User Tools

Site Tools


planning:other_attributs_for_passive_houses

This is an old revision of the document!


General quality requirements for Passive Houses/EnerPHit-buildings


If a Passive House building is built in accordance with the generally accepted recommendations, then compliance with the hard Passive House criteria will be sufficient. However, there are always some cases in which analysis of a building's qualification for Passive House certification is necessary, for example, should the planning not meet Passive House comfort demands or otherwise result in damage to the reputation of Passive House Standard.

soft criteria
These criteria, are critical for Passive House compliance, serve as “soft” criteria as they do not lend themselves to the same stringent limit values for all situations/building types.
Thermal comfort User satisfaction Structural integrity Efficiency
What would jeopardise compliance with the soft criteria?
* high overheating frequency
* large temperature differences in the room
* draughts
* cold air descent
* supply air that is too cold
* unventilated rooms
* extreme air change rates (low or high)
* insufficient air filter quality
* noisy ventilation units

see also ISO 7730
* fixed windows that cannot be opened
* no possibility for manual regulation of air exchange, heating, shading and lighting
*low surface temperatures (condensation)
* too high aw-values
* wall structures/details critical in terms of building physics
* Extreme disbalance of ventilation unit (at the building envelope)
* low electrical efficiency and heat recovery rate of the ventilation unit
* under-insulation of distributing pipes
* high domestic electricity demands
* large energy demands for heating and DHW
In case of doubt, clarifying documentation must be provided.
The building cannot be certified if concerns remain.
While a lack of efficiency in specific areas must be recorded in the certificate, this does not exclude certification.


Three examples that occur frequently are mentioned in the certification criteria on www.passivehouse.com:
“… The following are generally required: openable windows in all living areas, a low overheating frequency (≤ 10 % over 25 °C) as well as user-adjustable ventilation volume flow rates and indoor temperatures.”
In agreement with the PHI, exceptions may be made with reference to these three points if compliance with the requirement for thermal comfort, user satisfaction and structural integrity can be guaranteed.


planning/other_attributs_for_passive_houses.1411057157.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/10/29 09:13 (external edit)