The new Spanish standard on thermal building regulation

Eva Cuerva, Industrial Engineer & Dr. Eng. Pere Alavedra, Construction Engineering Department Professor & Mauricio Torres, Architect, construction engineering PhD candidate, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya & Carla Planas, Industrial Engineer, Grupo J

Nowadays buildings consume 20% of the final energy in Spain, which supposes a whole of approximately 242.290 GWh/annual. This high consumption represents a problem impossible to assume long-term without considering saving measures and energy efficiency as basic issues toward a sustainable development. A reform of the Spanish building regulation came through the new Código Técnico de la Edificación (Building Technician Normative). It promises a 30-40% saving on building energy consumption.

A building was simulated on the indicated software tools prescribed by the new standard - Líder and CALENER. Results indicated the energy savings to be achieved by the building systems.

An advantage presented by the new Standard regarding the previous regulation is its performance accomplishment character. There are no prescriptive rules to be followed on achieving energy limitations goals. It supports technological innovation on building systems and materials, boosting sector competition and efficiency.

Therefore, we believe that the new Standard in Spain improves the quality of its buildings, while advancing towards criteria unification within European regulations, supporting innovation and knowledge transfer between countries.

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