In order to make sustainable building plannable, measurable and comparable, the DGNB has developed a certification system that serves as a planning and optimisation tool to support all those involved in the building process in implementing holistic sustainability quality. To evaluate a sustainable project, various certification criteria are applied individually to different building types and schemes.
DGNB quality throughout a building's life cycle
From planning to deconstruction, a building goes through different phases in its life cycle with different requirements or prerequisites for each phase.
Always the right system
In order to meet the requirements of the different phases of the life cycle, DGNB Certification can be applied to new and existing buildings, for renovation, for interior design, for building operation, for deconstruction and construction sites:
With the DGNB System for New Construction as a planning and optimisation tool, sustainability goals can be defined for your sustainable building project and implemented in a demonstrably quality-assured manner. Buildings can be certified up to three years after completion.
Buildings that currently have huge deficits offer great potential for climate protection through renovation and maintenance. This is where the DGNB System for Renovation comes in.
More than 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are caused by the operation of buildings. The operation of buildings is therefore of particular importance when it comes to achieving climate targets. As a side effect, the costs of operation can be significantly reduced by optimising the operation.
We spend 90 percent of our time in buildings. In order to actively promote people's health, ergonomics, well-being and performance, the DGNB System for Interiors deals with interior design – regardless of whether the building is already certified. In addition, the more conscious use of financial means, the careful handling of resources, as well as the use of low-pollutant products are evaluated.
The DGNB System for Construction Sites assesses ecological sustainability in terms of material use, resource conservation, transport, the avoidance of pollutants, the preservation of biodiversity and social responsibility on construction sites. The safety of all those involved in construction and the use of preventive health protection measures are highly relevant.
Why certify?
- The DGNB System is a performance- and balance-oriented planning and optimisation tool for all those involved in construction
- It ensures the implementation of holistic quality in planning, construction and operation
- It stands for a high degree of future security through the reduction of cost-intensive risks
- The DGNB Certificate is the independent, transparent proof of the quality actually implemented
- The certificate can also be used for communication and marketing purposes
What criteria are used for certification?
The DGNB offers two criteria sets for New Construction of Buildings in English:
- DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings (English translation)
- DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International (for the certification of buildings in countries where there is no adapted version of the DGNB System)
To view individual criteria, please download the respective criteria sets.
The DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings, version 2023, is comprised of a total of 29 criteria from 6 topics:
Environmental quality
The six criteria of environmental quality allow an assessment of the effects of buildings on the global and local environment as well as on resource consumption and waste generation.
Climate action and energy (ENV1.1)
Local environmental impact (ENV1.2)
Responsible resource extraction (ENV1.3)
Potable water demand and waste water volume (ENV2.2)
Land use (ENV2.3)
Biodiversity at the site (ENV2.4)
Economic quality
The economic quality criteria serve to assess the long-term economic viability (life cycle costs) and value development.
Life cycle cost (ECO1.1)
Value stability and adaptability (ECO2.4)
Climate resilience (ECO2.6)
Documentation (ECO2.7)
- Sociocultural and functional quality
The eight criteria of sociocultural and functional quality help to assess buildings with regard to health, comfort and user satisfaction as well as the essential aspects of functionality.
Thermal comfort (SOC1.1)
Indoor air quality (SOC1.2)
Sound insulation and acoustic comfort (SOC1.3)
Visual comfort (SOC1.4)
Quality of indoor and outdoor spaces (SOC1.6)
Barrier-free design (SOC2.1)
Technical quality
Eight criteria provide a benchmark for assessing the quality of technical execution with regard to relevant sustainability aspects.
Quality of the building envelope (TEC1.3)
Use and integration of building technology (TEC1.4)
Circular construction (TEC1.6)
Mobility infrastructure (TEC3.1)
- Process quality
The nine criteria of process quality aim to increase the planning quality and the construction quality assurance.
Quality of project preparation (PRO1.1)
Ensuring sustainability aspects in tendering and contracting (PRO1.4)
Procedure for urban and design planning (PRO1.6)
Construction site / construction process (PRO2.1)
Systematic commissioning (PRO2.3)
Preparation for sustainable use (PRO2.5)
- Site quality
The four criteria of site quality assess the impact of the project on its surroundings and vice versa.
Local environment (SITE1.1)
Transport access (SITE1.3)
Access to amenities (SITE1.4)
A total of 38 criteria from 6 topics apply to the DGNB System for Renovation of Buildings, Version 2022 International:
- Environmental quality
The six criteria of environmental quality allow an assessment of the effects of building renovations on the global and local environment as well as on resource consumption and waste generation.
Building life cycle assessment (ENV1.1)
Local environmental impact (ENV1.2)
Sustainable resource extraction (ENV1.3)
Potable water demand and waste water volume (ENV2.2)
Land use (ENV2.3)
Biodiversity at the site (ENV2.4)
- Economic quality
The economic quality criteria are used to assess the long-term economic viability (life cycle costs) and value development.
Life cycle cost (ECO1.1)
Flexibility and adaptability (ECO2.1)
Commercial viability (ECO2.2)
- Sociocultural and functional quality
The eight criteria of sociocultural and functional quality help to assess buildings with regard to health, comfort and user satisfaction as well as the essential aspects of functionality.
Thermal comfort (SOC1.1)
Indoor air quality (SOC1.2)
Acoustic comfort (SOC1.3)
Visual comfort (SOC1.4)
User control (SOC1.5)
Quality of indoor and outdoor spaces (SOC1.6)
Safety and security (SOC1.7)
Design for all (SOC2.1)
Technical quality
Eight criteria provide a benchmark for assessing the quality of technical execution with regard to relevant sustainability aspects.
Fire safety (TEC1.1)
Sound insulation (TEC1.2)
Quality of the building envelope (TEC1.3)
Use and integration of building technology (TEC1.4)
Ease of cleaning building components (TEC1.5)
Ease of recovery and recycling (TEC1.6)
Immissions control (TEC1.7)
Mobility infrastructure (TEC3.1)
- Process quality
The nine criteria of process quality aim to increase the planning quality and the construction quality assurance.
Comprehensive project brief (PRO1.1)
Sustainability aspects in tender phase (PRO1.4)
Documentation for sustainable management (PRO1.5)
Procedure for urban and design planning (PRO1.6)
Construction site / construction process (PRO2.1)
Quality assurance of the construction (PRO2.2)
Systematic commissioning (PRO2.3)
User communication (PRO2.4)
FM-compliant planning (PRO2.5)
- Site quality
The four criteria of site quality assess the impact of the project on its surroundings and vice versa.
Local environment (SITE1.1)
Influence on the district (SITE1.2)
Transport access (SITE1.3)
Access to amenities (SITE1.4)
A total of twelve criteria are taken into account for deconstruction, which address the five topics of environmental quality, economic quality, sociocultural and functional quality, technical quality and process quality. All of these five topics are equally weighted in the evaluation.
Since the system is currently in pilot phase, criteria are only available in German. If you are interested, please contact us.
The DGNB Certificate for Construction Sites is based on five criteria, each of which has a different influence on the topics environment, economy, sociocultural and functional aspects, technology and processes. We will be happy to send you the criteria on request.
Construction site organisation
The goal of the criterion is to ensure a smooth and safe construction process by having a well-organised construction site during the procurement and construction phase. In addition, impacts on the environment and the consumption of resources must be minimised as part of executing the construction work, the health of everyone involved in the construction must be protected, and social acceptance of the construction project must be promoted through comprehensive communication with local stakeholders.
The criterion defines key specifications for construction site planning and updates them through the various life cycle phases, from pre-planning through to long-term property and building monitoring. Workflow and time schedules are required, as well as a health and safety protection plan. In addition, measures are taken to prevent pollution of the local environment. These include concepts for a low-noise, low-dust, low-waste construction site, soil and groundwater protection, and environmental and resident-friendly logistics.
- Ressource conservation
In order to maintain a high value of the resources in terms of the circular economy, it is necessary to create the greatest possible transparency with respect to the selected process, and recycling and disposal streams for waste generated during construction. These should be optimised through applying the maximum degree of reuse and material recycling. In addition, it is also the objective to raise awareness of all persons involved in the construction process so that all of them strive to actively influence the processing, recycling and disposal streams.
One aspect of resource conservation relates to resource saving and emissions reduction in terms of the energy used. To promote climate protection, the use of renewable energy is evaluated as positively as the use of environmentally-friendly transport methods. There is also a focus on the reuse and recycling of construction materials, e.g. by actively influencing the recycling and disposal routes. Water consumption is also addressed as part of the certification.
- Health and social aspects
Protection of persons involved in the construction is very important at construction sites. Social needs should be met through preventive health measures and information regarding personal development and employee training. In terms of health prevention, in addition to general medical care, measures for specific situations (e.g. pandemics) also play a key role. A work and safety plan for the key building trades as well as a risk assessment by the contractors are further indicators. Project-internal communication, e.g. in terms of a multi-language approach, is also addressed. Important additional aspects include the workplace quality or securing social benefits for all persons involved.
- Communication
Acceptance is key to the successful implementation of construction projects. This involves proactively informing people before and during construction measures and providing contact persons for enquiries throughout. Among other aspects, particular emphasis is placed on the appearance of the construction site to the public. The provision of a digital information platform is evaluated positively. This type of approach prevents conflict and also increases the willingness of local stakeholder groups to cooperate.
- Construction quality
In order to implement planning goals as well as meeting the requirements in terms of good use of construction products and aspects of construction monitoring and coordination, appropriate quality assurance and meaningful documentation are key considerations. Plan management, interface coordination or continuous improvement management are evaluated positively here. The focus is on quality assurance of the construction products used, as well as detailed topics such as the prevention of mould formation.
The DGNB offers two criteria sets for New Construction of Buildings in English:
- DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings (English translation)
- DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International (for the certification of buildings in countries where there is no adapted version of the DGNB System)
The DGNB System for New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International is comprised of a total of 38 criteria from 6 topics:
Environmental quality
The six criteria of environmental quality allow an assessment of the effects of buildings on the global and local environment as well as on resource consumption and waste generation.
Building life cycle assessment (ENV1.1)
Local environmental impact (ENV1.2)
Sustainable resource extraction (ENV1.3)
Potable water demand and waste water volume (ENV2.2)
Land use (ENV2.3)
Biodiversity at the site (ENV2.4)
Economic quality
The economic quality criteria serve to assess the long-term economic viability (life cycle costs) and value development.
Life cycle cost (ECO1.1)
Flexibility and adaptability (ECO2.1)
Commercial viability (ECO2.2)
- Sociocultural and functional quality
The eight criteria of sociocultural and functional quality help to assess buildings with regard to health, comfort and user satisfaction as well as the essential aspects of functionality.
Thermal comfort (SOC1.1)
Indoor air quality (SOC1.2)
Acoustic comfort (SOC1.3)
Visual comfort (SOC1.4)
User control (SOC1.5)
Quality of indoor and outdoor spaces (SOC1.6)
Safety and security (SOC1.7)
Design for all (SOC2.1)
Technical quality
Eight criteria provide a benchmark for assessing the quality of technical execution with regard to relevant sustainability aspects.
Fire safety (TEC1.1)
Sound insulation (TEC1.2)
Quality of the building envelope (TEC1.3)
Use and integration of building technology (TEC1.4)
Ease of cleaning building components (TEC1.5)
Ease of recovery and recycling (TEC1.6)
Immissions control (TEC1.7)
Mobility infrastructure (TEC3.1)
- Process quality
The nine criteria of process quality aim to increase the planning quality and the construction quality assurance.
Comprehensive project brief (PRO1.1)
Sustainability aspects in tender phase (PRO1.4)
Documentation for sustainable management (PRO1.5)
Procedure for urban and design planning (PRO1.6)
Construction site / construction process (PRO2.1)
Quality assurance of the construction (PRO2.2)
Systematic commissioning (PRO2.3)
User communication (PRO2.4)
FM-compliant planning (PRO2.5)
- Site quality
The four criteria of site quality assess the impact of the project on its surroundings and vice versa.
Local environment (SITE1.1)
Influence on the district (SITE1.2)
Transport access (SITE1.3)
Access to amenities (SITE1.4)
A total of 9 criteria from 3 topics apply to the DGNB System for Buildings In Use:
- Environmental quality
The criteria of environmental quality allow an assessment of the effects of buildings on the global and local environment as well as on resource consumption and waste generation.
Climate Action and Energy (ENV1-B)
Water (ENV2-B)
Materials and Recycling (ENV3-B)
- Economic quality
All three criteria of the economic quality evaluate a building for its long-term asset value and economic efficiency.
Operating Costs (ECO1-B)
Risk Management and Long-term Asset Value (ECO2-B)
Procurement and Operations (ECO3-B)
- Sociocultural and functional quality
The three criteria of sociocultural and functional quality help to assess buildings in terms of indoor comfort, user satisfaction, health as well as essential aspects of mobility services.
Indoor Comfort (SOC1-B)
User satisfaction (SOC2-B)
Mobility (SOC3-B)
Currently, there is no DGNB System for Interiors available in English or for international certification. Please contact us for further information.