The new EPC NR obligation: What does this mean for your company?
Flanders is taking a new and important step in its long-term strategy to make the building stock carbon-neutral by 2050. Are you the owner of an office, shop, hospitality business or another non-residential building? Then it is crucial to be aware of the upcoming obligation around the Energy Performance Certificate for Non-Residential Buildings, or EPC NR for short.
This legislation is more than a formality; it is an important step towards a more energy-efficient and valuable commercial property.
Key dates and rules at a glance
The introduction of the EPC NR is phased and depends on the size and type of the building.
- From 1 January 2025: Large non-residential building units of 1,000 m² or more must have a valid EPC NR, regardless of sale or rental.
- From 1 January 2026: All large non-residential building units (those that do not meet the criteria for a “small” NR building, see below) must have a valid EPC NR, regardless of sale or rental. This is the crucial deadline for many business owners.
- Validity: The EPC NR is only valid for 5 years, in contrast to 10 years for residential EPCs.
- What if you do not comply? Administrative fines can be imposed, ranging from €500 to €5,000.
What is a “large” or “small” unit?
| Category | Usable floor area | Main characteristic | Certificate |
| Large NR unit | More than 500 m² or part of a complex > 1,000 m² | EPC NR required | EPC NR (valid for 5 years) |
| Small NR unit (sNR) | Maximum 500 m² and not part of a complex > 1,000 m² | Choice between EPC NR or simplified EPC sNR* | EPC NR or EPC kNR (valid for 10 years) |
*EPC sNR stands for Energy Performance Certificate for Small Non-Residential Buildings
Which buildings fall under the EPC NR?
The EPC NR obligation applies to a wide range of buildings that are mainly used for non-residential purposes, such as:
- Offices and administrative buildings: standard office buildings, government buildings, bank branches, etc.
- Commercial properties (shops): retail outlets, supermarkets, department stores and showrooms.
- Hospitality and recreational buildings: restaurants, cafés, hotels, sports centres, theatres and museums.
- Education and care: schools, university buildings, hospitals, residential care centres and childcare facilities.
- Other services: practices of liberal professions (doctors, lawyers, etc.), libraries and buildings for social services.
Certain building types and situations are exempt from the EPC NR obligation. You can find more information here.
What does the EPC NR involve?
The EPC NR certificate provides a clear picture of the energy performance of your building, based on the actual energy consumption (meter readings) and the amount of renewable energy you generate yourself.
It includes:
- An energy label (A+ to F) that indicates how energy-efficient your building is.
- Tailored recommendations for energy-saving measures.
Important for tenants/users: as a user of a building, you are obliged, at the owner’s request, to provide the necessary energy consumption data needed to draw up the certificate.
The solution: Artion
This new obligation requires action and a structured approach. At Artion, we understand that this brings extra administration and coordination. That is why we offer you two simple ways to comply with this obligation.
Full support via our partners
We take care of the full coordination and central management of your file.
- Selection and recommendation: we put you in touch with a certified Energy Expert Type D from our trusted network and coordinate the inspection.
- Planning and execution: the partner carries out the necessary inspections and prepares the report.
- Central availability: the partner uploads the final EPC NR report directly into your Artion platform, so all documents are centrally and securely available.
Manage the EPC report yourself
Do you already work with a trusted partner? No problem.
Our platform makes it easy to centrally store all collected documents and the final EPC report from your own energy expert.
This way, you always have an organised digital file that you can present in case of an inspection and that helps you not to miss the 5-year validity deadline.
Artion: your partner in legal compliance
Legal inspections, such as the EPC NR, are only one part of the complex compliance requirements for building owners.
Artion is a full compliance management tool that centralises and automates the follow-up of all statutory periodic inspections of your installations (fire safety, lifts, electrical installations and now also EPC NR). This allows you to manage all your legal obligations from one clear platform.
Time to take action
Do not wait until the 2026 deadline. Timely planning avoids stress and fines and ensures that you can take the necessary steps to make your building more energy-efficient.
Contact our support team (support@artion.eu) to immediately start the process for your EPC NR report and discuss the option of full support.
Request a no-obligation demo and discover how Artion simplifies and centralises all your statutory inspections and compliance processes.
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