Why is it necessary to certify Passive House Tradespeople?

 
Passive Houses have proved successful over many years, in new constructions as well as in modernisations. Today, more than 20,000 buildings across Europe have been built according to the Passive House Standard. Several hundreds of these have been scientifically monitored over many years.
    
The high quality requirements specified for the Passive House Standard have existed for a long time. All the requirements have been published and are freely available on the Internet. Furthermore, planning tools like the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and information sources like Passipedia are also available.
 
Now expert knowledge about the construction of Passive Houses can also be provided to tradespeople as part of further training:
    
The Passive House is more than the sum of its parts. In order to avoid making mistakes, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of the interactions and interdependences of the components required in the construction of a Passive House. Modifications and variations in specific planning in terms of energy efficiency should be assessable. These may have a significant impact on the proper functioning of the building.
 
The aim of further training for the ”Certified Passive House Tradesperson” certificate is to convey an overall impression of the interdisciplinary Passive House concept to tradesmen involved in construction within the appropriate time.
 
The method of instruction is designed to impart specific Passive House skills. It is assumed that any other practical skills that are required are already present, because they are not specifically relevant for the Passive House or because they depend on the products or construction systems used in the respective construction work; practical skills can and should therefore be acquired by other means, either within the framework of educational training or through training measures organised by the manufacturers of the products or construction systems or their sales distributors.
 
The targeted transfer of specific Passive House expertise will provide the basis for a high standard of quality on site. This will ultimately benefit all those involved in construction, including the client, the planner/architect, the manufacturers of products and the tradesmen themselves. Further training in a compact form is provided by putting the focus on the essential special features of Passive Houses in the course.
    
Publication of the certified tradespeople on this website will allow all those involved in construction to access information about qualified skilled trades businesses.