Swiss legislation on energy certificates and building passports is based on the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The EPBD establishes the legal framework that enables and, in some cases, requires digital information tools such as the Digital Building Passport (DBP) and the Digital Building Logbook (DBL). These digital tools are intended to help better implement the EPBD's objectives (e.g., increasing energy efficiency, renovation rates, and climate neutrality).
Building Passport Switzerland
The building passport is made up of 3 parts.01
The Property Passport
Includes the identification of the property and the building (apartment) from the land register using the underlying identification keys such as parcel and cadastral number, federal property identifier (EGRID), federal building identifier (EGID), federal apartment identifier (EWID), GS1 Global Location Number (GLN), etc.
Source: Land register, building insurance, or GS1...
02
The Digital Dossier
This central data repository stores all relevant building documents (e.g., contracts, plans, delivery notes, etc.) and allows them to be accessed or linked to an external facility management data platform (e.g., SMINO, Dalux). The logbook, objects, documents, and links are available here, and the creation of individual objects is possible.
Management of material and maintenance data
03
The Inventory List
The inventory list records all materials, products, and services to be installed in the building by scanning their respective product identification key (e.g., GS1 barcode, QR code, DPP URL, etc.). This process is documented in an event-based logbook, which can be accessed in the digital dossier.
Origin: Goods receipt at the construction site or building.
Legal Basis
Ecology
Traceability and Trackability
traceability - ability to verify the history, location, or application of an object by means of documented recorded identification in the past (where was the article?)trackability - ability to verify the current location of an object (where is the article now?)
The Swiss building passport verifies, firstly, for traceability purposes, which product with which properties was installed, e.g., where was the product manufactured? What is its CO2 footprint?
Secondly, it captures the requirements of a building, an installed product or a delivered service with regards to its future maintenance and inspection intervals throughout its entire life cycle.
This supports the systematic, thorough examination of a property, building, construction project or transaction to fully understand the opportunities and risks before a purchase, sale or redevelopment decision is made ('due diligence').
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions occur in all phases of a building's life cycle, for example, during:
- the extraction and processing of raw materials
- the production of building materials (e.g., concrete, steel, glass, insulation), including energy-related and process-related emissions
- the transport of materials
- the construction process itself, as well as subsequent deconstruction, renovation, and recycling
- the operation of the building (e.g., for heating, cooling, electricity, and maintenance)
Greenhouse gas emissions are thus the "built-in and operational climate impact" of a building and are measured in CO₂ equivalents over the entire life cycle.
The Swiss Building Passport records climate emissions because:
- they – together with operational emissions – determine the overall climate impact of a building, and in particular the so-called "upstream emissions" (analogous to embodied energy) can constitute a significant proportion;
- they are essential for a sound life cycle assessment (LCA) and the achievement of climate targets;
- sustainable construction, operation, and renovation decisions are directly based on the reduction of these emissions.
The basis for reuse
The reuse of construction products and components is only possible thanks to a uniform, global labeling system based on the open GS1 standards. This labeling provides information about the product's composition, origin, and location, thus enabling an informed decision about its reuse for a second, third, or even nth life cycle.
Standardized Structural Model
The use of a standardized structural model is crucial for clearly structuring, transparently documenting, and efficiently managing construction projects and their associated data throughout their entire life cycle. Such models define phases, responsibilities, and information levels, thereby creating a reliable foundation for planning, implementation, and operation. This structure is particularly important for the building passport, as it enables consistent, complete, and quality-assured data collection. No specific model is prescribed—in addition to the SIA 102 phase model, life cycle-oriented and integrated project delivery models such as Design Build are particularly well-suited for effectively integrating the building passport and thus ensuring comparability and transparency across the entire life cycle.
01
Strategic Planning
Support for the decision to construct a new building or to renovate an existing building
02
Preliminary Studies
Using relevant information for scouting components
03
Project Design
Revitalization of the BIM model with accurate product data
04
Tender / Invitation to Tender
Specific material data based on the product codes stored in the BIM model
05
Realisation / Execution
Implementation of value-adding construction site logistics
06
Operation
Operation / use of the building with long-term and sustainable data management of all relevant parameters