Drive Energy Efficiency, Compliance and Cost Savings with BS EN 17956 and TIPCHECK
If you’re an industrial operator in the UK or Europe, energy efficiency isn’t just a goal, it’s a requirement. With compliance schemes like the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) mandating energy audits, businesses are under pressure to both demonstrate regulatory compliance and reduce energy waste.
The recognised standard for carrying out these audits is BS EN 16247. At Powertherm, we not only follow this standard, we enhance it. Through our certified TIPCHECK Audits, we incorporate BS EN 17956, a cutting-edge tool that classifies insulation system performance and identifies untapped savings.
Together, these standards provide a powerful roadmap to stop energy waste, cut costs, reduce emissions, and futureproof your operations.
What is BS EN 16247?
BS EN 16247 is the UK/ European standard that defines how to carry out a professional energy audit. It sets out a structured approach to assess energy use across:
- Buildings
- Industrial processes
- Transport systems
The aim is to identify areas for improvement, quantify savings potential, and develop practical recommendations, all in a format that aligns with UK and EU policy requirements.
For UK businesses, BS EN 16247 is the benchmark standard for ESOS compliance, ensuring consistency and transparency in audit quality.
What is BS EN 17956?
While BS EN 16247 sets the foundation for energy audits, BS EN 17956 provides the technical depth when assessing insulation systems. It’s a British and European standard that sets out a method to classify the energy efficiency of technical insulation systems (such as pipes, ducts, vessels, and equipment) used in industrial processes, covering operational temperatures ranging from -30°C up to 650°C.
BS EN 17956 introduces a simple A–G energy efficiency scale for insulation systems:
- A = most efficient (minimal heat loss)
- G = least efficient
Each class includes maximum allowable heat loss values and indicative space requirements. This helps engineers, contractors, and operators design, compare, and verify technical insulation systems with energy efficiency in mind, supporting cost savings and carbon reduction goals.
What is TIPCHECK?
TIPCHECK (Technical Insulation Performance Check) is a certified audit process designed by the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF). It follows the BS EN 16247 framework but focuses specifically on energy losses in technical insulation systems across industrial plants.
Powertherm’s TIPCHECK service is tailored to:
- Detect where insulation is underperforming or missing
- Quantify energy waste and excessive CO₂e emissions
- Recommend targeted insulation system upgrades
- Outline savings potential – energy consumption, operational costs, carbon emissions
- Provide detailed cost-benefit and return on investment analysis
How BS EN 17956 Enhances the TIPCHECK Process
While TIPCHECK identifies energy losses and savings potential, BS EN 17956 adds an official classification framework. By integrating BS EN 17956 into our TIPCHECK Audits, Powertherm can:
- Accurately assess current insulation performance
- Drive operational efficiency
- Recommend the insulation thickness needed to reach a higher energy efficiency class
- Quantify energy savings using ISO 12241:2022 compliant tools
- Support compliance with both UK and EU sustainability legislation
Real Benefits for Industrial Plants
Clearer Compliance
BS EN 16247 helps you meet audit obligations. BS EN 17956 makes insulation performance easy to understand and measure, supporting ESOS and other regulatory needs.
Standardised Benchmarking
The A–G rating scale from BS EN 17956 allows TIPCHECK results to be expressed in clear, comparable terms, making findings easier to communicate to decision-makers.
Design & Upgrade Guidance
By providing maximum allowable heat loss values and indicative space requirements, BS EN 17956 helps engineers translate TIPCHECK findings into actionable insulation system upgrades.
Proven Energy & Carbon Savings
With climate regulations tightening and energy prices remaining volatile, industries can no longer afford to ignore inefficient insulation systems. If all technical systems in Europe were insulated to just class C, according to the Eiif, we could save:
- 14 million tonnes of oil equivalent
- 40 million tonnes of CO₂ annually
TIPCHECK plus BS EN 17956 turns that potential into action.
Long-Term Competitive Advantage
Beyond compliance, these audits help you:
- Cut operational costs – save money
- Improve sustainability credentials – reduce carbon emissions
- Extend equipment life
- Boost energy efficiency across your site – stop energy waste
- Reduce the risk of health and safety accidents and incidents
Why Work with Powertherm?
We combine decades of technical industrial insulation experience with specialist energy auditing expertise. Our TIPCHECK Audits are:
- Compliant with BS EN 16247
- Powered by BS EN 17956
- Delivered by certified TIPCHECK Experts
- Backed by the latest analysis tools
Whether you’re planning an audit for ESOS, working toward Net Zero, or simply want to improve energy efficiency, cut costs and reduce carbon emissions, Powertherm gives you the tools and insights to deliver lasting results.
Learn more about TIPCHECK HERE>>