EN ISO 52018-1:2017 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 52018-1:2017 - "Energy performance of buildings - Indicators for partial EPB requirements related to thermal energy balance and fabric features - Part 1: Overview of options" describes how to use partial Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) indicators that focus on the building fabric and the building’s thermal energy balance. It helps convert the many outputs of EPB assessment methods into structured, transparent partial requirements for heating, cooling and thermal comfort (including risks of overheating or too-cold indoor temperatures). The standard provides non‑restrictive reporting tables and templates that support regulatory flexibility and consistent “post‑processing” of EPB outputs.

Key topics

• Partial EPB indicators related to:
  • Thermal energy balance (heating needs, cooling needs, free-floating temperatures)
  • Fabric features of the thermal envelope (insulation, element performance)
• Thermal comfort considerations:
  • Summer overheating risk
  • Winter cold indoor conditions
• Thermal envelope elements:
  • Overall envelope insulation
  • Insulation of individual components (walls, roofs, floors)
  • Thermal bridges
  • Window energy performance
  • Airtightness and solar control
• Energy need metrics:
  • Energy need for heating and for cooling (and variants)
  • Combination of “needs” for mixed performance requirements
• Quality control and compliance:
  • Templates for reporting choices (Annex A normative template; Annex B informative defaults)
  • Procedures for compliance checks and quality assurance
• Support materials:
  • Annex C for regional references and alignment with ISO global relevance policy

Applications

• Regulators and policymakers - adopt mandatory choices from the standard’s templates to define national or regional partial EPB requirements while preserving flexibility.
• Energy assessors and certifiers - use the standardized reporting tables to document and justify partial‑requirement decisions and compliance outcomes.
• Architects and building designers - evaluate fabric-related measures and thermal-balance indicators during design to reduce overheating and heating/cooling needs.
• Building owners and developers - compare options for retrofits or new builds using consistent partial indicators produced by EPB assessment tools.

Practical value

• Enables consistent, transparent translation of EPB tool outputs into partial regulatory requirements.
• Facilitates targeted interventions (improving insulation, windows, airtightness, solar control) by linking them to specific thermal-balance indicators.
• Supports evidence‑based decision making across design, certification and policy processes.

Related standards

• ISO 52000-1 (modular context and overall EPB methodology)
• Other parts of the ISO 52018 series and the wider EPB standards set
• EU Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD) - EN ISO 52018-1:2017 supports EPBD objectives and national transposition

Keywords: EN ISO 52018-1:2017, energy performance of buildings, EPB indicators, thermal energy balance, fabric features, overheating, thermal comfort, insulation, airtightness, thermal bridges, building regulation.