As per the certification criteria for the certification of Passive Houses, documents verifying the thermal conductivity (lambda value) of each insulation material and building component must be submitted. For Passive Houses in Germany, the German 'Bemessungswert' is to be used in accordance with DIN V 4108-4. For the certification of Passive Houses in all other countries, the lambda value determined as defined by the respective national norms regulating the calculation of a building’s energy balance must be used. In the absence of a national norm, a thermal conductivity value that has been checked and confirmed by an independent third party can be applied. As such, the lambda value stated on the CE label, for example, may be used for the PHPP. If Passive House suitable components as certified by PHI were used, however, the lambda value stated in the PHI certificate must be given, irrespective of the country of construction.

The Passive House Institute has also developed certification criteria for the refurbishment of existing buildings. This certification is called EnerPHit and the pilot phase started in May 2010. Please contact mail@passiv.de, RE: 'EnerPHit certification', if you would like to participate and have a refurbishment project which meets the requirements set out in the preliminary EnerPHit certification criteria.

Certification of Passive House office buildings