EPBD and Zero-Emission Buildings 2030 — How PIR | BOKKA
The European Union is tightening energy performance requirements for buildings. The updated EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), revised in 2024, introduces ambitious targets: all new buildings must be zero-emission by 2030, and existing buildings must reach that standard by 2050. What does this mean in practice for investors and developers? And how does PIR insulation fit into these requirements?
What the EPBD Recast 2024 Says — Key Dates
The EPBD recast (2024/1275) entered into force on 28 May 2024. Member States, including Poland, are obliged to transpose its provisions into national law. The most important deadlines for buildings:
- 2028 — all new public buildings must be zero-emission (ZEB — Zero-Emission Buildings),
- 2030 — the zero-emission requirement extends to all new buildings (residential, commercial, industrial),
- 2050 — full decarbonisation of the existing building stock.
“Zero-emission” in this context means a building with very high energy performance whose remaining small energy demand is covered 100% by renewable sources — photovoltaics, low-carbon district heating, or heat pumps. Without extremely good thermal insulation, these targets cannot be achieved economically.
Challenges for Investors
EPBD means real changes to design and construction practice:
1. Higher Insulation Standards
The existing minimum WT 2021 (e.g. U ≤ 0.15 W/(m²·K) for roofs) will no longer be sufficient. ZEB standards require thermal transmittance (U-value) even 30–40% lower. Achieving this with conventional materials means thicker insulation layers — which translates into greater overall volume, heavier structural loads, and higher costs.
2. Thermal Upgrading of Existing Buildings
Homes built before 2010 typically have poor insulation. Bringing them up to EPBD standards requires a comprehensive energy retrofit — roof, walls, floors, and windows. The higher the lambda of the chosen material, the less living area needs to be “sacrificed”.
3. Audit + Building Energy Passport
EPBD introduces a mandatory renovation passport — a document guiding the owner through a staged plan for modernising the building to zero-emission standard. This changes the logic: insulating a roof in 2026 must be compatible with planned heating system upgrades in 2030, photovoltaics, and heat-recovery ventilation.
PIR Boards — The Natural Choice for EPBD-Compliant Construction
The zero-emission requirement favours materials with the best possible insulation performance. Polyurethane (PIR) is the unrivalled leader in this respect among commonly used materials:
| Material | λ [W/(m·K)] | Thickness for U=0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| PIR boards (termPIR®) | 0.022 | ~22 cm |
| Mineral wool | 0.035 | ~35 cm |
| Polystyrene EPS | 0.031 | ~31 cm |
| Glass wool | 0.038 | ~38 cm |
What does this mean in practice for an EPBD-compliant project?
- Less thickness = greater usable floor area — 4–8 m² more in a single-family home (with a two-layer wall system),
- Lower structural weight — important for above-rafter roof retrofits where rafter load capacity is limited,
- Long-term parameter stability — PIR virtually does not lose its λ value over decades (unlike mineral wool when subjected to moisture),
- Fire reaction class B-s1, d0 — meets fire performance requirements even in multi-family buildings.
What Can You Do Now?
EPBD will not come fully into force overnight, but planning starts today:
- If you are building a home in 2026–2028 — design to ZEB standards from the outset, even if not yet formally required. The additional cost of insulation is typically 3–7% of the total build cost, offset by lower energy bills and compliance beyond 2030.
- If you are planning a thermal upgrade — carry it out “to EPBD 2050” standards, not to the minimum standard from 2010. Doing the work twice makes no sense.
- If you are a designer or developer — read our termPIR® technical specification or contact us for samples and an individual quotation.
BOKKA has been supplying PIR boards for residential, housing, industrial, and agricultural construction for over a decade. As a direct distributor we offer competitive pricing, fast delivery, and technical support at every stage of your project — from concept through to completion.