In The News

CBCP & CBCF Requirement High Quality Environmental Standard in France

The HQE (High Quality Environmental standard) is a French label for green building in France, based on the principles of sustainable development first set out at the 1992 Earth Summit. HQE is leader of Green Building Certification in France, Brazil, Morocco and Lebanon.

By the end of October 2016, HQE Association updated the label HQE and introduced the commissioning as a requirement for Management System process.The new management system of HQE label is structured under 5 levels: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and commissioning is requested from level M2 till M5.

Thanks to the AEE France Chapter efforts, AEE certifications become appreciated in the French market:

  • CBCP (or equivalent certification) is requested from M3 to justify expertise of expert on commissioning issue
  • CBCF (or equivalent certification) is requested from M4 to justify expertise of firm on commissioning issue

The HQE label is managed by the French Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale (Association HQE) who brings stakeholders together to:

  • anticipate and initiate discussions
  • contribute to the development of excellence in local planning and industry practice
  • voice and defend stakeholders’ general interests locally and internationally

Within a continuous improvement mindset, the association places its widely recognized know-how and expertise at the disposal of the construction industry and users to promote sustainable construction and planning. 

Certivea, a subsidiary of Groupe CSTB and a founding member of France GBC (Green Building Council), is the sole certifier of HQE label in France. Cerway, a brand of CSTB is the sole certifier outside France.

The principle of HQE label is based on the following criteria

1. Managing the impacts on the outdoor environment

  • Harmonious relationship between buildings and their immediate environment
  • Integrated choice of construction methods and materials
  • The avoidance of nuisance by the construction site
  • Minimizing energy use
  • Minimizing water use
  • Minimizing waste in operations
  • Minimizing building maintenance and repair

2. Creating a pleasant indoor environment

  • Hydrothermal control measures
  • Acoustic control measures
  • Visual attractiveness
  • Measures to control smells
  • Hygiene and cleanliness of the indoor spaces
  • Air quality controls
  • Water quality controls

For more information:

http://www.cerway.com/

http://www.hqegbc.org/accueil/

http://www.certivea.fr/

http://www.cstb.fr/