REHVA and its Member Associations Acting for a Common, Science Based EPBD Implementation

Keywords: EPBD, ISO, CEN, IEQ,

Johann Zirngibl

Jarek Kurnitski

Jaap Hogeling

REHVA vice president and EUPAG leader

johannzirngibl@t-online.de

REHVA vice president, TRC chair

CEN standardization coordinator

Past EPBD implementations have shown that national implementation based on specific national methods creates barriers for the free circulation of services and creates additional costs and burden to HVAC professionals. This article shows how REHVA together with its national associations, are working for a common, technical neutral and science-based implementation.

EPBD implementation – new barriers or added European value?

As the details of the EPBD implementation are under the responsibility of the Member States and if the EPBD is implemented by different national specifications, it will likely create new barriers for the free circulation of services within Europe.

This is already the case with the implementation of EPBD article 4 “Adoption of a methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings”. There are more national and regional calculation methods than European Member States. These national methods typically have their own input data, calculation rules and sometimes official tools to be used which is far from a harmonised implementation.

Instead of creating barriers, a common European transposition could create an added European value, like a geographic area with common technical rules and methods.

REHVA, together with its 24 national member association is contributing to favour common transposition by acting mostly on three levels:

· International (ISO) and European (EN) standardization

· REHVA guidebooks

· Advising authorities at national level

International (ISO) and European (EN) standardization

The use of European standards increases the accessibility, transparency and objectivity of the energy performance assessment in the Member States facilitating the comparison of best practices and supporting the internal market for construction products.

The use of European standards for calculating energy performance, as well as for energy performance certification and the inspection of heating systems, ventilation and air-conditioning systems reduce costs compared to developing different methods at national level. European standards are flexible enough to support needed national and regional variations, while helping Member States implement the rules and set their required performance levels.

The Commission gave already two mandates to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to develop a comprehensive package of technical reports and standards that are manageable and user friendly for regulators, notified bodies and users. This set of EPBD standards is a systematic, clear and comprehensive package for the benefit of professionals, Member States and relations with third countries.

A third mandated is expected for the recast EPBD.

REHVA experts have responsibilities in all concerned CEN and ISO Technical Committees e.g. ISO/TC 163 “Thermal performance and energy use in the built environment”, ISO/TC 205- “Building environment design”, CEN/TC 371 “Energy Performance of Buildings”, CEN/TC 228 “Heating systems and water based cooling systems in buildings”, CEN/TC 156 “Ventilation for buildings”, CEN/TC 247 “Building Automation, Controls and Building Management” and the many Working Groups under these TC’s where the technical work in preparing the related EPB standards is done.

REHVA guidebooks

REHVA is a trusted technical advisor of EU institutions. REHVA’s guidebooks are referenced in the Commissions guidance documents dealing with the recast EPBD implementation.

For example, the 2024 recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) introduces new provisions for indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which implementation in national regulations requires substantial effort and technical know-how.

To support harmonized national implementation, a model regulatory text has been developed by the REHVA Technical and Research Committee (TRC) in cooperation with other partners.

The REHVA guidebook is expected to serve as a practical example of evidence based IEQ useful minimum implementation. Commission Notice C/2025/6438 providing guidance on EPBD makes a reference to REHVA document on primary energy and operational CO₂ indicators calculation which helps to harmonise calculations needed for zero emission buildings thresholds.

Advising authorities at national level

REHVA and national member association experts are teaching in high educational institutions and have a solid professional competence and experience. Therefore, they are advising national, regional authorities to establish the national regulations.

Via REHVA they are also acting at European level where they contribute to shape the future European legislation and therefore have early regulatory insight and action.

This combination of “top-down” (European level to national level) and “bottom-up” approach make the REHVA contributions appreciated and efficient.

Moreover, REHVA experts do not advocate specific product solutions; they promote performance-based, optimized, energy-efficient, decarbonized, and affordable buildings.