Laboratory buildings

Certify sustainable laboratory buildings with the DGNB

Laboratory buildings are highly complex in their requirements – in addition to offices, preparation or analytical laboratories, they can also include clean rooms, workshops or rooms for animal husbandry. The safety aspect is particularly important in laboratories to prevent harmful substances from escaping into the environment. Depending on the type of laboratory building, an operating, safety and waste concept or even an explosion protection concept may be necessary. Since a high proportion of process energy is also generated during operation in addition to normal energy requirements, optimising energy consumption is also of particular importance.
The DGNB has developed the scheme for laboratory buildings together with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs to ensure the quality of these demanding buildings.

For laboratory buildings, there is currently no DGNB System available in English or for international certification. However, DGNB Auditors with German language skills can combine and adapt the full range of current German schemes with DGNB System "New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International" in order to certify other building types.

Contribution to climate action through reduced emissions of greenhouse gases over the entire life cycle
Increased attractiveness for employees
Increased productivity and performance of employees
Safe and healthy working environment
High building flexibility due to e.g. easier adaptations in case of changes (operating processes; personnel)
Long-term usability
Lower costs for conversions
Lower operating and maintenance costs
Advantages when selling real estate

The certificate is primarily aimed at anyone who wants to plan and construct laboratory buildings. These can be, for example, private and municipal bodies that operate medical facilities, research institutions or laboratories of educational institutions.

Holistic consideration of all relevant sustainability requirements
Transparent and independent quality award and assurance during planning, construction and operation
Transparency with regard to ressource efficency and emissions
Communication of the project to the public and increase of acceptance
Basis for sale in sustainable real estate funds
Certification as an option for sustainable investments
Contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
High value stability
Higher return on investment
High degree of future security through reduction of cost-intensive risks

The scheme takes into account the special features of sustainable laboratory buildings. In addition to ecological, social and economic aspects, there is a focus here on comprehensive safety concepts.
The scheme was developed jointly by the DGNB and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. If a project is submitted to the DGNB for certification, the two DGNB Criteria "ENV 1.2 Local environmental impact" and "SOC2.1 Design for all" must be applied instead of the "Risiken für die lokale Umwelt (1.1.6)" and "Barrierefreiheit (3.2.1)" mentioned in the BNB profile.

In order to be represented by the DGNB scheme, the laboratory must be an independent building. If this is not the case, certification can be sought with a different scheme, such as educational buildings or in the context of mixed use.

Overview of all
criteria and schemes

In order to address the individual characteristics of your building project, the DGNB System takes into account a variety of criteria and schemes.
You can find an overview here.

Overview of all criteria and schemes

Project registration

To register a project, clients must first hire a DGNB Auditor. This auditor can then register the project. Auditors also accompany the entire process and take over the verification and submission to the DGNB. They are active worldwide and specialise in certain schemes.

For laboratory buildings, there is currently no DGNB System available in English or for international certification. However, DGNB Auditors with German language skills can combine and adapt the full range of current German schemes with the DGNB System "New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International" in order to certify other building types.

Find a dgnb auditor

Scale of fees

Project registration