Electrical installations are paramount to achieve decarbonisation goals of EPBD

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Reaction to the amendments adopted by the European Parliament on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

The decarbonisation of buildings via electrification is contingent on the capacity of electrical installations in buildings. Up-to date and adequately dimensioned electrical installations are a pre-requisite to integrate the required energy performant devices, such as heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage, EV recharging points, electrically operated solar shading and Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS).

In practice, when heat pumps, solar PV, EV-recharging points are to be installed in buildings, one of the first questions of professionals (planners, installers) is always about the status of electrical installations. In short, the aims of the EPBD can only be achieved with due consideration of electrical installations throughout the text.

We call on co-legislators to adopt the amendments proposed by the European Parliament to:

1. Include a definition of electrical installations (Art. 2, 6c) 6c. ‘electrical installation’ means a system composed of fixed components, including switchboards, electrical cables, earthing systems, sockets, switches and light fittings, which have the purpose of distributing electrical power within a building to all points of use or transmit electricity generated on-site;

2. Integrate “electrical installations” into the definition of Technical Building Systems (Art 2.6) 6. ‘technical building system’ means technical equipment for space heating, space cooling, ventilation, domestic hot water, built-in lighting, building automation and control, electrical installations, on-site renewable energy generation and storage, or a combination thereof, including those systems using energy from renewable sources, of a building or building unit.