We are moving to almost zero-energy construction faster than expected

The FInZEB project has been completed and its final report can be read on the project's website. The results of the project are the basis for the preparation of new building regulations in the steering, monitoring and project groups of the Ministry of the Environment.

In relation to energy regulations, the authorities' task is to prepare the necessary legislation and guidelines for the transition to almost zero-energy construction. In the legislative preparations, the preparatory work already done for the implementation of the RES directive and national development projects concerning near-zero energy construction, such as the FInZEB project, will be used. The goal is also to identify the needs for the development of skills and training regarding almost zero-energy construction, as well as to ensure that sufficient information is provided on the subject. In this matter, cooperation is carried out with several interested parties.

Already in the pre-preparation of the regulations, questions that have a central impact on the matter have come up, such as whether or not a separate requirement will be given to renewable energy, and how to define the balance limit, which FInZEB ended up proposing as the plot limit. Other key issues that have arisen are related to deviations from the basic regulations, the building permit procedure and construction law, the necessary new definitions, and the entry into force and application of the regulations. From the industry's point of view, there are still other alignment questions, for example, whether thermal imaging will become mandatory for all buildings.

The new regulations would enter into force already at the beginning of 2018. In other words, the legislation currently being prepared will be applied to all new construction projects for which the application for a building permit starts after January 1.1.2018, 1.1.2017. The schedule is the same for all buildings. However, in the preparation for the entry into force, two marginal conditions have been set from the industry's point of view: the energy regulations must be ready by January XNUMX, XNUMX at the latest. In addition, with such a tight schedule, their requirement levels must not differ substantially from the levels proposed by FInZEB.

FInZEB proposed as a kind of minimum for the energy regulations the best possible level of HVAC technology in use and tested in practice, for example for LTO devices, and a well-insulating and tight building envelope. Rising further from the minimum level can easily be done with, for example, better insulation or using renewable energy, such as solar systems. It can be said that the project gave development a direction that in the future will encourage the use of renewable energy to an ever-increasing extent.

Juha Luhanka
CEO
Rakennustuoteollisuus RTT ry