Introduction to Danish national rules
Danish Building Act
The purpose of the Building Act is to ensure: |
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The Building Act applies to: |
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The Building Act covers: |
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Danish Building Regulations
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.
Processing and documentation of project material
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.
Products in Contact with Drinking Water
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.