Industry: Real Estate & Construction

If your building project falls under ECBC 2017, completing the design and getting approvals is not enough. You also need to submit a specific compliance document — BEE Form 1 — that confirms your building's design meets the energy performance requirements of the code.

Many project teams are aware of ECBC in general but are uncertain about what BEE Form 1 actually contains, who prepares it, and when it needs to be submitted. This article covers all of that.

What Is BEE Form 1?

BEE Form 1 is a design compliance statement. It is a formal declaration that the building, as designed, meets the requirements of ECBC 2017. It is not an energy audit. It is not an inspection report. It is a document prepared from your own design drawings and equipment specifications, confirming that the numbers are in line with what the code requires.

Think of it as a checklist that turns your design documents into a structured compliance record.

Who Must Submit It?

BEE Form 1 is required for buildings that meet the ECBC applicability thresholds — connected load of 100 kW or above and conditioned floor area of 500 square meters or above — in states where ECBC has been officially notified.

The form is submitted by the building owner, but the actual preparation is typically done by:

  • The architect (for envelope-related sections)
  • The MEP consultant (for HVAC, lighting, electrical, and hot water sections)

Both the owner and the relevant design professionals are required to sign and declare the accuracy of the information submitted. This shared responsibility is important — it means the MEP consultant cannot simply hand the form back to the owner to fill in.

When Is It Submitted?

This varies by state, which is one of the more confusing aspects of BEE Form 1 in practice. Broadly, there are two points at which states require submission:

At the building permit / plan approval stage — The form is submitted along with architectural drawings before construction begins. This is the more proactive approach and is followed in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

At the occupancy certificate stage — The form is submitted as a condition for getting the occupancy certificate after construction. This is more common in states where implementation is newer.

Some states also require a revised Form 1 if there are significant design changes between permit and completion. If your project crosses state lines or involves phased development, the timeline can get more complex.

What Does BEE Form 1 Actually Capture?

The form is divided into sections corresponding to each ECBC building system. Here is what each section requires:

Building Envelope

  • Wall and roof U-values (thermal transmittance) from the design
  • Glazing SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) and VLT (Visible Light Transmittance) values
  • Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) by orientation
  • Climate zone the project falls under

The data for this section comes from architectural drawings, facade specifications, and glazing supplier data sheets.

HVAC Systems

  • Chiller COP (Coefficient of Performance) and IPLV (Integrated Part Load Value)
  • EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for packaged and split units
  • Fan power and pump efficiency data
  • Duct insulation specifications

This comes from the MEP equipment schedule and manufacturer data sheets.

Lighting

  • Lighting Power Density (LPD) values in watts per square metre, room by room or zone by zone
  • Confirmation of occupancy controls in required spaces
  • Daylight provisions where applicable

This comes from the lighting design schedule and luminaire specifications.

Service Hot Water

  • Water heater or boiler efficiency ratings
  • Pipe insulation specifications
  • Solar water heating fraction where applicable

Electrical Systems

  • Power factor correction details
  • Transformer efficiency rating
  • Sub-metering plan confirming which end-uses will be separately metered

The Most Common Problems at Submission Time

Equipment not finalized when the form is due This is the single most frequent issue. If the form is due at permit stage but the MEP consultant has not yet selected final equipment, the form gets filled with estimated or placeholder values. This creates problems later — either during inspections or when the occupancy certificate review happens.

Glazing specs without SHGC values Architects often receive glazing specifications from suppliers that list U-value and light transmittance but not SHGC. ECBC requires SHGC. Getting this data requires specifically requesting it from the supplier.

Climate zone errors India has five ECBC climate zones. Projects in districts near zone boundaries are sometimes assigned to the wrong zone, which affects the applicable performance thresholds throughout the form.

Sub-metering not carried into BMS scope The electrical section requires confirmation that sub-metering will be installed. Often this is confirmed in the form, but the building management system (BMS) scope does not actually include the required metering points. This creates a gap between what was declared and what gets built.

State-Level Variation — What to Check

Because ECBC implementation is state-notified, the submission process varies. Before preparing BEE Form 1 for any project, confirm the following with the relevant state authority or local body:

  • Which authority accepts the form (state energy department, local development authority, or urban local body)
  • Whether submission is at permit or occupancy stage
  • Whether a licensed energy auditor or accredited professional is required to countersign
  • Whether there is a state-specific version of the form or whether the BEE standard template applies

Some states have issued their own ECBC compliance rules with modified forms or additional requirements. Assuming the central BEE format applies everywhere is a common oversight.

How MPS Technologies Can Help

MPS Technologies works with building projects on the data and monitoring side of energy compliance. While we are not design consultants or architects, we have reviewed the BEE Form 1 process across multiple commercial project types and understand where the documentation typically runs into difficulty.

If your project is approaching the permit or occupancy stage and you are not sure whether your design documentation covers what BEE Form 1 requires — particularly around sub-metering, HVAC performance data, or glazing specifications — we can help you identify the gaps before submission.

Quick Summary

  • BEE Form 1 is a design compliance statement, not an audit — it is prepared from your own project documents
  • It is required in ECBC-notified states for buildings with 100 kW+ connected load and 500 m²+ conditioned area
  • Responsibility sits with the building owner, architect, and MEP consultant jointly
  • Submission timing varies by state — confirm before starting preparation
  • The most common problems are placeholder equipment values, missing SHGC data, and sub-metering gaps

If your project needs a review of what BEE Form 1 documentation requires, connect with the MPS Technologies team.