Building passes
Building passes serve to check criteria that assess, on the one hand, the comfort for the users and, on the other hand, the efficient use of resources in the life cycle of a building. Building owners use them as a tool for quality assurance and marketing. Clients use them for an objective assessment of the quality of the flat and/or building.
The international trend goes from the merely energetic assessment of a building (like with the energy pass) to a more comprehensive building assessment (on the basis of ecological, financial and social sustainability criteria).
- Building passes
- IBO ÖKOPASS:
- Criteria
- Assessment
- Rating
- Assessed buildings
TQ building certification
TQ (Total Quality) was developed in 2001 with subsidies from the Austrian Federal Government and is the result of international research work. This building certificate which is the most extensive one in Austria to date guarantees a very high standard with regard to user comfort and health, efficient use of resources, environmental compatibility, safety, durability, infrastructure and equipment. Since 2001, assessments for national and international office and residential projects have been carried out. At present, the TQ is harmonised with the other building assessment systems introduced on the Austrian market (IBO ÖKOPASS and klima:aktiv) (TQB – Total Quality Building), and the aim is to align it with international trends (LEnSE, BREEAM, LEED, DGNB). Assessments for different types of use (schools, hotels, commercial buildings, shopping centres…) will also be possible in the future.
Total Quality documents the quality of a building from planning over construction to utilisation in the TQ building certificate. The certificate is issued twice – at the end of the planning phase and after construction. The certification renders the quality of a building visible, useable and comparable and so brings advantages and safety for marketing.
For further information and assessed projects, see: www.tq-building.org
IBO ÖKOPASS - building pass for residential complexes
The IBO ÖKOPASS is a building pass specially developed for residential complexes. It aims at showing proof of the quality of residential complexes on the basis of building biology and building ecology principles and the use of it as a tool for marketing and quality assurance. All criteria are checked and assessed by means of measurements and calculations in the framework of a two-step assessment (preliminary assessment and final assessment).
The largest IBO ÖKOPASS project to date (more than 800 flats on 13 construction) in the urban development zone " Kabelwerk" in Vienna was completed in April 2008.
klima:aktiv
The focus of the self-declaration system “klima:aktiv haus” of the Austrian Ministry of Life is on environmentally compatible construction methods. The criteria aim primarily at a reduction of the total energy consumption and the CO2 emissions as well as healthy living. The assessment is carried out on the basis of a 1000-credits scheme. A klima:aktiv house must have at least 700 credits, a klima:aktiv passive house 900 credits.
This system was developed by the Energy Institute Vorarlberg and the IBO on the basis of the experience gathered with the building assessment systems IBO ÖKOPASS, TQ and Wohnbauförderung Vorarlberg.
The up-to-date list of criteria can be viewed at http://www.klimaaktiv.at/article/archive/14309/Passive house certification
IBO GmbH is the only accredited testing agency in Austria that is authorised to award the certificate “quality-tested passive house” according to the guidelines of Dr. Wolfgang Feist.
Passive houses require high-quality components (optimum thermal insulation, connecting details free from thermal bridges, excellent air tightness, highly efficient ventilation units etc.). When compromises are made for a component or when interactions are not considered to a sufficient extent, the building does not comply with the passive house standard and so does not ensure the desired degree of comfort. IBO GmbH checks the necessary calculation documents for correctness. In this case, it is an assessment of the planning work – complemented with the result of the air tightness measurement.
Certified projects:
- Residential complex Dreherstraße 66 - staircase 5 (Melone), 1110 Vienna (BUWOG)
- One-family home Gerasdorf (arch. Abendroth)
- Office building ENERGYbase (WWFF)
- One-family home Deutsch-Wagram (arch. a-plus)
