The low-carbon building regulations came into force at the beginning of the year, and emissions calculators will likely have plenty of work to do in the future. Regarding the limit values, it is reasonable to wonder whether they provide a sensible guide to low-carbon construction.
The low-carbon building regulation came into force at the beginning of 2026. The regulation is reflected, for example, in mandatory carbon footprint calculations for new construction. To facilitate the calculation, buildings have been divided into different usage categories and have their own limit values in the form of “kilograms of carbon dioxide per square meter per year” (kg CO₂e/m²/a). According to current information, the limit values will be as follows:
| Intended use category | 2026–2027 | 50 years | 2029 | 50 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraced houses | 16,0 | 800,0 | 13,0 | 650,0 |
| Apartment buildings | 16,0 | 800,0 | 12,0 | 600,0 |
| Offices and health centers | 20,0 | 1000,0 | 17,0 | 850,0 |
| Commercial and cultural buildings | 22,0 | 1100,0 | 18,0 | 900,0 |
| Accommodation, service and care buildings | 25,0 | 1250,0 | 22,0 | 1100,0 |
| Educational buildings and kindergartens | 20,0 | 1000,0 | 16,0 | 800,0 |
| Sports halls | 21,0 | 1050,0 | 18,0 | 900,0 |
| Hospitals | 29,0 | 1450,0 | 28,0 | 1400,0 |
| Warehouse, transport, swimming pool and ice rink buildings over 1000 m² | 24,0 | 1200,0 | 21,0 | 1050,0 |
The list seems comprehensive at first glance, but it also raises questions. In principle, it is easier to build a warehouse than a swimming pool. Thus, this limit value listing leaves the possibility of building a simple, but over 1,000 m2 warehouse from high-emission materials and still falling below the limit value. One can ask how similar warehouses and swimming pools are in terms of their purpose and how sports halls differ from warehouses, for example.
The guiding effect of the limit values is confused by the possibility of initially constructing a building with as little carbon as possible and then, after the final inspection, implementing a renovation project that uses structures that increase emissions, for example, in terms of surfaces. The implementation of the limit value is ensured by a climate report in connection with the final inspection.
The limit values only apply to new construction. In this way, it is advisable to build a building with concrete floors and without drop ceilings, and add these as a renovation project after the final inspection of the new building. If we go even further, it is advisable to build an office building, the purpose of which is to be changed after commissioning, for example to a residential building.
The limit value only takes into account the building itself, not the construction site or underground structures. According to current information The calculation includes the premises according to the energy certificate. Cold garages are therefore not included in the calculation, but belong to the construction site. This will certainly reduce the construction of warm garages.
Regarding the limit values, it is reasonable to consider whether they provide a sensible guide to low-carbon construction. In addition to building materials, the shape and functions of the building also affect the amount of carbon dioxide. The coming years will show whether it is more cost-effective to choose lower-carbon materials or to optimize the building's spatial programs and reduce those spaces whose construction generates a lot of emissions. In Liipasi, the first ones would be saunas, wet rooms and toilets.
The 50-year period chosen as the review period also does not guide the selection of products with a longer service life, as they may appear in the calculation as increasing emissions. The limit value may be exceeded by five percent, for example, due to the implementation of life cycle features that differ from conventional construction and promote longevity. It is not immediately clear what these are. For example, are stainless concrete reinforcement bars a solution that differs from conventional construction?
Confusing? Yes, it is, and we will definitely be practicing with the calculations. We have seen through previous cases what will happen if changes are made to the selected building materials after the preliminary calculation in the design phase – if, for example, the planned low-carbon product is not available during the construction phase due to the supplier's bankruptcy.
What is certain at this stage is that emissions calculators will have plenty of work to do from the beginning of next year. Fortunately, there are tools for calculating concrete. Concrete quantities can easily be determined from the building model and the BY-Low Carbon Classification® has been approved for combining emission values. This makes it easy to calculate the emissions of a building designed with low carbon concrete.
Background information
The article has been published On the KiviFaktaa website on January 8, 2026.
Antti Taivalkangas
Product group manager
antti.taivalkangas@rt.fi +358 50 432 3360Rakennustuoteollisuus RTT ry
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