From 1 July 2026: revised Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings and updated MPG requirements take effect
From 1 July 2026, a revised version of the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings (BPM 2.0) takes effect. At the same time, new and tightened MPG requirements come into force. The environmental performance requirement becomes stricter for offices, a more lenient requirement applies to small dwellings and certain offices, and for the first time requirements apply to utility buildings such as schools, retail premises and healthcare facilities. This news item explains what these changes mean for the system and for practical application.
Revised Assessment Method version 2.0
The revised Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings (version 2.0) will be designated in the Environmental Regulation (Omgevingsregeling) from 1 July 2026. This version was adopted at the end of 2025, in line with the updated versions of the Buildings Decree (Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving, Bbl) and the Environmental Regulation.
Version 2.0 is based on Assessment Method version 1.2 including amendment 6 and amendment 7, which incorporate a number of clarifications and corrections. Among other things, this version refers to the Environmental Regulation for guidance on which structures and installations must be taken into account when determining environmental performance, and for information on the more lenient and weighted environmental performance requirement. It also clarifies that dataset A1 is optional to submit from 1 January 2026 onwards.
The Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings 2.0 is built on version 1.2 including amendment 6 and amendment 7. The revised Assessment Method and downloads are available on the page Future amendments to the Assessment Method.
Calculating with A2
From 1 July 2026, calculation using dataset A2 also becomes mandatory. The A2 dataset aligns with the European standard EN 15804+A2 and covers 19 impact categories. Dataset A1 covers 11 environmental impact categories. The main change in this transition is the revision of the impact categories for acidification, eutrophication, photochemical ozone formation, human toxicity and ecotoxicity. Compared to the previous dataset, the new dataset uses sub-indicators and includes additional indicators.
The new categorisation and expansion of impact categories, combined with the newly designated weighting set, affects the environmental profile of the building products and materials assessed. A change in the environmental profile also affects the environmental performance of a building material or product, since environmental performance is a numerical representation of the environmental profile. The new A2 dataset was taken into account in preparing the tightening of the environmental performance requirement.
| The A2 dataset has been available in the database for some time. From 2021 onwards, Stichting NMD initiated a transition period. Data owners were encouraged through an accelerated programme to provide the A2 dataset for their data. In addition, submission of new data required both the A1 and A2 datasets. This prepared the database for the shift to using dataset A2 for calculating environmental impact. Since 2024 the data has been available via calculation instruments, allowing the market to gain experience with these new datasets. |
New and updated MPG requirements
From 1 July 2026, the following new rules for the environmental performance of buildings apply, as laid down in the amended Buildings Decree and the Environmental Regulation:
- Offices: the MPG requirement is tightened by 15%
- Utility buildings: for the first time, an MPG requirement applies to buildings such as schools, retail premises, healthcare facilities and industrial buildings. The requirement aligns with current building practice
- Small dwellings and non-compact offices: for buildings that find it harder to meet the standard requirement due to their built form, a more lenient MPG requirement applies
- Multiple use functions: where a building contains multiple use functions, a weighted environmental performance requirement applies, combining the environmental performance of the different use functions using a formula
The policy content and explanatory notes have been published by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). For the official regulations and information sheets per use function, we refer to the websites of IPLO and Volkshuisvesting Nederland.
Environmental performance: rules for new construction from 1 July 2026 | Informatiepunt Leefomgeving
Weighted and more lenient MPG requirement: what does this mean?
For buildings with multiple use functions, a weighted MPG requirement applies. The contribution of each use function is weighted by usable floor area. New formulas for this have been laid down in the Bbl (Article 4.159, paragraph 4).
For small dwellings and non-compact offices, a more lenient MPG requirement applies. The calculation is set out in Article 4.159, paragraph 3 of the Bbl and Article 5.32b of the Environmental Regulation.
Validation round for calculation instruments
In response to the amended regulations, Stichting NMD has organised an optional validation round for calculation instruments. The aim is to verify whether instruments have correctly and fully implemented the formulas for the weighted and more lenient MPG requirement, ensuring uniform and consistent application of the revised regulations.
The validation round runs from 1 May to 1 July 2026. Following the round, validated calculation instruments will be ready for use under the new rules. Results will be published on the Calculationtoolspage from 1 July onwards.
