Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB) Requirements for New Buildings

Regulation 43B of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (as amended) (‘the Building Regulations’) requires that where a new building is to be erected, it must be a nearly zero-energy building (NZEB).

Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) are defined as highly efficient buildings requiring very low energy consumption and where energy is required, the majority of their energy requirements should be derived from renewable sources either on site or nearby.

The Information Note issued in December of this year by the Department of Finance; Building Standards Branch which is responsible for writing the Building Regulations, has clarified how Regulations 43B should be implemented from the 1 January 2021 prior to an expected ‘uplift’ in standards later in the year.

The Department of Finance; Building Standards Branch had also issued an Information Note in November 2019 which clarified how Regulation 43B should be implemented for new publicly owned or occupied buildings.

Please note, the above does not apply to any building being extended and/or altered or where a building is the subject of a ‘change of use’.

NZEB requirements applicable to ‘all new buildings’:

Information Note: Nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) requirements for new buildings December 2020 - click here 

Information Note: Nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) requirements for new buildings October 2019 - click here