Johanna, what do the new standard values mean?

The update covers the standard values used as industry practice for interior finishes, fixed fittings and technical installations, meaning building component groups 7 and 8. All standard values have increased. The most substantial increases concern installations in preschools, schools and offices. The apartment-building standard for finishes and fittings has also risen considerably. A new version of the reference value study was published alongside this, updating reference values with an extended system boundary, including groups 7 and 8, to reflect the new standards.

What do you think about the evaluation of the standard values?

I welcome the evaluation and the opportunity for a more robust investigation this time. The original report recommended further investigation if these values were to be used in practice, as they now are widely across the industry. The reference value study also informs the limit values Boverket will set. Since these are expected to include these building components, better knowledge of their climate impact is valuable.

How does the update affect Plant’s climate calculations?

At Plant, adapting our calculation methodology as the industry develops is important. Methodological development helps us and the wider industry deliver better, more representative calculations, whether concerning climate data, standard values or scenarios. Implementation of the new values has begun, and they will come into use during the spring. We recognise this may affect comparability between calculations, which is important in climate work, so we maintain close dialogue with customers about how the update affects them.

As well as changing, the standard values are now more transparent about underlying assumptions and system choices and are broken down in greater detail. This allows parts of these component groups to be calculated specifically for a project. Projects can then focus on the parts where measures are possible or where they use a different system solution from the one assumed in the standard values.

Reference Values for Climate Impact When Constructing Buildings, Version 2, 2023 (diva-portal.org)