Switzerland

The situation in Switzerland is as follows: Neither the Swiss Energy Act nor cantonal energy acts/energy regulations stipulate a legal measurement of airtightness. The current standards of the Swiss Engineers and Architects Association (Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein, SIA) are the latest standards for architecture. The 2014 edition of SIA Standard 180 defines requirements for airtightness with limit and target values. The limit values are to be complied with in a voluntary measurement.

This paper presents some first approaches for the national application of the nearly zero-energy building definition according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by summarising the current plans of Germany, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands. As a contribution from a 5th country, the planned national energy performance requirements of Switzerland for the phase from 2018 onwards were included. It was also analysed whether any of the countries will set specific requirements to the air-tightness of NZEBs and if there are specific requirements for ventilation techniques