S.I. No. 195/2026 - European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) (No. 2) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations shall be included in the collective citation Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012 to 2026.

(3) These Regulations shall come into operation on 24

th

day of May 2026.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations—

“BER certificate” has the meaning given to it in Regulation 3(1) of the Principal Regulations;

“BER record” has the meaning given to it in Regulation 3(1) of the Principal Regulations;

“Principal Regulations” means the European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2012 (

S.I. No. 243 of 2012

).

PART 2

ISSUE OF BER CERTIFICATES FOR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN DWELLINGS

Amendment of Regulation 3 of Principal Regulations

3. Regulation 3(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by the insertion of the following definition

“ ‘ZEB Renovate’ means a renovated building with a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Annex I to the Directive, requiring zero or a very low amount of energy, producing zero on-site carbon emissions from fossil fuels and producing zero or a very low amount of operational greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with Part 4A;”.

Amendment of Regulation 11 of Principal Regulations

4. Regulation 11 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (4)

“(5) The building energy rating classes for the building types specified in column (1) of Schedule 6 shall be—

(a) less than or equal to the number set out in columns (2) to (8), or

(b) greater than the number set out in column (9),

as the case may be, opposite that entry in column (1).

(6) The building energy rating threshold for ZEB Renovate for the building types specified in column (1) of Schedule 6 shall be not greater than the number set out in column (10) opposite that entry in column (1).”.

PART 3

AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULES TO PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS

Amendment of Schedule 3 to Principal Regulations

5. The Principal Regulations are amended by the substitution of the schedule set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations for the schedule in Schedule 3 to the Principal Regulations.

Amendment of Schedule 4 to Principal Regulations

6. The Principal Regulations are amended by the substitution of the schedule set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations for the schedule in Schedule 4 to the Principal Regulations.

Insertion of Schedule 6 to Principal Regulations

7. The Principal Regulations are amended by the insertion, after Schedule 5, of the schedule set out in the Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

PART 4

FINAL PROVISION

Transitional provision

8. In respect of a building other than a dwelling, a—

(a) BER certificate generated or issued, or

(b) BER record created,

on a date before the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations shall continue to be valid after that second-mentioned date notwithstanding the coming into operation of these Regulations.

SCHEDULE 1

Regulation 5

“SCHEDULE 3

Regulation 11(1), (2) & (3)

FORM OF BUILDING ENERGY RATING (BER) FOR A BUILDING OTHER THAN A DWELLING

”.

SCHEDULE 2

Regulation 6

“SCHEDULE 4

Regulation 11(1) & (3)

FORM OF PROVISIONAL BUILDING ENERGY RATING (BER) FOR NEW BUILDING OTHER THAN A DWELLING

”.

”.

SCHEDULE 3

Regulation 7

“SCHEDULE 6

Regulation 11(5) & (6)

TOTAL PRIMARY ENERGY THRESHOLDS (kWh/(m

2

.y)) FOR BUIDING ENERGY RATING CLASSES FOR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN DWELLINGS

Building Type

Energy Rating A0

Energy Rating A

Energy Rating B

Energy Rating C

Energy Rating D

Energy Rating E

Energy Rating F

Energy Rating G

ZEB Renovate Threshold

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Residential Institutions -Universities and colleges

70

140

280

420

560

700

840

840

155

Emergency services

275

350

700

1050

1400

1750

2100

2100

605

General Assembly and Leisure plus Night Clubs and Theatres

140

185

370

555

740

925

1110

1110

310

General Industrial and Special Industrial Groups

115

175

350

525

700

875

1050

1050

255

Hotels

190

270

540

810

1080

1350

1620

1620

310

Non-residential Institutions – Community / Day Centre

85

110

220

330

440

550

660

660

190

Non-residential Institutions - Libraries Museums and Galleries

90

140

280

420

560

700

840

840

200

Non-residential Institutions - Primary Health Care Building

70

120

240

360

480

600

720

720

155

Offices and Workshop businesses

40

120

240

360

480

600

720

720

90

Others –Miscellaneous 24hr activities

500

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

6000

1100

Others - Passenger terminals

90

170

340

510

680

850

1020

1020

200

Residential Institutions - Care Homes

110

205

410

615

820

1025

1230

1230

240

Residential Institutions - Hospitals

210

300

520

740

960

1180

1400

1400

305

Residential spaces

65

125

250

375

500

625

750

750

145

Restaurant and Cafes/Drinking Establishments and Hot Food takeaways

160

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1500

350

Retail and Financial/Professional services

70

180

360

540

720

900

1080

1080

190

Schools

30

60

120

180

240

300

360

360

50

Secure Residential Institutions

105

230

460

690

920

1150

1380

1380

230

Storage or Distribution

50

175

350

525

700

875

1050

1050

110

”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

7 May, 2026.

JAMES BROWNE,

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(

This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.

)

These Regulations transpose Article 19(2) of Directive 2024/1275 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 24 April 2024 into the law of the State. The Regulations provide that on, and from, 24 May 2026, a new category of building energy rating (A0) corresponding to zero emissions buildings shall be introduced for buildings other than dwellings. The existing alpha numerical system from A1 to G will be simplified to use only letters and the previous subdivisions shall no longer apply. A ‘ZEB Renovate’ indicator is being introduced for renovated buildings. Additional metrics relating to energy usage, global warming potential and greenhouse gases will be reported on the new BER certificates issued.

1 OJ No. L 2024/1275, 08.05.2024.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of

12

th May,

2026.

I, JAMES BROWNE, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 3

of the

European Communities Act 1972

(No. 27 of 1972) for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of Article 19(2) of, and Annex V to, Directive (EU) 2024/1275 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024

1

, hereby make the following regulations

PART 1

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL

Citation, collective citation and commencement