ᐅ Is Summer Thermal Insulation Mandatory for New Construction?

Created on: 21 Jun 2019 21:30
C
crion
Good evening everyone!

We are currently about to submit the building notification in Bovenden, just north of the city boundary of Göttingen (Lower Saxony), and we just had our architectural meeting with the architect from our home builder FIBAV.

During the meeting, the topic of roller shutters briefly came up, and we said that we do not want any.
The response was that we should or must consider an alternative type of sun protection.
For us, the issue was settled: we currently live in a rental apartment owned by a Göttingen housing cooperative, first occupied in 10/2014, without roller shutters.

However, afterwards I felt somewhat concerned and asked by email.
The very quick reply was:
“Summer heat protection according to DIN 4108 Part 2 is mandatory and is calculated by [...].
This shows which rooms must be equipped with shading.

Provisions for possible later shading systems can be integrated into the façade either before or after construction.
Please discuss this with your construction manager. He can then coordinate it with the trades.”

It’s good to know that summer heat protection according to the standard is mandatory—also to prevent the majority of people from retrofitting energy-intensive air conditioning later, no question.
But is summer heat protection also a legal or otherwise mandatory requirement, or can we omit it without facing any sanctions—worst case, a forced retrofit?

If summer heat protection is somehow a sanctionable obligation: does it have to be an external shading system?
My wife cannot live without curtains, so we already have some form of interior sun protection—of course less effective than external shading, but present.
We will not install an air conditioning system later...

Regardless of whether it is mandatory: What are the most cost-effective options for reasonably effective heat protection?
Or is that already provided by curtains?

Best regards,
Christian
H
hampshire
12 Jul 2019 17:36
I was recently at the house around midday. It faces south. Direct sunlight only reaches the lower 60 cm (24 inches) of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The roof overhang works like a baseball cap. Many thanks to the architect.
H
haydee
12 Jul 2019 18:12
And how bright does it get in winter?

With sunlight, an eaves overhang is great. However, if the house has two full stories, it no longer works. In that case, you would easily need 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) or more.
K
Kekse
13 Jul 2019 08:07
haydee schrieb:

And how bright does it get in winter?
On sunny days: very bright. The sun is lower in the sky and can shine in unobstructed. On cloudy days, of course, it is dim, but that applies everywhere, not just under eaves.
H
haydee
13 Jul 2019 08:13
I am skeptical about that. However, farmhouses in America often have large, covered wrap-around porches. There is definitely a reason for that.

I am trying a deciduous tree in front of the house.
B
boxandroof
13 Jul 2019 08:38
hampshire schrieb:

I was at the house recently around midday. South-facing. Direct sunlight only hits the lower 60cm (24 inches) of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The roof overhang works like a baseball cap.

The most elegant shading solution, glad it works so well for you.
H
hampshire
13 Jul 2019 23:24
haydee schrieb:

And how bright will it be in winter?
I will report back. The room is quite special, mainly because it has windows facing every direction and also upwards. It’s hard to imagine there will be any lack of light there.