Introduction to Danish national rules

Last updated 09/12/2020

Matters relating to construction in Denmark are primarily governed by the Danish Building Act and the Building Regulations.

The Building Act lays down general framework rules and represents the regulatory basis, which is given concrete expression in the technical requirements set out in the Building Regulations.

The purpose of the Building Act is to ensure:

that buildings are constructed, laid out and used in a way that is satisfactory in terms of fire protection, safety and health

that unbuilt areas in a building project are of a satisfactory quality in terms of operation and maintenance

that building damage is repaired

that buildings cater to the needs of people with disabilities

that high architectural quality is promoted

that the productivity of the building is promoted

that unnecessary consumption of resources in buildings is prevented

that unnecessary consumption of raw materials is prevented

The Building Act applies to:

new buildings and building extensions

building conversions and other essential changes in relation to the provisions of the Building Act

alterations to buildings that are significant in relation to the provisions of the act

building demolition

maintenance, conversion and other alterations to existing buildings that affect energy consumption.

The Building Act covers:

requirements concerning the execution, fitting out and maintenance of buildings and areas

requirements concerning fire protection measures relating to chimneys and fireplaces

a certification scheme for transportable structures

a certification scheme for technical elements

requirements concerning building permits

requirements concerning completion certificates

a description of the role of local councils in the processing of building permit applications

information about accidental damage building insurance

miscellaneous provisions about other matters

market surveillance requirements

The Building Regulations constitute the specific regulatory framework on which the design and execution of buildings in Denmark must be based. This means that requirements for buildings can be found in these regulations. The vast majority of the requirements set out in the Building Regulations are functional requirements stipulating conditions that must be met, and which it must be possible to document. These functional requirements differ from detailed requirements in that they constitute an overall framework. A more detailed description is given in the next section (Processing and documentation of project material).

The Building Regulations implement the objectives of the Danish Building Act in a number of chapters:
Chapter 1	Administrative provisions
Chapter 2	Access
Chapter 3	Refuse systems
Chapter 4	Drains
Chapter 5	Fire
Chapter 6	User-operated facilities
Chapter 7	The building site and the execution of building work
Chapter 8	Building right and overall assessment
Chapter 9	Building layout
Chapter 10	Lifts
Chapter 11	Energy consumption
Chapter 12	Energy supply systems adjacent to buildings
Chapter 13	Pollution
Chapter 14	Moisture and wet rooms
Chapter 15	Structures
Chapter 16	Playgrounds
Chapter 17	Noise
Chapter 18	Light and view of the surroundings
Chapter 19	Thermal indoor climate and installations for heating and cooling systems
Chapter 20	Areas without buildings surrounding buildings
Chapter 21	Water
Chapter 22	Ventilation

Chapters 23 to 37 contain a number of additional provisions whose primary purpose is to support compliance with the other chapters.

It is very important for society that buildings are stable and resistant to the elements and able to withstand fire to an extent which ensures that both human life and items of value are protected insofar as possible. In Denmark this protection is achieved by the building regulations, which refer to Eurocodes with Danish national annexes setting out detailed technical rules on safety considerations in the design and execution of building projects.

The local town council is the competent regulatory authority and makes decisions on matters covered by the Building Act and the Building Regulations, for example applications for building permits and applications for exemption from the provisions of the Building Act or the Building Regulations. The local authority also decides in matters regarding interpretation of the provisions of the Building Regulations, for example concerning categorisation in various structural classes and fire classes, and compliance with specific requirements.

As regards reused construction products, the local authority determines what documentation is required for the anticipated use. The local authority can also grant exemptions under the Building Act if the required documentation is not available.

On the website of the Danish Housing and Planning Authority you can find the current Building Regulations and associated guidelines, etc. The rules set out in those documents must be applied if you want to construct a building in Denmark.

The Danish Housing and Planning Authority is responsible for the scheme for the approval of products in contact with drinking water (GDV) and for the granting of GDV approvals in Denmark.

Conditions for approval

Applicants must meet the conditions set out in the Executive Order on Marketing and Sale of Construction Products in Contact with Drinking Water and must comply with the provisions of the GDV guidelines. Applications for GDV approval may not be submitted until all health-related documentation has been provided.

The processing of GDV applications is done by the Building Department of Danish Housing and Planning Authority.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Ministry of Environment and Food advises the Danish Housing and Planning Authority on requirements, the basis for tests and methods to be used to ensure conformity with the quality requirements applying to construction products in contact with drinking water when the water reaches taps used by consumers.

The Danish Housing and Planning Authority refers to the Danish EPA’s Executive Order on Drinking Water, list of guideline criteria for drinking water quality and guidelines on water quality and supervision of water supply facilities.

In line with its control of other construction products, the Danish Safety Technology Authority carries out surveillance of the sale and marketing of construction products in contact with drinking water. You can find further information about this in section 5, Market control.