National Annexes

"National Annexes" provide flexibility with respect to specific national or regional choices in the EPB standards

To provide flexibility in the application of the set of EPB standards, clearly identified options and national data remain necessary due to differences in climate, culture and building tradition, building typologies, policy and legal frameworks (including the type and level of quality control and enforcement). For example, climatic data is expected to be defined on a national and/or regional level in a National Annex or National Data sheet.

The harmonized procedures in the EPB standards need to be separated from the national or regional options (choices).

This has been achieved by the "Annex A/Annex B" approach.

Annex A/Annex B approach

Each EPB standard has the following two Annexes:

Annex A (normative): mandatory (empty) framework template for choices and input data and references to other EPB standards
Annex B (informative): framework template of Annex A completed with one set of voluntary default choices and input data and references to other EPB standards.

In general each individual user of the EPB standard is free to create his/her own data sheet according to the template of Annex A (i.e.: to replace the default choices and values of Annex B).

For instance private parties can mutually agree (private contract) to use any specific set of choices and values (a completed data sheet according to the template of Annex A) for the assessment of the energy performance for their private use;
In addition e.g. (national or regional) authorities can mandatory prescribe a specific set of choices and values (a specific data sheet according to the template of Annex A, replacing the default choices and input values of Annex B) for the assessment of the energy performance in the context of their building regulations (or different sets, depending on the application).

It is expected, if the default choices in Annex B are not followed due to national regulations, policy or traditions, that:

national or regional authorities prepare National Data sheets containing the choices and national or regional values, according to the template in Annex A. In this case a National Annex to the EPB standard is recommended, containing a reference to these data sheets;
or, by default, the national standards body will consider the possibility to add or include a National Annex to the EPB standard, in agreement with the template of Annex A. In this case the legal documents could refer to the EPB standards plus National Annexes as the national or regional energy performance assessment procedures.

Annex B with informative default choices

Annex B of each EPB standard provides one complete set of voluntary ("Informative") choices for all options, boundary conditions and input data. This is called the set of default choices.

These choices and values have the status of "experts best guess" and are not based on extensive studies involving national preferences and limitations.

By using Annex B, the procedure to calculate the overall energy performance becomes fully operational. This set can be adopted by any individual country or region as their national or regional set of choices.

This set is also intended as stimulus for further harmonization. The use of Standards with a common set of choices, input data and references to other EPB standards, facilitates the comparison of best practise by establishing a common metrics.

Annex B with informative default choices

National Annexes and the EPBD

The revised EPBD (2018) of the European Union requires that the Member States describe their national calculation methodology following the national annexes of five of the EPB standards. Read more on the page on the EPBD.

See also more specifically Recommendations published by the European Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our services and standards.

If (a part of) a table in Annex A of the EPB standard is not applicable due to national choices that are in line with the standard, the corresponding (part of) the table in the National Annex or National Datasheet may be left blanc. It is strongly advised be stated explicitly why (the part of) the table is not filled in. For example:

Case 1: table An EPB standard offers a choice between two methods (e.g. simplified or detailed, monthly or hourly time interval). If the national choice only allows one of the methods, then all tables about the other method are irrelevant and may be kept blank. In this case an explanatory note should be placed in or below these tables, for example: “According to Table NA.xx the national choice is for Method A. Tables A.xx – A.yy are only relevant for Method B.”.
Case 2: Some tables are intended to offer the possibility to specify (national or regional and typically ‘conservative’) default values, in case project specific data are not or not yet available. If the national choice is not to provide default values, then the table may be left blank. In this case, an explanatory note should be placed in or below the table, for example: “No default choices: the choice is project dependent”.

See worked examples in the Guide on National Annexes

2020-03-03

Last updated: 2021-09-16

A National Annex is filled in and published by a National Standards Body (NSB), as annex to the national implementation of the EPB standard. The NSB can choose to publish this stapled to the standard, or as separate document(s). Consequently, it is publicly available, but it may not be available for free.

A National Datasheet can be a separate document referred to by the building regulations, or an integral part of the building regulation implementing the EPBD. One may therefore expect it to be publicly and freely available.

Development of a National Annex or National datasheet is a critical process that may take some time. Although countries are working on it, at the beginning of 2021 there were only a few published.

A National Annex or National Datasheet to describe the national method in terms of the Annexes A of the five so called overarching EPB standards (acc. to EPBD:2018, Annex 1) may not be publicly available.

More information, including guidance and examples:

Page on national annexes

2020-03-03 (updated 2021-01-22)

Last updated: 2021-09-16

Not all countries publish national annexes, and not for all standards.
You are invited to read FAQ Are all National Annexes and National Datasheets publicly available? for more information on the process of preparing National Annexes.
Or see FAQ Where can I find an overview of the reports from the EU Member States… for the situation to describe a national methodology in terms of National Annexes of the 5 key EPB standards (related to EPBD:2018).

2022-04-02

Last updated: 2022-04-02

National Annexes or National Datasheets to describe the national method in terms of the Annexes A of the five so called overarching EPB standards (acc. to EPBD:2018, Annex 1^*)) are included in the national report to the European Commission and not necessarily made publicly available.

^*): See also FAQ “How can EU Member States follow …”

If available and if publication is permitted, the reports will be made available at the EPB Center website.

NOTE: In order to improve comparability, it is recommended that Member States make the description of their calculation methodologies publicly available, e.g. by uploading the filled-in templates to a website or annexing them to their building codes, etc.

Making the calculation methodology publicly available will also help Member States to fulfil the EPBD requirement to ensure that the methodology applied for the determination of the energy performance of a building shall be transparent.

2020-03-03 (updated 2021-01-22)

Last updated: 2021-09-16

At the page on National Annexes we are collecting examples, as far as made available for publication at the EPB Center website.

2020-03-03

Last updated: 2021-09-16

"National Annexes" provide flexibility with respect to specific national or regional choices in the EPB standards

Annex A/Annex B approach

Annex B with informative default choices

National Annexes and the EPBD

Frequently Asked Questions

The template for national choices (Annex A in each EPB standard) is mandatory. Does this mean that all tables shall be filled in always?

Are all National Annexes and National Datasheets publicly available?

Do all countries have National Annexes? And where can we find them?

Where can I find an overview of the reports from the EU Member States to describe their national calculation procedures, according to EPBD:2018, Annex 1?

Where at the EPB Center website can I find an overview of National Annexes and National Datasheets for different countries?