Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard - GBC-100 · Eesti GBC Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard (NQS Eesti) was created to help solve these problems. ... When all proofs

Estonian Green Building Council - Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard - NQS Eesti - GBC-100 1

Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard - GBC-100


Introduction

The Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard Eesti, NQS Eesti has been developed by the Estonian

Green Building Council (Eesti GBC). Eesti GBC is an independent not-for-profit body. It consists of a

range of professional industry participants supporting high quality and sustainability in planning,

design, construction and operation of the Estonian renewable energy and real estate markets.

The real estate, energy and development market in Estonia is unique in the sense that it has been

one of the few markets in Europe lacking formal qualifications, certification and strong third party

independent evaluation. This has led to media reports of poor quality projects, unaware consumers,

investors and business being sold unsatisfactory and low quality products or taken advantage of.

Projects have been completed with legal problems, were not completed due to financial issues and

bankruptcy, municipalities have been left with high expenses where projects could not finance

infrastructure. Projects have led to ecological damage, are of poor quality and have both structural

and cosmetic issues. Planning, design and construction errors have led to higher communal costs or

damaged real estate, disappointed buyers and investors.

Eesti GBC Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard (NQS Eesti) was created to help solve these

problems.

Benefits of NQS Eesti

This standard has been developed and approved by the members of the Green Building Council

Estonia, www.gbc.ee to provide the following benefits to the energy and real estate market in

Estonia and the Nordic region:

• Increase the trust of consumers, business and buyers/investors in the value and strength of

projects and constructions in Estonia

• Provide the finance and investment industry with a tool to aid selection of valuable,

independently certified energy and real estate projects and constructions

• Help government departments and municipalities strengthen the project planning and

approval process for new projects through a solid, reliable, independent evaluation of

projects and their likelihood of success. Thus municipalities can better evaluate which

projects to approve.

• Aid developers, operators and construction companies to demonstrate that their project or

construction is of a higher quality level, which has been independently certified

• Increase the value of a project or construction, a home or commercial property

• Improve the quality of tenants and users of the property and improve project income

• Justify choosing an NQS Eesti certified object over another non-certified object

• Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, quality and sustainability and thus the future

of Estonia

• Provide a missing third party, independent certification system tailored to specific Estonian

needs

• Allow (ongoing) monitoring and measurement of the quality and sustainability of projects, to

reduce planning, design and construction errors and thus create a more valuable, long-term

constructed environment


How to use the GBC Quality and Sustainability Standard

NQS Eesti consists of 4 sections, labelled GBC-101 (Planning), GBC-102 (Design), GBC-103

(Construction), GBC-104 (Operation). The standard mirrors the Estonian legal approval process for

energy and real estate projects. Each section relates, as written, to activities during project planning

phase (leading to general or detailplaneering), project design phase (leading to ehitusluba), project

construction phase (leading to permission to use) and operation phase (ongoing management of the

object in use).

Each section, Planning/ Design/ Construction/ Operation may be independently certified and/or all

sections may be certified. The more sections certified, the higher the solidity of the project.

Each section of the standard except ‘Operation’ contains 2 parts and 3 columns. The ‘Operation’

section contains 1 part and 3 columns.

The process to follow to receive certification is to review and undertake the actions listed in the

column ‘Correct action to be taken’. The column ‘Proof’ explains how the ‘Correct action to be taken’

can be demonstrated and thus, it should be demonstrated as described. The proofs for each action

should be sent to Eesti GBC, [email protected]. Eesti GBC will review the proofs and independently

determine if they are sufficient for that action to be demonstrated. If sufficient, the proof will be

approved. When all proofs are approved in one section, the project will be certified and a certificate

will be issued for that section and all previous sections approved. The project will be publically listed

on the GBC website. If not all proofs are approved or supplied, a certificate will be issued indicating

which proofs were insufficient and the project will not be publically listed.

The first part is the ‘interim-phase certificate’. This part consists of the actions needed to be

undertaken before the start of, or in the early stage of planning, design or construction. The actions

must be taken at the time indicated. The second part is the ‘final-phase certificate’. This consists of

actions to be taken during or at the end of the planning, design, construction or operation phases.

A certification requires both parts to be completed.

The final section ‘notes on required qualification and experience’ provides additional support and

guidance for the standard.


GBC-101 Quality and Sustainability in Planning (general planning/ detailed

planning)

Standard

number

Correct action to be taken Proof

GBC-101 - Interim Phase Certificate

Proof to be provided no later than 3 months after the detailed planning starting decision has been made and

requirements have been received from the local authority

Cost for review €50

101.1i Within 3 months following the developer’s receipt of the local

authority decision to start detailed planning has been made and

requirements have been received, a Financial Analyst (FA) ensures

that the developer has sufficient funds to complete the planning

process

FA confirmation letter

with proof OR a letter

from the bank showing

sufficient funds frozen

OR a bank guarantee

letter OR a third party

credit rating agency

rating of at least A-

status.

101.2i A signed contract is in place with a Planning Company (PC),

Ecologist, Accredited Professional (AP), Accredited Engineer (AE),

Costing Expert (CE), and Legal Adviser (LA) to carry out the works as

defined in standard EVS-GBC-101 section ‘Final Phase Certificate’.

A copy of the signed

contracts will be

supplied to the GBC for

review. Prices may be

hidden.

101.3i A signed agreement is in place between Developer and Local

Authority regarding the roles and responsibilities to develop and

finance the infrastructure and communications required for the

planned project


agreement will be


review.

GBC-101 Final Phase Certificate

Proof to be provided no later than 3 months following the decision of the local authority to accept the

planning


101.4 The Breeam Eesti version of:

Breeam Communities

OR Breeam New Construction 2013

OR Breeam Commercial 2009

OR Breeam Bespoke International

has been implemented in the project planning phase with a result

of minimum ‘Good’ received.

A certificate will be

provided to the GBC

with the required result.

101.5 A Breeam Accredited Professional (AP) has been involved in the

Breeam process for at least 3 months before the detailed planning

has been accepted into law by the local authority and has advised

on the optimum Breeam credits.

The developer provides

a signed contract to the

GBC for review showing

an AP has been

employed

101.6 An Accredited Engineer (AE) separate from the Planning Company

has been employed for at least 3 months before the detailed

planning has been accepted into law by the local authority and has

advised on the optimum planning process in order that a quality


a signed contract to the

GBC for review showing

an AE has been


object can be designed and constructed. employed

101.7 A Costing Expert (CE) has made a high-level/ feasibility/ conceptual

LifeCycle Cost Analysis (LCA/LCCA) has been undertaken which

recommends the optimum planning criteria to reduce the Lifecycle

costs of the object.

The LCA/LCCA study is

provided to the GBC for

review.

101.8 A Legal Adviser (LA) confirms that all laws have been followed

during the planning process.

The LA should also advise on future Estonian and EU directives

which could impact this project, so that these may be taken into

account.

A signed letter from a

named Legal Adviser

confirming all planning

laws have been

followed is supplied to

the GBC for review.

101.9 An Ecologist has undertaken a feasibility study to advise how the

planning can promote the on-site and/or nearby ecology and

biodiversity on the site.

The feasibility study is


review.

101.21 It is advised but not obligatory that the Developer is certified with

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

Certificates are

provided to the GBC

101.22 It is advised but not obligatory that the Planner is certified with ISO

9001 and ISO 14001

Certificates are

provided to the GBC


GBC-102 Quality and Sustainability in Design (Ehitusluba)

Standard

number



Proof to be provided no later than 3 months after the building permit starting requirements have been

received from the local authority or the project has started


102.1i Within 3 months following the developer’s receipt of the ‘building

permit conditions’ from the local government or if not issued then

when the building permit process has started, a Financial Analyst

(FA) ensures that the developer has sufficient funds to complete

the design process





OR a bank guarantee

letter OR a third party

credit rating agency

rating of at least A-

status.

102.2i A signed contract is in place with a Design Company (DC), Ecologist,

Accredited Professional (AP), Accredited Supervisor (AS) or

Accredited Engineer (AE), Costing Expert (CE), and Legal Adviser

(LA) to carry out the works as defined in standard EVS-GBC-102

section ‘Final Phase Certificate’.


contracts will be



hidden.




designed project


agreement will be


review.


Proof to be provided no later than 3 months following receipt of the building permit



Breeam New Construction 2013



has been implemented in the project design phase with a result of

minimum ‘Good’ received.

A certificate must be

provided to the GBC



Breeam process for at least 3 months before the building permit

has been received and has advised on the optimum Breeam credits.


a signed contract

showing an AP has been

employed

102.6 An Accredited Supervisor (AS - Estonian qualified and accredited

owner supervisor) or Accredited Engineer (AE), separate from the

Design Company has been employed for at least 3 months before

the building permit has been received and has advised on the

optimum design to ensure quality, particularly considering

potential for leaks, fire, good occupant health, correct natural

lighting and fresh air.

The AS confirms that the quality of construction work specified in


a signed contract

showing an AS or AE has

been employed and AS

or AE recommendations


the design is at least RYL Class II.

102.7 A Costing Expert (CE) will undertake a LifeCycle Cost Analysis

(LCA/LCCA) which recommends the optimum design criteria to

reduce the Lifecycle costs of the object.



review.


during the design process.



account.


named Legal Adviser


laws have been

followed

102.9 An Ecologist has undertaken a feasibility study to advise how the

design can promote the on-site and/or nearby ecology and

biodiversity on the site.



review.

102.10 An Accredited Energy Expert (AEE) has analysed the building and

provided an energy certificate showing an energy efficiency of at

least B category according to Estonian standards.

The certificate and

details of the AEE will

be supplied to the GBC

for review.



Certificates are

provided to the GBC

102.22 It is advised but not obligatory that the Design Company is certified

with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

Certificates are

provided to the GBC


GBC-103 Quality and Sustainability in Construction (permission to use)

Standard

number



Proof to be provided no later than 3 months after the construction works have been started and notified to the

local authority


103.1i Within 3 months following the developer’s notification to the local

authority that building works have started, a Financial Analyst (FA)

ensures that the developer has sufficient funds to complete the

construction process





OR a bank guarantee

letter

103.2i A signed contract is in place with an Accredited Construction

Company (ACC), a Construction Project Manager (CPM), Ecologist,

Accredited Professional (AP), Accredited Supervisor (AS), Costing

Expert (CE), and Legal Adviser (LA) to carry out the works as

defined in standard EVS-GBC-102 section ‘Final Phase Certificate’.


contracts will be



hidden.




constructed project


agreement will be


review.


Proof to be provided no later than 3 months following completion of building works



Breeam New Construction 2013



has been implemented in the project construction phase with a

result of minimum ‘Good’ received. The Breeam score will be made

available to clients/ tenants/ users/ stakeholders of the object.


provided to the GBC



Breeam process for at least 3 months before the building permit

has been received and has advised on the optimum Breeam credits.


a signed contract

showing an AP has been

employed

103.6 An Accredited Supervisor (AS - Estonian qualified and accredited

owner supervisor) separate from the Construction Company has

been employed from no later than 1 month after the start of

construction until the completion of the construction works. The AS

will particularly consider and advise the ACC on potential for leaks,

fire, good occupant health, correct natural lighting and fresh air.

The AS will be on-site for inspections no less than 5 hours every

week during construction and at least two non-consecutive days

each week (i.e. Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday and Thursday


a signed contract

showing an AS has been

employed, AS

recommendations and

AS final report including

risk factors.


etc.)

Following completion of construction, the Accredited Supervisor

completes a final report showing

(a) which AS and AE design and construction

recommendations (if made) have been followed and which

not followed

(b) which construction works have been changed compared to

the original design

(c) construction works which are potential risk factors

(d) The RYL level (normally class I or II) for the construction or

construction parts if different parts of the construction

have differing quality levels. No parts of the building are

lower quality than RYL Class II.

(e) A copy of the AS building diary maintained by the AS.

The final AS report will be made available to clients/ tenants/

users/ stakeholders of the object.

103.7 A LifeCycle Cost Analysis (LCA/LCCA) has been undertaken which

recommends the optimum construction materials/process to

reduce the Lifecycle costs of the object. It will consider as a

minimum durable materials, efficient technical systems, effective

building envelope, insulation used in foundation, roof, walls and

windows, communal systems.



review.


during the construction process.



account.


named Legal Adviser


laws have been

followed

103.9 An Ecologist will provide a report that the project site has been

completed according to design (or identify the differences) and at

least 50% of ecological factors have been considered as per the

design recommendations if these were made. If no design

recommendations were made, the ecologist will provide his

approval that in his/her opinion sufficient ecological factors have

been considered.



review.




The certificate and



for review.



Certificates are

provided to the GBC

103.22 It is advised but not obligatory that the Accredited Construction

Company is certified with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

Certificates are

provided to the GBC


GBC-104 Quality and Sustainability in Operation

Standard

number


GBC-104 - Final Phase Certificate (no Interim Phase Certificate is issued)

Proof to be provided no earlier than 3 months after Operation has started


104.1 A Financial Analyst (FA) ensures that the Operator has sufficient

funds to operate the object for at least 1 year in the future with

zero income, assessed each year.





on a bank account to

operate OR a bank

guarantee letter, OR the

company operating the

asset has an

independently audited

financial rating of at

least A-.

104.2 Not relevant

104.3 Not relevant


Breeam In Use standard BES 5058 Parts 1 and 2 have been analysed

by an authorised auditor and implemented in the object with a

result of minimum ‘Good’ received for each part during the last

year. This may occur no earlier than 2 years following construction

of a new building and the building must be occupied for at least 1

year. The Breeam score will be made available to clients/ tenants/

users/ stakeholders of the object.


provided to the GBC


104.5 A Breeam Accredited Professional (AP) has been assigned each year

to give advice on improving any of the following: the building

Lifecycle costs, energy use, health and wellbeing, water use,

electrical use, reuse, waste, transport, pollution, management,

building structural issues, tenant or user issues, building

documentation, user documentation

Contract with AP must

be provided to GBC for

review

104.6 An Accredited Supervisor (AS) confirms yearly that sufficient

infrastructure exists for the object to be operated a full capacity.

Infrastrucutre includes parking, roads, internet and telephone

connections, water, sewage, electricity, lighting systems, heating

systems, fire and emergency systems.

The AS will yearly confirm that the quality level of the building

remains at least at level RYL class II.


a signed contract

showing an AS has been

employed, AS

recommendations and

AS final report including

risk factors.

104.7 …standard 104.7 is covered above in section 104.5

104.8 A Legal Adviser (LA) confirms that the object complies with all laws

related to its operation.

The LA will review existing operation and maintenance contracts

with third party contractors and indicate if these are missing or if

existing, where they may be improved.



named Legal Adviser


laws have been

followed


which could impact this object, so that these may be taken into

account.

104.9 An ecologist writes a short report to confirm the external

environment is being maintained sufficiently to support

biodiversity

Ecologist report is


review




The certificate and



for review.

104.21 It is advised but not obligatory that the Operator is certified with


Certificates are

provided to the GBC


Notes on required qualifications and experience

Planning Company (PC)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ a planning company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The PC will employ a planning consultant to lead the project. He/she will have a minimum of

3 years experience of planning assignments on the Estonian market during the last 5 years.

- The Planning Company will have been involved with planning no less than 3 detailed planning

projects in Estonia

- The planning consultant leading the project will have a degree or equivalent (BA/BSc)

qualification

- The planning consultant will be a ‘Specialist in Charge, in his own field of qualification,

according to the Estonian Register of Economic Activities, and planning law § 13. This person

will be the lead planner involved in the project and will sign-off all planning documents.

Ecologist

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an Ecologist from a company audited to ISO9001

and ISO14001 standards.

- The ecologist will have a degree qualification in ecology or a similar subject with an

ecological component (e.g. biology, botany, entomology, forestry, nature conservation,

landscape engineering, environmental scientist)

- The ecologist will have at least 3 years experience working in Estonia on ecologically related

projects during the last 5 years

- The Ecologist will be an Accredited Green Building Professional or in the process of qualifying

(to be completed within 2 years)

Accredited Professional (AP)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an AP from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The AP will be qualified as an Accredited Professional, according to the Building Research

Establishment (www.bre.co.uk) standards

- The AP will be listed on GreenBook Live, www.Greenbooklive.com and not disqualified

- The AP will have lead at least 1 Breeam project

Costing Expert (CE)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ a CE from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The CE will undertake LifeCycle Cost Analysis (LCA/LCCA)

- The CE will have at least 3 years experience in financial modelling activities related to

developments, building and/ or design projects in Estonia

- The CE will have undertaken at least 1 LCA/LCCA study or part of such study

- The CE will be an Accredited Green Building Professional or in the process of qualifying (to be

completed within 2 years)

Legal Adviser (LA)


- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an LA from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The LA will have at least 5 years experience advising clients on legal matters related to

energy, construction, design, development and/ or environmental fields

- The LA will be current on EU and national laws related to buildings, construction, operation,

environment, materials - as proven, for instance, qualified or qualifying in the Accredited

Green Building Professional qualification (to be completed within 2 years).

Accredited Engineer (AE)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an AE from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The AE will have at least 5 years experience during the last 7 years reviewing or leading

planning and design projects

- The AE will have a degree qualification in construction, architecture, design or a related field

- The AE will be an Accredited Green Building Professional or in the process of qualifying (to be


- The AE will have reviewed or lead at least 5 detailed design projects in Estonia

- The AE will be a ‘Specialist in Charge’ according to the Estonian Register of Economic

Activities. This person will be the lead engineer involved in the project and will sign-off all

engineering documents.

Accredited Supervisor (AS)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an AS from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The AS will have at least 5 years owner supervision experience during the last 7 years

- The AS will have a degree qualification in construction, architecture, design or a related field

- The AS will be an Accredited Green Building Professional or in the process of qualifying (to be


- The AS will have supervised at least 5 construction projects in Estonia

- The AS’s company will be accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001 standards or in the process of

being accredited (to be completed in 2 years)

- The AS will be qualified with a degree in architecture (for reviewing design), construction (for

reviewing construction) or a similar field

- The AS will be a ‘Specialist in Charge’ according to the Estonian Register of Economic

Activities as an owner supervisor. This person will be the lead owner supervisor involved in

the project and will sign-off all owner supervision documents.

Accredited Construction Company (ACC)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ a company audited to ISO9001 and ISO14001

standards. In addition ISO 18001 is preferred but not obligatory.

- The ACC will have at least 5 years construction experience during the last 7 years of on the

Estonian market

- The ACC will have constructed at least 5 building projects on the Estonian market

- The ACC will be have an Accredited Green Building Professional in its team or one in the

process of qualifying (to be completed within 2 years)


- The ACC will employ be a ‘Specialist in Charge’ according to the Estonian Register of

Economic Activities. This person will be the lead construction project leader involved in the

project and will sign-off all construction documents.

Construction Project Manager (CPM)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ a CPM from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards. In addition ISO 18001 is preferred but not obligatory.

- All CPMs on site will be a qualified project manager in PMI (www.PMI.org), Prince2

(www.Prince2.com), or a similar recognised project management methodology which can be

obtained, for instance, from a professional institute or from the Tallinn Technical University,

Tartu University, Estonian Land University.

- The CPM will have at least 5 years construction experience during the last 7 years in Estonia

- The CPM will have been involved in leading at least 3 construction projects

- All CPMs’s qualifications will be current and he/she is not disqualified and has not been

disqualified in the past

- The CPM will be qualified with a ‘diploma engineer’, degree subject or equivalent in

construction or a similar field

Accredited Energy Expert (AEE)

- It is preferred but not obligatory to employ an AEE from a company audited to ISO9001 and

ISO14001 standards.

- The AEE will be authorised to issue an Energy Certificate in Estonia

- The AEE will be qualified with a degree or similar qualification

- The AEE’s company will be successfully accredited under ISO50001 or be in the process of

being accredited (to be completed in 2 years)

- The AEE will be a ‘Specialist in Charge’ according to the Estonian Register of Economic

Activities. This person will be the lead energy expert involved in the project and will sign-off

all energy system documents.

Notes on standards

1. LifeCycle Cost Analysis (LCA/LCCA)

- The LCA/LCCA will consider both a 25 or 30 year lifecycle and a 60 year lifecycle.

- It will consider at least materials used/ durability, building orientation, insulation, renewable

energy (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal or district heating powered by a renewable

source), building structure, envelope, services/ communications/ efficient technical systems.

- It is not obligatory but the LCA/LCCA could also consider internal and finishing materials.

- It will consider both strategic and system levels as per figure 6, ISO 15686-5

- It will consider and compare costs during construction, operation (at least utilities),

maintenance and end of life removal.

- The solution(s) using the lowest discounted lifecycle costs are preferred

- For more information on LCA/LCCA, read ISO 15686-5

When the text refers to a person, he/she must work for a company even if that is a one-person

company.

Documents

Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard - GBC-100 · Eesti GBC Nordic Quality and Sustainability standard (NQS Eesti) was created to help solve these problems. ... When all proofs