EPB stands for energy, performance and indoor climate. It is a legal obligation to appoint an EPB study for construction works with building permit. An EPB study is required for homes that are being built or renovated. The EPB report contains advice to comply with the imposed EPB requirements.
The EPB regulations apply when it concerns a heated unit and when an urban planning permit has been applied for. This applies to renovations as well as new construction.
For renovations the requirements in the EPB study are less strict, this means that the calculations are also less complex. This mainly checks whether the new walls, roofs, floors and windows meet a certain U-value or a minimum R-value. From 2015, however, the renovation will become more complex and an E-level (no K-level) will be determined in an energetic renovation, just like a new-build house.
In a new house, different requirements are set in addition to the E-level and K-level. For example, there is a requirement that determines the maximum overheating, a requirement for net energy requirements and a requirement for renewable energy (for building applications from 2014).
The EPB requirements become stricter and stricter every year, because they aim to only place energy-neutral homes in Europe by 2021. Of course we are responding to this and are already a BEN predecessor (Almost Energy Neutral). This way you can find a number of BEN buildings in our references.