The DGNB System for Existing Buildings and Renovation

In addition to office and administrative buildings, we would like other types of use to participate in the initial application phase. As with the new building systems, different applications of the renovation are also applicable:

• Office and administration buildings
• Educational buildings
• Residential buildings
• Consumer market buildings
• Shopping centre buildings
• Department stores
• Logistic buildings
• Production buildings
• Hotel buildings

The basis for the scheme Renovation, Version 2016 (SBV16) are the schemes for buildings, such as office and administration buildings, Version 2015. In other words, apart from a few criteria (including the tools provided) specially adapted for SBV16, the criteria (and tools) of Version NBV15 (currently only in German language) must be applied.

If the modernisation measures exceed the demarcation regulations for existing buildings, certification after renovation must be carried out. This is the case if the following modernisation measures were carried out in the last 3 years (either a or b):

a) 50 % of the facade and roof surface (energetically effective) + a significant change (generation and distribution) to ventilation, heating or cooling.
b) 25 % of the facade and roof surface (energetically effective) + two major changes (generation and distribution) to ventilation, heating or cooling.

Renovated buildings with mixed-use can also be submitted for certification. The usual demarcation regulations for mixed-use from new construction are to be applied.

As with the existing new construction certificates, the awards will include platinum, gold and silver.

Since "renovation" is very similar in content to the schemes of the 2015 Version (german), the audit can be carried out by all trained DGNB auditors for buildings.

All documents relevant to the audit are available on request from René Traunspurger r.traunspurger@dgnb.de.

The project registration for the pilot phase of the scheme "renovation of office and administration buildings" has been open since May 2016.
At present, we can provide you with the criteria and tools for the scheme "renovation of office and administration buildings", Version 2016 is within the scope of the pilot phase. However, the system can be easily transferred to other types of use. We will be happy to create tools for you on request.

• Holistic approach – the DGNB is the only provider to evaluate the three pillars of sustainability – ecology, economy and social aspects – weighted equally
• Performance-oriented – the DGNB does not evaluate individual measures but the overall performance of a building. This gives you the greatest possible freedom, e.g. for innovations
• Life cycle assessment for the entire life cycle
• Independent compliance testing – we ensure reliable and independent assessment of every project. 

• For buildings over 3 years old
• Simplified evidence through evaluation of the current status
• Instead of often complex and expensive simulation of the energy demand, the previous year's consumption can be used as a basis for the evaluation. A large part of the evaluation can be carried out via an on-site inspection.
• Evaluation of the five topics: ecology, economy, social issues, technology and process
• Regular review of the status quo enables efficient optimisation

In order to ensure that older buildings can also benefit from a DGNB certificate for existing buildings, the following rules apply to the application of the individual schemes:

• In contrast to new buildings, existing buildings have to deal with the available building structure and the possibilities for optimisation may be limited. For this reason, there is an additional assessment level for existing buildings: in addition to the award in silver (from 50%), gold (from 65%) and platinum (from 80%), there is also an additional award in bronze from 35% of the total performance index.
• No differentiation according to building age classes. The evaluation is much easier and a comparison of different buildings is more meaningful.
• The achievement of the requirements in the lower quality levels of the criteria is always relatively easy.
• In many criteria there are alternative, simplified verification options.

For existing buildings, there is also the option of seeking a pre-certificate before obtaining the full certificate. It allows for estimated values to be given for the criteria that are influenced by, for example, modernisation measures. The pre-certificate is valid for 18 months. In order to obtain a full certificate, only the estimated values need to be verified in the course of certification. The values that have already been verified in the course of the pre-certificate do not need to be verified again. The full certificate is valid for three years.

The main differences to the certification of new constructions are:

• Considerably reduced number of criteria (22 instead of about 40 criteria)
• Evaluation level "DGNB certified" from 35 % of the total performance index
• Easy to get started, so that older buildings can also be certified
• Evaluation of actual consumption instead of planning data
• In the process, the building operation is evaluated
• Focus on sustainable building operations
• Regular performance reviews to check the optimisation strategy