Our buildings are more than just functional spaces. We live, learn and work in them, interact with others and seek shelter from the elements. Ideally, they should also provide us with a place to relax. These factors should all be taken into account when developing spaces in which everyone feels comfortable. Health is a key consideration here. Around 40 per cent of young adults suffer from allergies. However, this is often not taken into account when buildings are planned and constructed. Yet buildings and our built environment as a whole can make an important contribution to ensuring that we remain healthy and productive.
For many years, the DGNB and the Allergy Friendly Buildings Alliance GmbH (AFBA) have shared the vision of promoting healthy buildings as part of a more sustainable construction and property industry and of embedding this vision in society. The special award Allergy-Friendly Building recognises and highlights projects that demonstrably make a special contribution to this cause through a DGNB Certificate combined with an AFBA seal.
The Special award Allergy-Friendly Building is granted to projects that have successfully completed DGNB Certification and have also been awarded the AFBA seal.
The criteria for obtaining a DGNB Certificate are based on the relevant variant of the DGNB System:
- DGNB System for New Construction
- DGNB System for Renovation
- Small Residential Buildings: Renovation / New Construction
- DGNB System for Buildings In Use
All information regarding the requirements for obtaining the AFBA seal is provided by the Allergy Friendly Building Alliance. Find out more
The Special award Allergy-Friendly Building serves as a collective recognition that highlights the close integration of the two systems. Close technical collaboration between the DGNB and the AFBA also brings procedural benefits for projects seeking not only DGNB Certification and the AFBA seal. This is because projects that have provided all the necessary evidence as part of a DGNB Certification – for new construction, for example, particularly in the criterion ENV1.2 Local environmental impact – already have a relevant documentation basis for assessment by the Allergy Friendly Building Alliance.
Furthermore, the DGNB Academy is currently developing training programmes for DGNB Certification expert, who will be able to support clients with both DGNB Certification and submission to the AFBA in future.
The Special award Allergy-Friendly Building is given to projects that have successfully completed DGNB Certification and have also been awarded the AFBA seal. Information on the costs of DGNB Certification can be found in our scale of fees. The Allergy Friendly Building Alliance provides information on the costs of the AFBA seal. There are no additional costs for the special award beyond these standard fees.
Arrange a consultation
Do you have a project where you place particular emphasis on healthy, allergy-friendly construction and are aiming to obtain both a DGNB Certificate and an AFBA seal? We would be happy to provide you with personalised information about the process and answer any questions you may have.
If you have any questions, particularly regarding DGNB certification, simply send an email to Kai Zhang (DGNB) at k.zhang@dgnb.de.
If you have any questions regarding the AFBA seal, please feel free to contact Angela Balatoni (CEO and founder of AFBA).
Further useful links
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The special award is not a certification in its own right, but rather an additional recognition from the DGNB and the AFBA. It is awarded exclusively to projects that have successfully completed DGNB Certification and have also been awarded the AFBA seal by the Allergy Friendly Building Alliance.
Get in touch
Kai Zhang
Senior Consultant Certification Buildings / Serial Certification
- Phone: +49-711-722322-24
- Email: K.ZHANG@DGNB.DE