DIN EN 16798-1:2022-03

Planning and Assessing Indoor Environmental Quality for Energy-Efficient Buildings

DIN EN 16798-1 specifies indoor environmental input parameters for the design and assessment of the energy performance of buildings. It describes requirements for indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics and supports the planning of energy-efficient buildings as well as the design of heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting systems. The standard forms part of the European framework for the energy performance of buildings (EPB) and replaces the former EN 15251.

What is DIN EN 16798-1 about?

The standard defines criteria for indoor environmental quality in residential and non-residential buildings. It provides input parameters for the design of heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting systems and for assessing the energy performance of buildings. It focuses on comfort categories, outdoor airflow rates, temperature requirements, humidity, lighting and acoustic requirements. In addition, the standard describes methods for assessing indoor air quality and thermal comfort as well as criteria for low-pollutant buildings.

Topics covered

• Input parameters for assessing the energy performance of buildings
• Indoor air quality and outdoor airflow rates
• Thermal comfort and comfort categories
• Operative room temperatures for heating and cooling periods
• Humidity and moisture criteria
• Lighting and daylight requirements
• Acoustic requirements and indoor noise levels
• Criteria for low-pollutant buildings and air quality
• Occupancy profiles and input data for energy calculations

Practical relevance

Indoor environmental quality affects not only a building’s energy performance but also the health, well-being and productivity of its occupants. DIN EN 16798-1 provides a consistent basis for this and helps planners assess ventilation, heating, cooling, lighting and indoor comfort holistically.

The standard is particularly relevant to the design of energy-efficient buildings and building services systems. It supports the definition of transparent comfort and quality requirements, thereby providing an important basis for assessing energy performance and indoor environmental quality.

Changes compared with DIN EN 16798-1:2021-04

The 2022 edition was updated only to a limited extent compared with the previous edition. The main change was the integration of content from the national annex to draft E DIN EN 16798-1/NA:2021-06. The document was also revised editorially.

Target audience

• Building services (MEP) planners
• Ventilation, heating and air-conditioning engineers
• Energy consultants
• Architects
• Building energy efficiency specialists
• Experts and inspection bodies
• Operators of residential and non-residential buildings
• Engineering and planning firms

Conclusion

DIN EN 16798-1 provides the fundamental input parameters for assessing energy performance and designing building services systems. It supports the planning of comfortable, energy-efficient and occupant-focused buildings and forms an important part of the European EPB framework.

This document replaces DIN EN 16798-1:2021-04 .