DGNB Status 2026: The Rating System at a Glance

The German Society for Sustainable Building (DGNB) has undertaken the most comprehensive revision of its certification system to date with version 2026. The focus is on mandatory life cycle assessment (LCA) for all new construction projects as well as the introduction of an "Ambitious Climate Protection Roadmap" for buildings that cannot yet be operated net-greenhouse gas neutral at the time of completion. The DGNB System 2026 evaluates sustainability across six subject areas: ecology, economics, sociocultural and functional quality, technology, process, and location. The weighting of subject areas was adjusted in 2026: ENV1.1 (life cycle inventories) is now a mandatory criterion, ENV1.2 requires compliance with a defined quality level for Global Warming Potential (GWP). Unlike LEED and BREEAM, which are primarily based on yes/no compliance, the DGNB system works with a differentiated rating score of 0-100 percent per criterion.

For project developers and building owners, this means: pure focus on energy efficiency is no longer sufficient. The embodied energy of building materials, deconstruction ability, material origin, and circular economy capability are weighted equally. Companies such as Heidelberg Materials, Holcim, and Wienerberger have responded and now offer product-specific EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) with detailed GWP values. Knauf, Rockwool, and Steico provide insulation products with demonstrable Lambda values (λ ≤ 0.035 W/mK) and low embodied carbon values (< 5 kg CO₂-eq/kg). Steel manufacturers such as SSAB and Salzgitter are investing in fossil-free produced steel (GWP < 0.4 kg CO₂-eq/kg compared to conventional ~2.0 kg CO₂-eq/kg). Stora Enso positions wood building materials with negative GWP values through biogenic carbon storage.

The market share of DGNB-certified buildings in the DACH region in 2026 is approximately 18 percent of all commercial new construction over 5,000 m² GFA, with an upward trend. The number of licensed DGNB auditors exceeded 4,200 people worldwide in 2025, of which approximately 2,900 are in the DACH region.

DGNB Rating System: Subject Areas and Criteria

The DGNB System 2026 is divided into six subject areas, each weighted differently. In total, there are approximately 40 criterion sheets, each individually rated with 0-10 points. The weighting and number of criteria vary depending on the usage profile (office, residential, commercial, district).

Ecology Subject Area (ENV) – Weighting approx. 22.5%

ENV1.1 – Building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Mandatory criterion. Environmental impacts are evaluated over the entire life cycle in modules A1-A3 (production), A4-A5 (construction), B4 (replacement), B6 (operational energy), C3-C4 (disposal), and D (recycling potential) according to DIN EN 15978. Rating variables: GWP (Global Warming Potential in kg CO₂-eq/m²a), ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential), AP (Acidification Potential), EP (Eutrophication Potential), POCP (Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential), PENRT (non-renewable primary energy).

ENV1.2 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions over Life Cycle: Compliance with defined quality levels for GWP. As of 2026: New office/administration buildings max. 18 kg CO₂-eq/m²a (quality level 1), max. 24 kg CO₂-eq/m²a (quality level 2). If not met: submission of an "Ambitious Climate Protection Roadmap" with concrete measures and timeline for net-zero operation.

ENV2.1 – Risks to Local Environment: Assessment of soil, water, and air. Avoidance of pollutant emissions during construction and operation phases. Relevance: contaminated sites, groundwater protection, soil sealing.

ENV2.2 – Sustainable Material Sourcing: Share of certified materials (FSC, PEFC for wood; recycling content for steel, concrete). Wienerberger bricks with at least 10% recycling content, Holcim concrete with at least 30% cement clinker substitution through blast furnace slag or fly ash.

Economics Subject Area (ECO) – Weighting approx. 22.5%

ECO1.1 – Life Cycle Costs (LCC): Calculation according to DIN 18960. Investment costs (cost groups 300, 400 per DIN 276), operating costs over 50 years (energy, water, cleaning, maintenance), demolition costs. Benchmark: costs ≤ reference value of the usage profile.

ECO2.1 – Value Stability: Alternative usability, space efficiency (ratio NUF/GFA ≥ 0.75 for offices), adaptability for reuse (modular grids, variable partition walls).

Sociocultural and Functional Quality Subject Area (SOC) – Weighting approx. 22.5%

SOC1.1 – Thermal Comfort: Compliance with DIN EN 16798-1 Category II (operative temperature winter 20-24°C, summer 23-26°C). Proof through thermal simulation or simplified procedure.

SOC1.2 – Indoor Air Quality: VOC emissions (TVOC < 1000 µg/m³ after 28 days according to AgBB scheme), CO₂ concentration < 1000 ppm in operation. Material selection: low-emission flooring, wall paints, adhesives.

SOC1.7 – Visual Comfort: Daylight factor ≥ 2% in at least 60% of usable area, glare and reflection protection, color rendering index Ra ≥ 80 for artificial light.

Technology Subject Area (TEC) – Weighting approx. 22.5%

TEC1.1 – Fire Safety: Exceeding statutory minimum requirements. Use of non-combustible building materials (A1, A2-s1,d0 according to DIN EN 13501-1) in critical areas. Rockwool mineral wool (A1), Knauf gypsum boards (A2-s1,d0).

TEC1.6 – Deconstruction Ability and Recycling: Separability of building components, material passport (mandatory since 2026 for Gold/Platinum), use of sorted materials. SSAB steel: 100% recyclable, identical properties after re-melting.

Process Subject Area (PRO) – Weighting approx. 10%

PRO1.1 – Quality of Project Preparation: Sustainability concept in pre-planning phase (HOAI Lph 1-2), integral planning, target definition with measurable KPIs.

PRO2.1 – Construction Site / Construction Process: Waste management, noise protection, air quality maintenance, drinking water protection on construction site. Documentation of disposal certificates according to KrWG.

Location Subject Area (SITE) – Not rated, but documented

Microsite: infrastructure, public transport connection, noise exposure, open space quality. No direct point allocation, but influence on overall rating through context factors.

Points Logic: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum

DGNB certification awards four quality levels based on the overall fulfillment rate in percent. Each criterion is rated with 0-10 points, weighted, and aggregated into an overall score.

Certificate Level Overall Fulfillment Rate Minimum Requirements Typical Market Position 2026
Platinum ≥ 80% ENV1.1 + ENV1.2 met, material passport complete, at least 3 criteria with ≥ 90% fulfillment Premium offices, flagship projects, approx. 8% of DGNB certificates
Gold ≥ 65% ENV1.1 met, ENV1.2 quality level 2 or climate protection roadmap, material passport for load-bearing structure Standard for ESG investors, approx. 45% of DGNB certificates
Silver ≥ 50% ENV1.1 met, climate protection roadmap if ENV1.2 not met Entry-level new construction, approx. 35% of DGNB certificates
Bronze ≥ 35% ENV1.1 met Rarely for new construction, more frequent for existing building certification, approx. 12%

Calculation Example Office New Construction 8,500 m² GFA: Assumed ratings: ENV (ecology) 72%, ECO (economics) 68%, SOC (sociocultural) 75%, TEC (technology) 65%, PRO (process) 80%. Weighted calculation: (72% × 0.225) + (68% × 0.225) + (75% × 0.225) + (65% × 0.225) + (80% × 0.10) = 16.2% + 15.3% + 16.9% + 14.6% + 8.0% = 71.0%. Result: Gold certificate.

Critical for achieving high scores: ENV1.1 (life cycle assessment) allows maximum 10 points at GWP ≤ 12 kg CO₂-eq/m²a (new office construction). Typical values 2026: solid construction (concrete/brick) without optimization 28-35 kg CO₂-eq/m²a, wood hybrid construction 8-15 kg CO₂-eq/m²a, solid wood construction 2-8 kg CO₂-eq/m²a (incl. biogenic storage). Stora Enso CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) achieves -18 kg CO₂-eq/m³ (negative through biogenic storage > production emissions).

Life Cycle Assessment as Mandatory Element

Since version 2026, life cycle assessment (LCA) according to DIN EN 15978 is mandatory for all DGNB new construction certifications. The assessment is conducted for a 50-year evaluation period. The following modules must be accounted for:

  • Module A1-A3 (Production): Raw material extraction, transport, production. Main impact: concrete (GWP 150-320 kg CO₂-eq/m³), steel (1,800-2,200 kg CO₂-eq/t conventional, 300-500 kg CO₂-eq/t SSAB fossil-free), insulation (mineral wool 1.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg, EPS 3.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg, wood fiber -0.8 kg CO₂-eq/kg).
  • Module A4-A5 (Construction): Transport to construction site, installation, construction site operations. Typically 5-12% of total GWP.
  • Module B4 (Replacement): Replacement of building components with service life < 50 years. Windows (service life 35 years), flooring (service life 15-25 years), building services (service life 15-25 years). Impact: 15-25% of total GWP.
  • Module B6 (Operational Energy): Heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting over 50 years. Assessment with primary energy factors according to GEG 2024 (electricity fp = 1.8; district heating fp = 0.7-1.3; gas fp = 1.1). For passive house (heating demand ≤ 15 kWh/m²a), B6 share drops to < 30% of total GWP.
  • Module C3-C4 (Disposal): Demolition, landfilling, incineration. Wood: energy recovery +0.05 kg CO₂-eq/kg, concrete: recycling to RC aggregate -2 kg CO₂-eq/m³.
  • Module D (Credits): Recycling potential, reuse. Steel: -1,200 kg CO₂-eq/t at 100% recycling, wood: up to -1,800 kg CO₂-eq/m³ with cascade use.

DGNB requires the use of life cycle inventory data from verified EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) according to DIN EN 15804+A2. Manufacturers such as Heidelberg Materials (EvoZero concrete with GWP < 100 kg CO₂-eq/m³), Holcim (ECOPact with -30% GWP), Knauf (Diamant gypsum boards with EPD) provide product-specific data. For generic datasets, the ÖKOBAUDAT of the BMWSB is authoritative.

Practice Challenge: Many planning offices underestimate the effort required for LCA. Required: BIM model with mass export (LOD 300 minimum), assignment of EPDs to each building component, software such as eLCA, One Click LCA, or Tally. Time requirement: 80-150 hours for 10,000 m² GFA, depending on building complexity and data quality.

Material Passport and Cradle-to-Cradle Bonus

The material passport has been mandatory for DGNB 2026 for Gold and Platinum certificates. It documents the type, quantity, origin, and recyclability of all installed materials. Goal: enable circular economy, secure secondary raw materials, guarantee deconstruction ability.

Material Passport Content (Minimum Requirements)

  • Building Component Catalog: All load-bearing and non-load-bearing components with material name, manufacturer, product number, installed mass (kg), installation date.
  • Connection Techniques: Documentation of mechanical (reversible: screws, clamps) vs. adhesive connections (non-reversible: gluing, welding). Goal: separability ≥ 80 mass % for recycling.
  • Hazardous Substance Register: Marking of materials with hazardous substances (PVC, flame retardants, HBCD, asbestos in existing buildings). According to REACH regulation, SCIP database.
  • Recycling Potential: Specification of recycling rate (%) according to DIN EN 15804 Module D. Steel 100%, wood 85%, concrete 95% (as RC aggregate), gypsum boards 90%.
  • Digital Availability: BIM integration as IFC dataset or Madaster platform. Export interfaces to deconstruction planning tools.

Cradle-to-Cradle Bonus (C2C)

DGNB awards bonus points for use of C2C-certified products (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum according to Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard). Requirements: Material Health (no CMR substances), Material Reutilization (recycling design), Renewable Energy (production with ≥ 50% renewable energy), Water Stewardship, Social Fairness.

Examples 2026: Steico wood fiber insulation (C2C Silver), Interface carpet tiles (C2C Gold), Desso carpets (C2C Silver). Bonus points in TEC1.6 (deconstruction ability): +1-3 points depending on C2C level and mass share of total building (threshold: ≥ 30 mass % C2C-certified for maximum bonus).

Economic Aspect: Material passport creation costs 8,000-25,000 EUR depending on building size. Amortization through higher selling prices (ESG premium 3-8%) and reduced demolition costs (30-50% lower for planned disassembly vs. conventional demolition).

Costs of DGNB Certification

The total costs of DGNB certification consist of three main items: DGNB system fees, auditor honorarium, and additional planning/documentation effort.

DGNB System Fees (Status 2026)

DGNB charges tiered fees based on gross floor area (GFA). Calculation for pre-certificate + certificate combined:

GFA (m²) Pre-Certificate (EUR) Certificate (EUR) Total (EUR) EUR/m²
< 500 1,800 2,400 4,200 8.40
500 - 2,000 2,500 3,800 6,300 3.15 - 12.60
2,000 - 5,000 3,800 5,800 9,600 1.92 - 4.80
5,000 - 10,000 5,200 7,800 13,000 1.30 - 2.60
10,000 - 20,000 7,200 10,800 18,000 0.90 - 1.80
20,000 - 50,000 10,500 15,800 26,300 0.53 - 1.32
> 50,000 by agreement by agreement ~35,000 - 60,000 0.60 - 0.70

DGNB members receive 15% discount. District certifications: flat rate 18,000-45,000 EUR depending on number of buildings and total area.

Auditor Honorarium

Licensed DGNB auditors support the certification process. Honorarium according to HOAI orientation or daily rates:

  • Small projects (< 2,000 m²): 8,000-15,000 EUR flat rate
  • Standard projects (2,000-10,000 m²): 18,000-45,000 EUR (approx. 1.8-4.5 EUR/m²)
  • Large projects (> 10,000 m²): 50,000-120,000 EUR (approx. 2.5-5.0 EUR/m²)
  • Complex buildings (laboratory, hospital): Surcharge +30-50%

Typical services: sustainability concept (Lph 2), criteria workshops, documentation support, LCA review, submission to DGNB, audit support.

Additional Planning and Documentation Effort

  • Integral Planning: Additional planning rounds, simulation effort (thermal, daylight, LCA). Estimated value: 5-12% of HOAI planning costs Lph 2-5.
  • LCA Creation: 15,000-40,000 EUR externally (from specialized offices) or 80-150 hours internally (with BIM competence).
  • Material Passport: 8,000-25,000 EUR (see above).
  • Additional Measurements: Air tightness test (Blower-Door) 1,500-3,500 EUR, indoor air measurement VOC 2,000-5,000 EUR, thermographic survey 3,000-8,000 EUR.

Total Cost Example Office New Construction 8,500 m² GFA

  • DGNB fees: 13,000 EUR
  • Auditor honorarium: 32,000 EUR
  • LCA creation: 28,000 EUR
  • Material passport: 18,000 EUR
  • Planning effort (8% of 950,000 EUR): 76,000 EUR
  • Measurements: 7,000 EUR
  • Total: 174,000 EUR (20.47 EUR/m²)

Relation to total construction costs: At 3,200 EUR/m² GFA (typical for standard office) this corresponds to 0.64% of construction costs. Return on Investment: ESG premium in market 3-8%, higher rental rates (average +12% faster leased), lower operating costs (-15-25% energy).

Auditor Selection and Process

Selection of qualified DGNB auditors is success-critical. Since 2026, DGNB differentiates between "DGNB Consultant" (pre-certificate) and "DGNB Auditor" (final certificate). Only auditors are permitted to submit final certificates.

DGNB Auditor Qualification Requirements (2026)

  • Completed degree in architecture, civil engineering, MEP, environmental engineering or comparable
  • Minimum 3 years professional experience