IEQ - BECAUSE BUILDINGS ARE MADE FOR PEOPLE.

Three letters play a key role in the revision of the EU Building Directive (EPBD) published by the European Parliament on 8 May 2024: IEQ. The acronym stands for indoor environmental quality and handles the factors that affect the health, comfort and productivity of building users – while always keeping the European goal of maximum energy efficiency in mind. SAUTER is implementing the new standards with intelligent solutions.

With the European Green Deal, the EU has tasked itself with becoming climate neutral by 2050. A major component of the associated "Fit for 55" package –designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030 – is the review of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This focusses particularly on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).

Because buildings are built for people and used by people, the EU Parliament has now imposed rules meaning that energy efficiency cannot be disengaged from indoor environmental quality. In other words, a verified energy appraisal is only possible if the energy expenditure needed to achieve certain interior parameters is known.

By reworking the EPBD, the EU Parliament has not only ensured that indoor environmental quality must be considered, it has also created the conditions for incorporating IEQ standards into national building energy legislation including Germany's Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GeG), France's Réglementation Thermique 2012 (RT 2012) and Italy's Decreto Ministeriale 26 giugno 2015 – also known as the Decreto Requisiti Minimi

New European standard for both clarity and latitude

The EN 16798-1 standard has been updated. IEQ parameters can now be specified and categorised according to the new requirements. EU Member States are also given the freedom to define their own criteria within a fixed framework. This new standard detailing the general conditions for IEQ comes with a national annex, thereby ensuring that it applies to all EU Member States. This synchronises the demands of the European standard with national regulations.

Sustainably better health and productivity

Air quality, temperature, light, humidity, noise level and occupancy density are just a few of the factors that influence IEQ and hence the European sustainability goal. Studies and certification systems – such as the WELL Building Standard developed in the USA – have demonstrated that good indoor environmental quality can improve health and comfort. It can also increase the productivity of building users and significantly reduce operating costs. Programmes like WELL, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and DGNB (a German quality seal for sustainable building) are therefore additional aids for architects and investors during the planning and management stages of ecological and economic construction projects.

SAUTER solutions for successful IEQ integration

In this issue, we will present two important IEQ topics in greater detail: air quality and light quality. On the following pages, you will see how SAUTER's intelligent solutions help achieve these energy-efficient air and light qualities that meet the highest IEQ requirements.

EN 16798-1 IN A NUTSHELL

The EN 16798-1 standard sets out requirements for the interior environment and energy efficiency of buildings. It also highlights the importance of good indoor environmental quality for the health, productivity and comfort of building users. The following main aspects are covered:

Thermal environment

Specifications for heated and cooled buildings with operational temperatures and criteria for local thermal comfort established.

Air quality, humidity and ventilation Guidelines for humidifying and dehumidifying indoor air and stipulations for minimum ventilation rates based on perceived air quality and concentration limits.

Lighting

Definition of illuminance levels in different room types with goals for daylight and artificial lighting.

Acoustics

Criteria for permitted sound levels in different areas of buildings.

The standard aids compliance with Directive 2010/31/EU on the overall energy efficiency of buildings and other European and international standards such as EN 12464 (lighting), EN ISO 7730 (thermal comfort) and EN ISO 52000-1 (energy efficiency of buildings).