We consider the energy conditions for a dissipative matter distribution. The conditions can be expressed as a system of equations for the matter variables. The energy conditions are then generalised for a composite matter distribution; a combination of viscous barotropic fluid, null dust and a null string fluid is also found in a spherically symmetric spacetime. This new system of equations comprises the energy conditions that are satisfied by a Type I fluid. The energy conditions for a Type II fluid are also presented, which are reducible to the Type I fluid only for a particular function. This treatment will assist in studying the complexity of composite relativistic fluids in particular self-gravitating systems.
Keywords: composite fluids; energy conditions.