If you have recently had a TM44 inspection or you’ve received a reminder that you are due one, it can often feel like another job you need to juggle. Especially if you are in a position running multiple busy sites it might just look like more paperwork you need to tick off and move on from.
However, in reality, a TM44 inspection can be a very useful piece of documentation that when handled properly it can help you cut down on energy costs, reduce breakdowns and keep your air conditioning systems running reliably for longer.
In this guide, we will walk you through what a TM44 inspection is, why it matters and what to do once you’ve got the report and certificate in your hands. We will also show how PAR Refrigeration supports business across Yorkshire and the north of England, from arranging TM44 inspections to turning the recommendations into practical improvements on the site.
What is a TM44 inspection?
To put it simply, a TM44 inspection is an energy efficiency assessment of your buildings air conditioning systems. In the UK, if your building has air conditioning with a combined cooling output of more than 12kW, you are legally required to have regular TM44 inspections carry out by an accredited assessor.
During a TM44 inspection, the assessor will look at:
- The size and capacity of your air conditioning compared with the spaces served
- How efficiently the systems are running
- How your controls are set up, including timers, thermostats and BMS
- Maintenance records and servicing history
- Practical opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce energy use
At the end, you receive a TM44 inspection report and an accompanying certificate. That “qualification” shows you are compliant, but the real value is in what the report tells you about your systems.
PAR Refrigeration can arrange TM44 inspections with registered assessors for businesses across West Yorkshire and the wider north, including Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield, Bradford, Huddersfield and York. Then, as F-Gas registered commercial air conditioning engineers, we can help you act on the findings.
Why your business can’t just ignore TM44
You might be tempted to treat TM44 as something you do to keep the authorities happy. In reality, ignoring it or treating it as a tick-box exercise can cost you money and create risk.
1. Legal compliance and peace of mind
TM44 inspection requirements form part of your legal obligations. If a local authority or enforcement body asks for proof of a valid TM44 inspection and you cannot provide it, you may face fines or other enforcement action.
If you are a landlord, managing agent or responsible for multiple sites across Yorkshire and the north of England, this quickly becomes a governance issue. Having current TM44 documentation in place means you can show you are taking your responsibilities seriously.
At PAR Refrigeration, we help clients keep track of which sites need a TM44 inspection and when, so there are no surprises.
2. Energy costs and the impact on your budget
Air conditioning is one of the biggest electrical loads in many commercial buildings. It is easy to overlook, because it quietly runs in the background, but if it is oversized, inefficient or poorly controlled, it can waste a lot of energy.
Your TM44 inspection report will usually highlight:
- Systems that are larger than they need to be for the space
- Old or inefficient units that are driving up consumption
- Poorly set timers and controls that run systems longer than necessary
- Quick wins to reduce run times or improve control
If you act on those recommendations, you can often make meaningful reductions in your electricity spend. That is not just theoretical. It is money back into your operating budget.
3. Comfort, productivity and reputation
If your air conditioning doesn’t work as it should, people notice. Hot desks in one corner, freezing cold meeting rooms, noisy condensers outside windows. All of that feeds into how staff feel at work and how visitors experience your premises.
A good TM44 inspection helps uncover the root causes of common comfort issues. Fixing them supports staff wellbeing and productivity and helps you present a professional environment for customers and visitors.
“We’ve had our TM44 inspection and got the certificate. What next?”
This is the bit many businesses struggle with. You’ve received your TM44 inspection report and certificate, you’ve technically got the “qualification”, but the document is full of technical language and ratings.
Here’s how to make sense of it and turn it into a practical plan.
Step 1: Read the summary, not just the front page
Most TM44 reports include:
- An executive summary
- An overview of your systems
- A list of recommended actions
Start with the summary and the list of key recommendations. Highlight any items flagged as high priority or as having significant potential savings. These will usually be the areas that deserve attention first.
Step 2: Group the actions into sensible buckets
When you review the reports, it is helpful to group the recommendations into three categories:
- No-cost or low-cost changes
- Adjusting timers and temperature set points
- Improving zoning and basic control strategies
- Simple maintenance like filter cleaning and coil cleaning
- Planned maintenance and upgrades
- Replacing failing or obsolete units
- Fixing poor installation issues
- Updating or rationalising controls for better management
- Strategic changes
- Reconfiguring or right-sizing systems for how spaces are now used
- Phased replacement of legacy kit with high efficiency systems
- Integrating air conditioning with a wider building management system
You do not need to do everything at once. The key is to understand which items will make the biggest difference and to build them into your maintenance plans.
Step 3: Look at cost versus benefit
A TM44 inspection is about efficiency and energy. That makes it a natural starting point for building a business case.
Our F-Gas registered engineers can visit your site, check the systems in operation and then:
- Estimate the likely energy savings from each measure
- Compare those savings with the expected cost of the work
- Help you prioritise quick wins versus longer term investments
This is how TM44 moves from being a compliance requirement to a cost-saving tool.
How PAR Refrigeration supports you after a TM44 inspection
Plenty of businesses arrange their TM44 inspection, receive the report, and then stall. The reasons are usually familiar such as the reports feels technical, internal teams are busy and it is not obvious where to start.
Here’s where PAR Refrigeration can make life easier for organisations in Yorkshire and the north.
Turning technical reports into clear actions
Our team deals with TM44 inspection reports every day. We can sit down with you and talk through:
- What the assessor has found
- Why it matters for your sites and your energy bills
- The options available to you
- The likely level of disruption, cost and benefit for each option
By translating the language of the report into clear, grounded advice, we help facilities managers, finance teams and directors make informed decisions.
On-site investigation and practical follow-up
A TM44 inspection gives a snapshot. We take that snapshot and dig into the real-world details. That might include:
- Checking how systems are actually being used day to day
- Reviewing maintenance practices and service history
- Talking to staff about hot spots, cold spots or noisy areas
- Benchmarking your systems against best practice for similar sites
From there, we can carry out remedial works, upgrades and optimisation. As commercial air conditioning specialists, we also provide 24/7 emergency callouts across West Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, so ongoing support is part of the package.
Keeping you compliant in the long term
TM44 inspection isn’t a one-off event. You will need repeat inspections at set intervals to stay compliant. PAR Refrigeration can help you by:
- Tracking when your next TM44 inspection is due for each site
- Keeping your asset lists and maintenance records in good order
- Using each TM44 inspection as a checkpoint to measure progress on energy efficiency and system performance
Instead of dreading the next inspection, you can treat it as a useful check-in.
When you should act quickly on TM44 findings
Not every action in a TM44 inspection report is urgent, but some signs mean you shouldn’t wait:
- Very old equipment, especially if it uses obsolete refrigerants
- Frequent breakdowns or callouts on the same units
- Regular complaints from staff or tenants about comfort
- Energy bills that seem high compared with similar buildings
- Patchy or missing maintenance records
If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth speaking to a specialist rather than leaving things to drag on.
Turning compliance into an advantage
To bring it all together:
- A TM44 inspection is a legal requirement for many buildings with air conditioning in the UK.
- The TM44 inspection report and certificate prove compliance, but they can also highlight big opportunities to cut costs and improve comfort.
- With the right support, you can turn your TM44 findings into a practical, prioritised plan.
If your business is based in Yorkshire or the north of England and you have recently had a TM44 inspection, or you suspect you might be due one, PAR Refrigeration can help. We can arrange TM44 inspections with qualified assessors, then use our F-Gas registered engineers to turn the recommendations into real-world improvements, backed by competitive rates and reliable support.
You have already taken the important first step by securing your TM44 inspection. The next step is to make sure that report actually works for your business. If you’d like help with that, get in touch with the PAR Refrigeration team today by calling 01924 872109 or completing our online contact form and we’ll talk you through your options.
