Key Indicators & Decisions (KI&Ds) – Finland – 2020

01.01

Definition of public buildings (according to article 9 b)

No definition.

In relation to article 9, public buildings do not differ from other buildings. All requirements set for new buildings apply.

01.02

Definition of public buildings used by the public (according to article 13)

A public building, in relation to article 13, is a building where an authority provides public services in premises frequently visited by the public.

The definition of an authority; a legal organ with task and powers based on legal norms. These consist of both state and municipal authorities, state, and municipal institutions as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church.  Legislated state enterprises as well as municipal enterprises are considered public institutions.

01.03

Number of residential buildings

1,300,528

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

01.04

Number of non-residential buildings

229,946

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

01.05

If possible, share of public buildings included in the number given in 01.04

32,767

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, includes only public service buildings (institutional buildings, buildings for assembly and educational buildings) (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

01.06

If possible, share of commercial buildings included in the number given in 01.04

134,034

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, includes shop buildings, office buildings, industrial buildings, and warehouses. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

01.07

Number of buildings constructed per year (estimate)

36,148

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, completed buildings and dwellings. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

Yearly average based on 2016-2018 (residential buildings are calculated by number of dwellings/apartments).

01.08

If possible, share of residential buildings constructed per year (estimate, included in the number given in 01.07)

98% or 35,514

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, completed buildings and dwellings. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

Yearly average based on 2016-2018 (residential buildings are calculated by number of dwellings/apartments).

01.09

If possible, share of non-residential buildings constructed per year (estimate, included in the number given in 01.07)

2% or 499

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, completed buildings and dwellings. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

Yearly average based on 2016-2018

01.10

Useful floor area of buildings constructed per year in million square meters (estimate)

Not available. Only building volume (m³) is recorded. Yearly average building volume of all completed buildings (residential and non-residential) is 36 Million m³.

Statistical Yearbook of Finland, 2019, Statistics Finland, completed buildings. (Number of buildings at the end of 2018)

Yearly average based on 2016-2018.

02.01

Are building codes set as overall value, primary energy, environment (CO₂), reference building or other

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

Building code includes requirements for energy performance whereas the act includes NZEB requirements.

02.02

Requirements for energy performance of residential buildings in current building code

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

The maximum values depend on the building type and, for single‐family houses, also on the area of the building.

Calculations include also thermal comfort requirements, indoor‐air quality requirements and airtightness, thermal bridges and shading devices.

Please note that these requirements equal NZEB requirements.

See Table 3.

02.03

Requirements for energy performance of non-residential commercial buildings in current building code

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

The maximum values depend on the building type and, for single‐family houses, also on the area of the building.

Calculations include also thermal comfort requirements, indoor‐air quality requirements and airtightness, thermal bridges, and shading devices.

Please note that these requirements equal NZEB requirements.

See Table 3.

02.04

Requirements for energy performance of non-residential public buildings in current building code

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

The maximum values depend on the building type and, for single‐family houses, also on the area of the building.

Calculations include also thermal comfort requirements, indoor‐air quality requirements and airtightness, thermal bridges and shading devices.

02.05

Is the performance level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for new buildings defined in national legislation?

Yes.

Ministry of the Environment Decree on the energy efficiency of new buildings 2017 (1010/2017).

02.06

Nearly zero energy (NZEB) level for residential buildings (level for building code)

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

Please note that these requirements act as NZEB requirements.

See Table 3.

02.07

Year / date for nearly zero energy (NZEB) as level for residential buildings (as indicated in 02.04)

1.1.2018

02.08

Nearly zero energy (NZEB) level for all non-residential buildings (level for building code)

Requirements are given as a fixed value (kWh_E/m² ‐ primary energy).

The National Building Code of 2018 sets maximum values for overall energy consumption (E‐values) calculated using the weighting factors (see Table 3).

Please note that these requirements act as NZEB requirements.

See Table 3.

02.09

Year / date for nearly zero energy (NZEB) as level for non-residential buildings (as indicated in 02.06)

1.1.2018

02.10

Are nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) defined using a carbon or environment indicator?

No

02.11

Is renewable energy a part of the overall or an additional requirement?

Partly as part of the overall requirement.

The Building Code encourages the use of renewable energy sources and district heating, which have better weighting factors than other energy sources. Other renewable sources (e.g., solar heat and power) are taken into account when calculating a building's primary energy needs. (Weighting factors, see Table 2)

02.12

If renewable energy is an additional requirement to NZEB, please indicate level

02.13

Specific comfort criteria for new buildings, provide specific parameters for instance for airtightness, minimum ventilation rates

Minimum outdoor air flows set. See Table 1.

For new buildings, the minimum requirements for the outdoor air flows are given in the Ministry of the Environment Decree on the indoor climate and ventilation of new buildings 2017 (1009/2017).

Requirements are also given for room temperature planning values and air leakage values.

03.01

Is the level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing buildings set in national legislation?

Yes

03.02

Is the level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing buildings similar to the level for new buildings?

Yes

03.03

Definition of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing residential buildings (if different from new buildings)

na

03.04

Definition of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing non-residential buildings (if different from new buildings)

na

03.05

Overall minimum requirements in case of major-renovation

There are different formulae to be applied for calculating the building's specific total energy consumption requirement (E-value, kWh/m²), when the design and execution of the improvements in the building's energy efficiency are based on reducing energy consumption in the building's standard use (alternative 3):

1) Single-family homes, row and chain houses, small apartment buildings: E-required ≤ 0.8 x E-calculated

2) Apartment buildings: E-required ≤ 0.85 x E-calculated

3) Office buildings: E-required ≤ 0.7 x E-calculated

4) Education buildings: E-required ≤ 0.8 x E-calculated

5) Day care centre: E-required ≤ 0.8 x E-calculated

6) Commercial buildings: E-required ≤ 0.7 x E-calculated

7) Commercial accommodation buildings: E-required ≤ 0.7 x E-calculated

8) Sports halls, does not apply to indoor ice rinks and swimming pools: E-required ≤ 0.8 x E-calculated

9) Hospitals: E-required ≤ 0.8 x E-calculated

10) Other buildings: sections 4 and 7 to be applied

03.06

Minimum requirements for individual building parts in case of renovation

Energy efficiency requirements for each building element, see values in Table 5.

The following requirements for the technical systems of a building apply:

1) The amount of heat recovered from the exhaust air of building ventilation shall correspond to at least 45% of the amount of heat required for ventilation heating.

2) The specific electric power of a mechanical supply and exhaust air system shall not exceed 2.0 kW/(m³/s).

3) The specific electric power of a mechanical exhaust air system shall not exceed 1.0 kW/(m³/s).

4) The specific electric power of a ventilation system shall not exceed 2.5 kW/(m³/s).

5) When replacing equipment and systems, the efficiency of heating systems must be improved regarding the parts being replaced. After the replacement, the ratio between the efficiencies of the main heat production system of the building and the main heat distribution system of the premises shall be at least 0.8. The annual efficiency of the heat production system or the heat distribution system shall be at least 0.73. When the main replaced heating system of a building is a heat pump, the ratio of the Seasonal Performance Factor SPF[1] of the heat pump and the efficiency of the heat distribution system in the premises shall be at least 2.4. The specific electrical energy consumption of the accessories of a replaced heat distribution system shall be no more than 2.5 kWh/net m² (per heated net surface area).

6) When replacing water and/or sewage systems, the regulations on new construction shall apply.

[1] Where Coefficient of Performance (COP) gives us efficiency of a heat pump at any given time, Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) gives us the same but for annual performance of the heat pump.

03.07

National targets for renovation in connection to Long Term Renovation Strategy (number or percentage of buildings)

na

Baseline for calculation is the existing building stock of 2020. Targets are not related to the number or percentage of buildings. The existing building stock of 2020 (100%) is estimated to be only 70% by 2050.

03.08

National targets for renovation in connection to Long Term Renovation Strategy (expected reductions and relevant years)

Residential and non-residential buildings total, heating energy consumption (gross) compared to 2020: 100% (2020), 78% (2030), 64% (2040) and 51% (2050).

Residential and non-residential buildings total, heating energy consumption (delivered energy) compared to 2020: 100% (2020), 70% (2030) 51% (2040), and 38% (2050).

Residential and non-residential buildings total, CO₂ emissions compared to 2020: 100% (2020), 37% (2030), 19% (2040), and 8% (2050).

According to the roadmap laid out in the Finnish LTRS, the reduction of energy consumption (gross) is 55%, compared to the heating energy consumption of buildings in 2005.

The heating energy consumption (gross) will be reduced by 50 % by 2050 compared to 2020.

The expected consumption of delivered heating energy will be reduced approximately by 60 % by 2050 compared to 2020.

The CO₂ emissions from the heating energy consumption of the building stock will be reduced by 92% in the period 2020-2050.

04.01

Number of energy performance certificates per year (for instance average or values for of 3-5 years)

27,710

Yearly average based on EPC database (2015-2019).

04.02

Number of EPCs since start of scheme

138,548

Number of EPCs since 1.5.2015 (When the national database was established)

04.03

Number of EPCs for different building types

Single-family homes
(both new buildings and existing buildings): 72,043

Row houses
(both new buildings and existing buildings): 17,084

Apartment buildings
(both new buildings and existing buildings): 14,107

Number of EPCs by building type, categories with most EPCs. Figures at the end of 2019.

04.04

Number of assessors

1,181 qualified experts, of which 821 with base level qualifications and 360 with higher level qualifications

Registration is mandatory. Figures at the end of 2019.

04.05

Basic education requirements for assessors

The expert must have suitable training and education background (e.g., a degree in building technology or architecture or, for the higher level, a master's degree in building technology or related field).

The education background can be compensated with work experience.

The qualification has to be approved by a test administered by the accreditation body. Qualification and accreditation for qualified experts is the same for all building types, public and private.

04.06

Additional training demands for assessors

No.

04.07

Quality assurance system

The Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA) is the administrative authority ensuring the quality of certificates and qualified experts and the appropriate preparation and use of the certificates. As the responsible authority, it can also make compliance checks of issued certificates.

ARA partly checks the data input of building information, the accuracy of the presented calculations, and the appropriateness of suggestions given for improving energy efficiency.

Additionally, the ARA can initiate enforcement measures in case of negligence on the part of the building owner or the qualified expert. Measures are administrative, not penal, and include requests, warnings, orders, conditional fines, and in case of the qualified expert, suspension/stripping of rights to issue energy certificates.

The requirements on EPC display are also controlled by the ARA. 

04.08

National database for EPCs

Yes

Database established 1.5.2015.

04.09

Link to national information on EPCs / Database

www.energiatodistusrekisteri.fi

05.01

Is there a national definition of smart buildings?

No

Status at the end of 2019 

05.02

Are there current support systems for smart buildings?

No

Status at the end of 2019

05.03

Are there currently specific requirements for technical building systems (for instance in building codes)?

Yes

National Building Code

05.04

Are there current requirements for automatics (for instance in building codes)?

No

Status at the end of 2019

05.05

Chosen option A or B for heating systems (inspection or other measures)

Model B, alternative measures

Status at the end of 2019

05.06

Number of heating inspections; reports per year (if option A)

na

05.07

Chosen option A or B for cooling systems (inspection or other measures)

Model B, alternative measures

Status at the end of 2019

05.08

Number of air-conditioning / cooling system inspections; reports per year (if option A)

na

05.09

Is there a national database for heating inspections?

No

05.10

Is there a national database for cooling / air-conditioning inspections?

No

05.11

Are inspection databases combined with EPC databases for registration of EPCs and inspection reports?

No

05.12

Link to national information on Inspection / Database

na