Do you know the modifications of the CTE HE 1 Limitation of energy demand?

Due to the new guidelines on sustainability, efficiency, and environmental respect established by the European Union, the Technical Building Code has been reviewed. This review resulted in the modification of two of its sections: the Section HE 1 Limitation of energy demand and the HS 3 Indoor air quality. Such modifications were reflected in the BOE of June 23. In this article, we explain the reasons why the first section (HE 1) has been reviewed and modified.

Reasons for the modification of the CTE HE 1

In 2016, the merger of European regulations on energy efficiency was authorized, in order to create a common environment to promote and stimulate public policies in this area within the Union. This forced the review of the Technical Building Code in its sections HE 1 and HS 3.

At the time of its entry into force (2006), the Technical Building Code already showed contradictions. On one hand, it allowed the installation of external frames with fixed openings or ventilators that acted as "admission openings". These frames were classified within class 1. On the other hand, it required compliance with the demands of HE 1 Limitation of energy demand. This is where the contradiction lay, as a class 1 frame does not meet the demand in certain areas of Spanish territory. The contradiction was emphasized when addressing the CTE DB HR Protection against noise, as compliance with this requirement led to the installation of class 4 frames. These, being highly hermetic frames, do not allow air to pass, which violates the requirement of HS 3.

Main modifications of the CTE DB HE 1

The most important modification of the CTE concerning sustainability and energy efficiency is that it includes, for the first time, the term "Nearly Zero Energy Building". The inclusion of this term is a demonstration of the influence of the guidelines issued by the European Union. These guidelines establish that by the year 2018, all newly built buildings whose financing comes from public funds must be nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Regardless of the source of their investment, by 2010 they all must be.

Other modifications of the CTE DB HE 1 Limitation of energy demand affect protected buildings and non-residential industrial agricultural and defense buildings. In the case of the former, it specifies that those officially protected, as part of a declared environment (or for reasons of architectural or historical value), it will be the specialized authority in protection who decrees the elements that remain unchanged if the adaptation is for energy efficiency reasons. In the case of the latter, the modification establishes that those spaces in such buildings that do not need to ensure thermal comfort conditions (workshops and spaces intended for industrial processes) will have the classification of low energy demand.