Installations in the National Environmental Database
Stichting NMD is working with the installation sector to improve both the quantity and quality of environmental data for installations. We are also developing a fixed approach for including installations consistently in the National Environmental Database.
Installations are one of the largest gaps in the National Environmental Database. Since the inventory of July 2024, new category 3 environmental declarations have been published for several installation elements. Declarations for fire safety, security, air quality, drainage systems and escalators, among others, are expected before the end of 2026. In the Installations in the NMD program, we are working with the sector on a fixed approach for modeling installations. We will publish the program planning in November 2026. Manufacturers can already contribute with their own environmental declaration.
Why do installations need extra attention?
Installations for heating, cooling, ventilation and electricity are needed to make buildings energy efficient. Their production, maintenance and replacement also have an environmental impact. As buildings use less energy, this material-related share of installations carries more weight in the calculated environmental performance of a building.
Installations are harder to capture in a database than many construction products. An installation consists of components such as a pump, units such as a heat pump, and complete systems. For a sound environmental performance calculation, these levels must fit together, with clear demarcation, appropriate scaling and consistent classification according to NL-SfB. If components are missing, the input is incomplete and results differ between projects.
What has been done so far?
| 2022 | The Installations Framework describes how installations are organized and modeled in the NMD, with system levels, scaling and replaceable components. The step-by-step plan for environmental declarations of building installations (September 2022) helps manufacturers draw up an environmental declaration. |
| July 2024 | Commissioned by Stichting NMD, LBP|SIGHT, W/E adviseurs and Life Cycle Vision took stock of the environmental declarations for installations. This showed that the classification, the coverage with category 3 environmental declarations and the completeness of the database needed improvement. Read the Analysis and advice on building installations 2024 and the Inventory of building-related installations 2024 (in Dutch). |
| March 2025 | On March 6, 2025, manufacturers, suppliers and users of NMD data came together at the conference Environmental data of installations in the NMD..Read the review of the conference |
| Nov 2025 to Oct 2026 | New category 3 environmental declarations have been published for PV panels, heat pumps, boilers and buffer tanks, among others. The current status per element group is available onCurrent developments on category 3 data.. |
| 2026 | In a catch-up round, LBP|SIGHT investigated which installations are still missing. The analysis looked at the requirements per building use function in the Dutch Buildings Decree (Bbl), the scope of WLC-GWP under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV), an analysis by Copper8 and the European PEP ecopassport database. Based on this, Stichting NMD is drawing up additional category 3 environmental declarations for fire safety, security such as camera systems, air quality, drainage systems and escalators. Publication is expected before the end of 2026. |
| Sept to Dec 2026 | As part of digiGO, Stichting NMD is importing European EPDs for installation products from ECO Platform and comparing them with the gaps in the NMD. This supports the drafting of new category 1 environmental declarations and the preparation for the European approach under the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR). |
What does the Roadmap for Circular Climate Installations say about data?
On July 7, 2026, the Circular Climate Installations product group of the Circular Construction Economy and Circular Manufacturing Industry transition teams launched the Roadmap for Circular Climate Installations (in Dutch). Its action line on data availability calls for more category 1, 2 and 3 data for climate installations, a complete set of category 3 environmental declarations so that installation concepts can be calculated at building level, c-PCRs for climate installations and better digital access. Stichting NMD takes up the parts that belong to its role as administrator of the system. A c-PCR is initiated by the sector, after which Stichting NMD reviews it and can declare it normative.
How does digitalization help?
Within the digiGO administrative agreement, Stichting NMD leads the sub-measure on environmental product data. Two digiDeals are relevant to installations. DigiDeal 2 links environmental data to ETIM, the classification standard the installation sector uses for technical products. DigiDeal 3 explores how non-Dutch EPDs can be used in the Dutch environmental performance calculation.
An EPD only becomes a category 1 or 2 environmental declaration in the NMD if it complies with the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works version 2.0 and has been verified by a recognized LCA reviewer in accordance with the NMD Verification Protocol version 2.0.1. Read more on Non-Dutch LCAs and EPDs in the NMD..
Stichting NMD is also working on a proof of concept for sharing environmental data in a controlled way through DSGO (Digital System for the Built Environment). Data owners then decide for which uses their data becomes available, for example in the design phase.
What does the Installations in the NMD program look like?
The program brings together three tracks.
- Program plan and organization
A steering group meets four times a year and advises on progress and coherence. Members include FME, Techniek Nederland, LBP|SIGHT, W/E adviseurs, Life Cycle Vision and Stichting NMD. - Collaboration with the sector
Manufacturers, trade associations, consultants and knowledge institutes contribute through an expert group and sounding board groups. We develop the approach together with manufacturers and test it in practice, for example in workshops. At the Duurzame Installatietop (Sustainable Installation Summit, in Dutch) on November 11, 2026 in Utrecht, project leader Maarten Schaeffner will present the program. - Content approach
We are working on one approach for installations, covering levels, building components, demarcation and scaling (3a). We then implement this approach in the NMD, the data and the IT systems (3b). We continuously screen the environmental declarations and the gaps (3c).
If the approach affects the Assessment Method or the functional descriptions, the regular amendment process applies. In that process, the Technical Committee (Technisch Inhoudelijke Commissie, TIC) and the Netherlands Policy Committee on Environmental Performance (BMNL) give advice. Calculation tool providers receive information about changes at the same time.
What is the planning?
| When | What | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 to 2025 | Framework, step-by-step plan, inventory and analysis | Completed |
| Nov 2025 to Oct 2026 | Category 3 environmental declarations for PV panels, heat pumps, boilers and buffer tanks, among others | Published |
| Q4 2026 | Category 3 environmental declarations for fire safety, security, air quality, drainage systems and escalators | In impact analysis |
| Nov 2026 | Publication of the program planning | Planned |
| Nov en Dec 2026 | Development of the approach (3a) | Planned |
| Early 2027 | Implementation in the NMD, data and IT (3b) | Planned |
| From 2027 | Screening and supplementing environmental declarations (3c) | Ongoing |
The planning may change during the program. If new category 3 data has a major effect on compliance with the MPG (the Dutch environmental performance requirement for buildings), Stichting NMD decides in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) when the data is published.
What does this mean for you?
Manufacturer or supplier of installations
Een eigen milieuverklaring in categorie 1 maakt de milieuprestatie van jouw product zichtbaar in plaats van generieke data. Met de Vergoedingsregeling Witte Vlekken kun je een vergoeding krijgen voor een eerste milieuverklaring in een ondervertegenwoordigde productgroep.
Consultant or environmental performance calculation practitioner
New category 3 environmental declarations become available through the validated calculation tools and the NMD Viewer. This lets you enter installations more completely.
Trade association
A category 2 environmental declaration or a c-PCR for your product group starts on your initiative. Trade associations are also welcome in the expert group.
Calculation tool provider
The new approach may lead to changes in data structure and API. We inform all calculation tool providers at the same time through the regular consultation with calculation tool providers.
How can you contribute?
- Have an environmental declaration drawn up for your product and submit the environmental data via . Submitting data
- Check whether your product group qualifies for the Filling the Gaps compensation scheme.
- Would you like to contribute to the expert group or a sounding board group? Let us know via the form.
- Stay informed through the NMD newsletter.
Related
- Over 500 new category 3 environmental declarations in the NMD
- Proof of concept: making environmental data available via DSGO
- Now available: updated category 3 data for heat pumps, boilers and buffer tanks
- Compensation schemes for Filling the Gaps and Biobased extended in 2026
- Videos on Filling the Gaps for the installation sector, including a panel discussion (2022, in Dutch)
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but usually not without adjustments. An EPD in accordance with EN 15804 is the starting point. The underlying LCA must also comply with the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works version 2.0. This concerns, among other things, all life cycle stages from A to D, the correct Ecoinvent version, Dutch scenarios and the functional unit. An LCA practitioner adjusts the LCA where necessary. A recognized LCA reviewer then verifies it in accordance with the NMD Verification Protocol version 2.0.1, after which it is included in the NMD as a category 1 environmental declaration.. Read more on Non-Dutch LCAs and EPDs in the NMD.. In digiDeal 3,Stichting NMD is exploring how this process can be simplified
No. This program falls under the Filling the Gaps compensation scheme. The scheme continues in 2026 and remains the route for manufacturers who want to have an environmental declaration drawn up.
As a manufacturer, you can have a category 1 environmental declaration drawn up for your own product. The Filling the Gaps compensation scheme can cover part of the costs. Read how to get started on My product in the NMD. If generic data is missing as well, report it via the missing environmental declarations form. We use these reports when planning new category 3 environmental declarations, which are published in fixed rounds per element group