PAS 2035 Meets SAP 10: Navigating the Data Gap in Retrofit Projects.
By Andy Flook, Sava
As the social housing sector continues its push toward net zero, the intersection of PAS 2035 and SAP 10 has become a defining issue for asset and retrofit professionals. In a recent Sava webinar, we explored how organisations can better align energy data, project delivery, and compliance through smarter workflows and integrated platforms. We were joined by our friends from ECO Surv, who brought critical insights from their work in retrofit delivery, project management, and PAS 2035 compliance. This article will summarise what was discussed in the webinar.
Why the Retrofit Data Gap Matters
At Sava, we’ve long helped organisations improve their asset data and model energy improvement scenarios through tools like Sava Intelligent Energy, but many housing providers are hitting a stumbling block once plans move from desktop modelling to delivery on the ground.
The core issue? A disconnect between planning and execution.
Providers often have robust data, strong improvement plans, and the right tools to model costed packages. But when the project leaves the asset management system and enters procurement and retrofit delivery, that clarity is lost. Information becomes fragmented across spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected workflows. The result: limited oversight, delayed updates, and missed opportunities to learn and adapt in real time.
This “data black hole” is especially concerning in a PAS 2035-driven environment, where quality assurance, auditability, and ongoing data updates are not just best practices, they’re requirements.
PAS 2035 and SAP 10: The Evolving Landscape
The PAS 2035 framework is no longer optional. It’s central to all publicly funded retrofit projects, from SHDF and ECO to Warm Homes and GBIS. It defines a robust, whole-dwelling approach to retrofit that includes risk assessments, condition surveys, and ventilation analysis — moving beyond energy efficiency to address safety, comfort, and long-term durability.
Meanwhile, SAP 10 (or more specifically RdSAP 10) introduces more granular data points into energy assessments, particularly around:
- Ventilation: Number of chimneys, vents, and extractor fans must now be recorded.
- Glazing: Window types and sizes are now individually measured.
- Room-in-roof structures: More detailed measurements are required.
- Batteries and solar PV: These are now incorporated to reflect real-world energy use.
- Fuel costs: Updated for the first time in a decade to better reflect current realities.
This increased complexity means that assessors, coordinators, and delivery teams need to work together more closely than ever — and with better systems — to ensure data consistency from start to finish.
The Challenge of Retrofit Delivery
Through ECO Surv’s experience, several key pain points emerged that often derail projects:
- Compressed Timeframes
Funding deadlines and reporting cycles push delivery windows tighter, leaving little room for delays. - Resource Bottlenecks
Shortages of qualified retrofit coordinators, assessors, and designers can slow down projects. - Data Inconsistency
Missed or inaccurate data at any stage can lead to non-compliant Trustmark lodgements or incorrect retrofit measures. - Reliance on Manual Tools
Many organisations still rely on spreadsheets and SharePoint to track projects — tools not built for collaborative, auditable workflows. - Lack of Visibility
Once a project is handed over to contractors or consultants, the asset team often loses line-of-sight until completion.
All of these factors create risk — both in terms of compliance and project outcomes. Poor data leads to poor decisions, which can result in failed measures, resident complaints, and costly rework.
Toward a Seamless Data Journey
So, what’s the solution?
The answer lies in creating a connected data environment — where asset management systems, energy modelling platforms, and PAS 2035 delivery tools are integrated to form a single, end-to-end workflow.
This includes:
- Capturing accurate and detailed data at the start
- Feeding it through retrofit assessments and designs
- Monitoring changes during delivery
- Feeding updated data back into the asset system
By treating retrofit as a live process — rather than a one-time intervention — organisations can maintain a real-time view of asset performance, risk, and opportunity.
The Role of Retrofit Coordinators and the Importance of Independence
One critical aspect of PAS 2035 is the role of the Retrofit Coordinator. While this role is sometimes viewed as administrative, its true function is risk management. Coordinators should challenge assumptions, flag design risks early, and ensure that projects comply with PAS 2035 requirements.
ECO Surv highlighted the importance of independent coordinators— separate from the contractor delivering the work — to avoid conflicts of interest and promote quality control. Ideally, assessors, designers, coordinators, and installers all understand each other’s roles and can collaborate through a shared platform, but with clear boundaries.
Digital Delivery: A Platform-Based Approach
Modern retrofit platforms are increasingly stepping in to manage this complexity. They allow all stakeholders — installers, assessors, coordinators, and landlords — to work from a single version of the truth, where:
- Data is captured once and reused across the process
- Photographs, condition notes, and survey data are automatically logged
- AI tools help detect issues (e.g. damp or mould) from images
- Trustmark lodgements are created in real time, not retroactively
This approach doesn’t just streamline delivery, it builds in compliance, auditability, and learning.
From Reactive to Proactive Retrofit
By connecting data, people, and processes, organisations can move from reactive project management to proactive planning. That includes:
- Planning improvement packages based on real asset data
- Avoiding “no regrets” measures by aligning maintenance and net-zero planning
- Tracking progress not just in terms of completion but also data enrichment
- Modelling evolving performance as SAP scores, carbon ratings, and costs shift
It also ensures that retrofit isn’t just about ticking a box for funding, but about transforming homes into safe, efficient, and sustainable places to live.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Retrofit is Connected
The recent webinar made one thing clear: the future of retrofit depends on integration — of systems, standards, roles, and data. PAS 2035 gives us the blueprint. SAP 10 gives us the accuracy. But it’s how we connect all the moving parts that will determine success.
At Sava, we’re continuing to invest in tools like Intelligent Energy to support data analysis, improvement planning, and cost modelling. And we’re actively working with partners like ECO Surv to explore how the data journey continues beyond planning and into delivery.
Our goal? A housing sector where retrofit is not just a compliance exercise but a strategic, data-driven transformation of our housing stock.
Interested in learning more?
Join one of our regular technical webinars or get in touch with us to see how we can help you integrate your asset data, energy assessments, and retrofit planning into a seamless process.