Laboratory buildings are highly complex in their requirements – in addition to offices, preparation or analytical laboratories, they can also include clean rooms, workshops or rooms for animal husbandry. The safety aspect is particularly important in laboratories to prevent harmful substances from escaping into the environment. Depending on the type of laboratory building, an operating, safety and waste concept or even an explosion protection concept may be necessary. Since a high proportion of process energy is also generated during operation in addition to normal energy requirements, optimising energy consumption is also of particular importance.
The DGNB has developed the scheme for laboratory buildings together with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs to ensure the quality of these demanding buildings.
For laboratory buildings, there is currently no DGNB System available in English or for international certification. However, DGNB Auditors with German language skills can combine and adapt the full range of current German schemes with DGNB System "New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International" in order to certify other building types.
- Contribution to climate action through reduced emissions of greenhouse gases over the entire life cycle
- Increased attractiveness for employees
- Increased productivity and performance of employees
- Safe and healthy working environment
- High building flexibility due to e.g. easier adaptations in case of changes (operating processes; personnel)
- Long-term usability
- Lower costs for conversions
- Lower operating and maintenance costs
- Advantages when selling real estate
- Holistic consideration of all relevant sustainability requirements
- Transparent and independent quality award and assurance during planning, construction and operation
- Transparency with regard to ressource efficency and emissions
- Communication of the project to the public and increase of acceptance
- Basis for sale in sustainable real estate funds
- Certification as an option for sustainable investments
- Contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- High value stability
- Higher return on investment
- High degree of future security through reduction of cost-intensive risks
The scheme takes into account the special features of sustainable laboratory buildings. In addition to ecological, social and economic aspects, there is a focus here on comprehensive safety concepts.
The scheme was developed jointly by the DGNB and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. If a project is submitted to the DGNB for certification, the two DGNB Criteria "ENV 1.2 Local environmental impact" and "SOC2.1 Design for all" must be applied instead of the "Risiken für die lokale Umwelt (1.1.6)" and "Barrierefreiheit (3.2.1)" mentioned in the BNB profile.
Project registration
To register a project, clients must first hire a DGNB Auditor. This auditor can then register the project. Auditors also accompany the entire process and take over the verification and submission to the DGNB. They are active worldwide and specialise in certain schemes.
For laboratory buildings, there is currently no DGNB System available in English or for international certification. However, DGNB Auditors with German language skills can combine and adapt the full range of current German schemes with the DGNB System "New Construction of Buildings, Version 2020 International" in order to certify other building types.
Your contact
Karen Sternsdorff
Senior Consultant Certification Buildings
- Phone: +49-711-722322-33
- Email: k.sternsdorff@dgnb.de