NaWoh criteria

Quality seal for sustainable residential construction: Criteria for new apartment buildings

NaWoh V3.1 is a registered sustainability assessment system for the award of the Quality Seal for Sustainable Buildings(QNG), which is a prerequisite for the promotion of new construction projects.
NaWoh has been developed for apartment buildings with six or more residential units and is particularly suitable for existing owners and affordable housing construction.

The NaWoh system distinguishes between two types of criteria:

• Evaluating criteria: The fulfillment of defined criteria and evaluation criteria must be demonstrated for essential characteristics and properties; the level “fulfilled” must be achieved for each criterion.

• Descriptive criteria: Structural, technical or organizational procedures are explained in accordance with the information and requirements of the NaWoh criteria specification and in compliance with documentation requirements.
  In particular, the type and scope of the description are checked.

The overview table below shows which of the criteria profiles are assigned to which category.

Overview of the sub-criteria in the NaWoh system for new build apartment buildings:

The NaWoh criteria are divided into the five main criteria groups of living quality, technical quality, ecological quality, economic quality and process quality with around 59 sub-criteria.
The requirements of the criteria are described in fact sheets.

1 QUALITY OF LIVING
1.1.1 Functional quality of the apartments		Evaluation (3-stage)
1.1.1-1	Functionality of the living areas
1.1.1-2	Functionality of the cooking and dining areas
1.1.1-3	Functionality of the sanitary areas
1.1.1-4	Availability of storage and drying space
1.1.2 Outdoor seating/outdoor space
	Existence of balcony, terrace, tenant gardens
1.1.3 Accessibility – access and apartments
1.1.3-1	Barrier-free access to the building
1.1.3-2	Barrier-free access to apartments
1.1.3-3	Degree of accessibility within the apartments
1.1.4 Parking spaces
1.1.4-1	Parking spaces for bicycles
1.1.4-2	Parking spaces for pushchairs/wheelchairs
1.1.4-3	Parking spaces for cars/mobility concept
1.1.5 Open spaces
1.1.5-1	Open spaces for the general public
1.1.5-2	Open spaces for children
1.1.5-3	Open spaces for young people
1.1.6 Thermal comfort
	Thermal comfort in summer
1.2.1 Visual comfort/daylight supply		Description
1.2.2 Indoor air quality
1.2.3 Security
1.2.4 Area ratios
1.2.5 Facilities for collecting or separating waste
1.2.6 Design and urban development quality
2 TECHNICAL QUALITY
2.1.1 Noise protection		Evaluation (3-stage)
2.1.1-1	Sound insulation against external noise
2.1.1-2	Airborne and impact sound insulation
2.1.1-3	Sound insulation against structure-borne noise/installations
2.1.2 Energy quality
	Efficiency level
2.1.3 Efficiency of the building services
	Efficiency of building services
2.1.4 Ventilation
	Ventilation
2.2.1 Fire protection		Description
2.2.2 Moisture protection
2.2.3 Airtightness of the building envelope
2.2.4 Reaction to site-specific conditions
2.2.4-1	Reaction to increased radon occurrence
2.2.4-2	Response to increased flood risk
2.2.4-3	Response to increased storm risk
2.2.5 Durability
2.2.6 Ease of maintenance/retrofitting TGA
2.2.7 Dismantling/recycling friendliness of the building structure
3 ECOLOGICAL QUALITY
3.1.1 Life cycle assessment – Part 1		Evaluation (3-stage)
	Global warming potential
3.1.2 Primary energy demand
3.1.2-1	Primary energy demand non-renewable
3.1.2-2	Primary energy demand renewable
3.1.3 Land use and land sealing
3.1.3-1	Land use
3.1.3-2	Surface sealing
3.2.1 Life cycle assessment – Part 2		Description
3.2.2 Energy generation for tenants and third parties
3.2.3 Drinking water requirements
3.2.4 Avoidance of pollutants
3.2.5 Use of certified wood
4 ECONOMIC QUALITY
4.1.1 Life cycle costs		Evaluation (3-stage)
	Selected life cycle costs
4.1.2 Recoverability of the investment
	Investment costs/market value
4.2.1 Long-term value stability		Description
5 PROCESS QUALITY
5.1.1 Quality of construction/measurements		Evaluation (3-stage)
	Quality of construction/measurements
5.2.1 Quality of project preparation		Description
5.2.1-1	Integral process
5.2.1-2	Requirements planning
5.2.2 Documentation
5.2.2-1	Object documentation
5.2.2-2	Product documentation
5.2.3 Handover/instruction
5.2.3-1	Staff briefing
5.2.3-2	Provision of information for users
5.2.4 Commissioning/adjustment
5.2.5 Prerequisite for management
5.2.6 Cleaning/servicing/maintenance schedule

If, in addition to the NaWoh quality seal, the QNG is also being sought, the NaWoh system’s criteria specifications and the four special requirements of the QNG seal must be fulfilled.

To obtain the NaWoh label, the following general information on the project must be submitted in addition to the fact sheets 1.1.1-5.2.6 listed above:

Framework information (profile 0.0.2)

(as of September 2016 – V 3.1)

(A) Site characteristics (A)

• (A1) Location situation
  • Accessibility of the nearest main/long-distance train station
  • Accessibility of the nearest public transport stop on foot
  • Public transport frequency
  • Connection to the cycle path network available
  • Distance to
    • Public parking spaces (15 spaces)
    • Public parking spaces (50 spaces)
    • Gastronomy
    • Local supply
    • public administration
    • Service provider
    • Social services facilities
    • Kindergartens and elementary school
    • Secondary schools
  • Universities, adult education, etc.
  • Hospitals and medical centers, day clinics
  • general practitioners, dentists and pharmacies
  • Playgrounds & leisure facilities for young people
  • Local recreation areas, parks & open spaces
  • Sports facilities
  • cultural institutions
  • Monuments (individual monument)
  • properties under ensemble protection

• (A2) Notes and forecasts
  • Notes on the future development plan
  • References to future land use plan
  • References to the traffic development plan
  • Notes on school planning
  • Notes on the planned infrastructure development
  • Miscellaneous
  • Forecast of population development

(B) Environmental characteristics

• (B1) Environmental characteristics
  • Outdoor air quality
  • External noise level
  • Subsoil conditions
  • Contaminated sites
  • Explosives, ammunition
  • electromagnetic fields
  • Occurrence of radon
  • Solar radiation supply
  • Location risks – man made hazards
  • Risks from weather and nature: earthquakes
  • Risks from weather and nature: ground subsidence/settlement
  • Risks from weather and nature: Avalanches
  • Risks from weather and nature: Storm
  • Risks from weather and nature: Flooding
• (B2) Trends and forecasts
  • Temperatures summer / winter
  • Development of precipitation
  • Trend in extreme weather events
  • Noise pollution trend in outdoor areas

(C) Object features

• (C1) Object identification
  • Type of building
  • Storey height
  • Number of residential units
  • Living space
  • Existence of an underground parking garage
  • Address
  • Property/parcel number
• (C2) Selected characteristic values and features
  • Construction costs KG 300 + 400
  • EnEV characteristic values
  • Degree of accessibility
  • Construction method
  • Special technical equipment
    • Solar water heating
    • Solar backup heating
    • Solar power generation
    • Other form of energy generation in/on the building
    • Green roof
    • Facade greening
    • Rainwater utilization/infiltration
    • innovative building products

(D1) Concept / strategy for housing industry objectives

• Family/child-friendly living
• Senior-friendly living
• Assisted living
• Multi-generational living
• Innovative forms of living and floor plan solutions
• Testing innovative solutions in the field of construction technology
• Testing innovative solutions in the field of building technology
• Testing innovative solutions in the field of energy supply
• Testing innovative solutions in the area of consumption recording and allocation
• Testing innovative solutions in the area of contract design
• Testing innovative solutions in the area of financing

(D2) Other specifics

• Connection to a neighborhood-related upgrading strategy
• Connection to a neighborhood-based mobility concept
• Framework conditions from a neighborhood-related design concept
• Information on innovative support and service offerings
• Information on innovative concepts for involving tenants
• Integration into sustainability strategy and sustainability reporting
• Miscellaneous

In addition, there is a written description of the property’s particular strengths and pictures of the site plan and floor plan. If you have any further questions about the assessment modalities, the NaWoh criteria or the NaWoh certification, we will be happy to advise you personally!