A hotel with a chiller in the kitchen, split units in the bar, and VRF systems across guest floors rarely realises those add up until someone asks for a TM44 certificate. The 12kW threshold isn't about any single unit, it's about the combined cooling output of everything on site, and hospitality venues cross it more often than owners expect. A CMMS like OxMaint tracks TM44 renewal dates alongside every other statutory inspection, so a certificate never quietly expires while attention is on the rest of the estate.
Never Miss a TM44 Renewal Again
Track air conditioning inspection dates alongside every other compliance requirement across your estate.
TM44 at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What triggers it? | A combined effective cooling output of 12kW or more across all air conditioning units on site |
| How often? | At least every five years, starting from the commissioning date or the last inspection |
| Who can inspect? | An accredited Air Conditioning Energy Assessor, typically certified through CIBSE or REFCOM |
| Where is it lodged? | The national government Landmark Register, which generates the official report and certificate |
What an Assessor Actually Checks
System Controls
Thermostats, time-clocks, and control logic that determine whether the system runs efficiently or wastes energy.
Sizing vs Demand
Whether the installed cooling capacity actually matches what the space needs, flagging oversized legacy systems.
Maintenance Records
A review of service history and documentation, which is why TM44 doesn't replace routine servicing but relies on it.
F-Gas Crossover
TM44 checks efficiency, while separate F-Gas leak checks cover refrigerant, but the two obligations often get confused.
Building a Compliance Routine Across an Estate
Audit Every Property's Output
Add up the combined cooling capacity at each site, including units installed piecemeal over the years.
Confirm Assessor Accreditation
Book only assessors certified through a recognised scheme, since an unaccredited inspection isn't valid.
Track Every Five-Year Cycle
Log the commissioning or last inspection date for each property, so renewals never get discovered late.
Confirm Landmark Register Lodgement
A completed inspection only counts once it's lodged and the certificate reference is on file.
TM44 Compliance Maturity
Unaware of Exposure
Nobody has added up the combined cooling output, so the estate doesn't know which sites are actually in scope.
Reactive per Property
Individual sites book inspections when reminded, but there's no shared tracking across the estate.
Proactively Scheduled
Every property's five-year cycle is tracked centrally, with renewals booked well ahead of the deadline.
Why the Penalties Are Climbing
The standard penalty for a missing TM44 certificate has historically sat around £300 per building, but enforcement is tightening, with penalties rising toward £800 and additional daily fines for sites that don't resolve the gap quickly. For a single restaurant, that's an awkward conversation with a Trading Standards officer. For a hospitality estate with dozens of properties, each running on its own five-year clock, a missed renewal at even a handful of sites turns into a meaningful, recurring compliance cost.
The properties that never get caught out are the ones tracking their TM44 dates the same way they track fire safety or PAT testing, as a standing item rather than a once-every-five-years scramble. Sign up free to start tracking TM44 renewals across your estate today, or book a demo to see how a hospitality group keeps every site's compliance date visible in one place.
Keep Every Site's TM44 Date Visible
One central view of air conditioning inspection cycles across your entire hospitality portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 12kW threshold apply per unit or per building?
Per building, based on the combined effective cooling output of every connected air conditioning unit, not any single system.
Can a hotel's own maintenance team carry out a TM44 inspection?
No, only an accredited Air Conditioning Energy Assessor certified through a recognised scheme such as CIBSE or REFCOM can carry out a valid inspection.
Is TM44 the same as an F-Gas leak check?
No, TM44 assesses energy efficiency and system controls, while F-Gas regulations cover refrigerant leak checks, and both obligations can apply to the same system.
Does routine air conditioning servicing satisfy TM44?
No, routine servicing keeps equipment running but doesn't replace the statutory TM44 inspection and certificate.
What happens if a hospitality group misses a renewal at one site?
That site can face enforcement penalties independently, since TM44 compliance is assessed and lodged on a per-building basis.
