Building a new home? These EPB energy limits shape the design
A new home in Flanders must reach at least E30 and S28, be ventilated, stay cool enough in summer and use no gas. Your architect designs to these limits from the first sketch.
Flanders · Subject to change
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EPB (energy performance and indoor climate) rules set the limits a new home in Flanders must meet. The limits depend on the year you apply for the permit. For applications from 2025, a new home may reach at most E30 for its overall energy performance (the E-level) and at most S28 for the insulation of its shell (the S-level). S29 to S31 is also allowed if the home reaches E20 or better.
Each part of the shell has its own limit too. Roofs, walls and floors may have a U-value of at most 0.24 W/m²K, and windows at most 1.5, with glass of at most 1.1.
The home also needs a ventilation system, and its overheating indicator must stay below 6,500 Kh. Since 2025 a new home can't get a gas connection. The heating must work at a low temperature (a design flow temperature of at most 45 °C), and central heating with water must reach an installation efficiency of at least 130%. Part of the energy must come from the home's own solar panels or solar water heater.
EPB sets no limit on airtightness, but a measurement done under the official quality framework counts in the calculation. According to vlaanderen.be, you need such a blower-door test to reach a low enough S-level. The EPB-pedia table for your application year has the full list.
Details
| Impact | Indirect · This saves no energy by itself: it is a rule, a service, a contract, or a health or safety item. How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| Estimated saving | Not quantified; the rules set the minimum energy performance of the new home. (confidence: low) |
| Who acts | You (owner) |
| Needs landlord's agreement | No |
| Type | Rules explained |
Do this together with
- Appoint an EPB reporter before building starts, and keep your EPC bouw
- No gas for a new home, so plan its heating around a heat pump or heat network
- A new home must produce some of its own solar energy
- Design a compact new home with shaded windows to the sun and efficient ventilation
- Make the house airtight when you renovate, and have it measured
Sources
- EPB-eisen bij bouwaanvraag/melding vanaf 2025 (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
- Maximale U-waarden (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
- Nieuwe EPB-eisen voor nieuwbouw en renovatie (brochure, maart 2026) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (official source) · checked on
- EPB-eisen (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
- Luchtdichtheid (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on