A software preview, not a launch
Elmhurst has outlined Design HEM, its planned assessor-facing software for applying the Home Energy Model to Future Homes Standard compliance. The software is not yet available for live assessments, and Elmhurst cannot set a release date until the government supplies the final HEM wrapper and related delivery information.
The current regulatory position has not changed: government guidance updated on 8 June 2026 identifies SAP 10.3 as the sole approved methodology while HEM completes assurance and readiness work. Live projects must therefore continue to follow the methodology and transitional route that apply to them.
How the HEM workflow will differ
Elmhurst says the government-managed HEM calculation engine will be delivered through Energy Calculation as a Service, with accreditation schemes connecting through a use-specific wrapper. Design HEM will provide the interface in which an accredited OCDEA enters project data and receives the relevant results.
The planned workflow includes more detailed inputs than SAP and a Design SAP 10 import intended to reduce re-keying during the transition. Elmhurst also plans technical bulletins, training and how-to resources, but mandatory upskilling requirements have not yet been confirmed by government.
What assessors and project teams should do now
Do not describe HEM as operational or promise a launch date. Continue using the approved SAP route for current work, verify the applicable transition provisions and keep project data structured so that changes can be traced.
The practical preparation is familiar: coordinated geometry, fabric specifications, thermal-bridge information, services data and clear evidence. Better records will help under SAP today and reduce friction when HEM software and final requirements become available.
Official sources
Published 22 January 2013 · Last updated 8 June 2026
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