying body has certified that company?
Ask about the category
Check whether the category fits the building. A home needs EP-W, and an office needs EP-U.
Ask about the company certificate
Which body has certified the company, and for which variant?
Check the registration
A valid label is listed in EP-Online. Ask for the registration number.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a BRL 9500 certificate myself as an owner?
No. As an owner, you have a label made by a certified adviser. You do not have to carry out an assessment yourself. You do need to make sure the adviser is validly certified.
Can an adviser work without a company certificate?
A qualified adviser must work for a certified company or a certified umbrella organisation. Without that link, they may not draw up a label. This is set out on the RVO page about EP advisers .
What is the difference between an adviser and a company?
The adviser is the person who carries out the assessment. The company is the organisation that is certified and is responsible for the labels it produces. A company can have several advisers.