Amendment Sheet for Building Regulations Guidance (BR18) – Road Distance and Retro-insulation Updates
This official amendment sheet (Rettelsesblad), issued by the Danish Social- og Boligstyrelsen on December 18, 2023, provides mandatory updates to the guidance for the Danish Building Regulations (BR18). It specifically modifies the guidance documents related to Chapter 8 (Building Rights and Holistic Assessment), Chapter 20 (Unbuilt Areas), and Chapter 23 (Calculation Rules). All amendments detailed in this document entered into force on January 1, 2024.
The document focuses on four critical technical adjustments: the introduction of a pure road distance requirement under § 177, the removal of erroneous text regarding balconies and open roof structures under § 455, and a significant expansion of the rules for external retro-insulation. These updates affect how municipal authorities calculate building density and how architects must measure distances to public and private roads for residential projects.
Professional practitioners should apply these corrections to their current guidance copies to ensure compliance with the latest administrative practices regarding building permits and site planning.
Road Distance Requirements (§ 177)
A pure distance requirement was introduced effective January 1, 2024. The municipal board (Kommunalbestyrelsen) determines the specific measurement point based on local conditions.
- Measurement Bases: Distance may be measured from the cadastral boundary toward the road, road expansion lines, registered private roads, or the actual established road.
- Applicable Building Types: This requirement applies to single-family houses, two-family houses, semi-detached houses, and summer houses.
External Retro-insulation and Building Percentage (§ 455)
The provision for retro-insulation has been expanded to cover all building types as of January 1, 2024. This change allows for increased energy efficiency measures without penalizing the calculated building density.
- Maximum Thickness: External retro-insulation up to 25 cm is permitted on all types of construction without being included in the calculation of the building percentage (bebyggelsesprocent).
- Permit Requirements: While the area is exempt from density calculations, a building permit may still be required for buildings other than single-family houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses, and summer houses.
- Regulatory Reference: Detailed requirements for when retro-insulation requires a permit are described in § 5, stk. 1, nr. 3 and 4.
Deleted Guidance Provisions
Certain sections of the previous guidance have been identified by the agency as containing erroneous text and are officially withdrawn.
- Balconies (§ 455, stk. 3, nr. 3): The final paragraph regarding partially recessed balconies (delvist indeliggende altaner) is deleted.
- Roof Structures (§ 455, stk. 4): The sentence stating that roofs do not necessarily need to be tight and can consist of open structures is deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum thickness for external insulation exempt from building percentage calculations?
Up to 25 cm of external retro-insulation can be added to any building type without it counting towards the building percentage calculation.
Which residential buildings are subject to the road distance requirement in § 177?
The requirement applies specifically to single-family houses, two-family houses, semi-detached houses, and summer houses.
Where is the distance to the road measured from according to the 2024 update?
The municipal board determines the measurement point, which can be the cadastral boundary, a road expansion line, a registered private road, or the actual road path.
Does retro-insulation always require a building permit?
Not for single-family, semi-detached, terraced, or summer houses, but other building types may still require a permit as per § 5, stk. 1, nr. 3 and 4.
Are there changes to the rules for partially recessed balconies?
Yes, the specific guidance paragraph regarding partially recessed balconies has been deleted as it was deemed erroneous.
When did these building regulation guidance amendments take effect?
The amendments entered into force on January 1, 2024.
