We present a study of structural and electronic properties of YPd(5)Al(2). Specific-heat measurements reveal a relatively low Sommerfeld coefficient of the electronic contribution gamma=4.1 mj mol(-1) K(-2). No superconductivity is found down to 0.4 K. First-principles electronic-structure calculations based on density-functional theory have been performed and have been compared with available experimental structural and electronic data. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.