Where can I ask questions or submit comments if something is unclear or maybe wrong in one of the EPB standards under this topic?
Please contact us if you have a question or comment on one of the EPB standards… In general, the National Standard Body can be contacted for information and comments on any CEN or ISO standard. A list of National Standards Bodies can be found here. Specifically for the EPB standards: Part of the services of […]
Do the EPB standards go beyond a single building, such as networks? Do they cover demand-side flexibility?
First of all, (EN) ISO 52000-1, the overarching EPB standard, introduces the term “building portfolio”: a set of buildings and common technical building systems whose energy performance is determined taking into account their mutual interactions. An example of common technical systems is an energy generation system (PV panels, wind turbine, cogeneration unit, boiler, etc.) serving […]
Which stakeholders were involved in the development of the set of EPB standards and how do they take into account the feedback from the market?
The responsible ISO and CEN technical committees (TCs) have working groups (WGs) where the technical experts are cooperating to prepare new standards or revise existing standards. The technical experts are nominated by the National Standards Bodies (NSBs), the CEN/ISO members. The background of these experts is very diverse: designers, industry, practitioners (dealing with system or […]
Is the set of EPB standards used exclusively for energy performance certification or also for design?
The most time-consuming task when preparing a calculation for an energy performance certificate or compliance check, is describing the building with all it’s details. So, if the same calculation procedure can be used also for design calculations it makes life much easier. Moreover, you ensure that you use compatible definitions and assumptions. For exactly this […]
Why are the technical reports not integrated in the EPB standards? It would make the combined document less expensive.
The correct understanding and application of EPB-standards requires extensive informative clarification such as: reason for the choices made in selecting methods; intended use of the different methods; correct evaluation of data input; information to those responsible for national implementation. If the informative content is mixed with the normative content, the standards may become confusing and […]
Do the EPB standards contain energy performance (EP) requirements?
As a general rule, CEN and ISO standards as such do not impose any regulation. Laws and regulations may refer to standards, because standards provide harmonized specifications (e.g. terminology, key characteristics) and harmonized methods for tests or calculations. The EPB standards contain methodologies to assess the EP, and specifications of EP characteristics, including EP indicators, […]
How do standards deal with innovation?
International standards in general are a valuable tool for facilitating cross-border trade and knowledge exchange, thus stimulating the implementation of novel technologies. Standards promote innovation, because they consolidate the latest knowledge into agreed assessment procedures and it is the policy of both ISO and CEN to periodically update their standards. The set of EPB standards […]
Are there plans to digitalize the set of EPB standards in any way?
Yes, the plan is to upgrade the set of EPB standards from being individually “software proof” to become individually and as a set “software ready”. How? By making all input and output data in each EPB (calculation) standard fully explicit, including all non-numeric choices and to mark these up and link them to a repository […]
Wouldn’t using a programming language like Python be clearer than spreadsheets?
Spreadsheets are primarily used for demonstration and validation, as explained in another FAQ. Their key advantage is accessibility—anyone can scroll through and examine formulas, making the entire calculation process transparent and easy to follow step by step. Spreadsheets also provide immediate access to all intermediate results for each equation and calculation step. For practical applications, […]
Why use a spreadsheet to validate an EPB standard when software tools exist?
Spreadsheets are used to ensure consistency, coherence, and accuracy across all EPB standards. Developed alongside each calculation standard, they provide a transparent, step-by-step demonstration of the process, making it easy to trace, verify, and understand calculations—even when dealing with complex equations. Though not designed for daily professional use, spreadsheets are valuable for: • Software developers […]