1. EDUCATIONAL SHEET
Thermal Regulation 2012 in France
RT2012INFRANCE
PRESENTATION OF RT 2012
According to the Grenelle Environment Forum, the 2012 Thermal Regulation (RT 2012) aims to limit primary energy
consumption in new buildings to a maximum of 50 kWh / m² per year on average. RT 2012 is primarily a goal-
oriented regulation and includes 3 performance requirements: bioclimatic needs, primary energy consumption, and
summer comfort. Some means requirements are implemented to reflect the strong desire to establish a practice (eg
consumption display).
The general scope of the RT 2012:
- applies to new residential and non-residential buildings;
- from the calculation of heating, domestic hot water (DHW), lighting, cooling and auxiliary heating and
ventilation consumption;
- according to requirements set on the previous performance label BBC-Effinergie RT2005.
RESULTS REQUIREMENTS
The Energy efficiency of buildings The requirement for a minimum energy efficiency of the building is
defined by the "Bbiomax coefficient (bioclimatic needs of the
building). This requirement imposes a simultaneous limitation of
the energy requirement for the components related to the design
of buildings (heating, cooling and lighting), thus imposing its
optimization whatever the energy systems implemented.
The energy consumption of buildings The requirement for a maximum conventional consumption of
primary energy is reflected by the "Cepmax" coefficient on the
consumption of heating, cooling, lighting, domestic hot water and
auxiliaries (pumps and fans). The Cepmax value amounts to 50kWh
/ m².year of primary energy adjusted to the geographical location,
altitude, type of building use, average area of housing.
This requirement also imposes the use of high energy efficiency
equipment, in addition to the building optimization expressed by
Bbio.
Summer comfort in non-air conditionned
buildings
Some categories of buildings are defined where it is possible to
ensure a good level of summer comfort without having to use an
active cooling system (air conditioning). For these buildings,
regulations require that the warmest temperature reached in the
premises, in a sequence of 5 very hot summer days does not
exceed a threshold.
MEANS REQUIREMENTS
Ensure the quality of implementation Thermal bridges treatment methods (thermal camera)
Thermal bridge Water temperature distribution
of a thermal bridge
2. Air tightness treatment method (blower door test)
This test consists in submitting the dwelling to
overpressure and / or vacuum and measure leakage
through a "fake door", that is to say, a computer-
controlled fan. For this, all the air vents are closed
as well as all other vents set (doors, windows, etc.).
The air permeability of new homes is limited and
controlled with this test by measures during and / or at the end of
the work. This defines the building seal. It must lose less than
0,6m3 / h / m² (for a house) or less than 1m3 (for a collective
dwelling) in 1 hour for a surface loss of 1m² (low-floor excluded),
expressed with a relative pressure of +/- 4 Pa.
Ensuring comfort of living A minimum windows surface
In residential properties, the windows area must be equal to at
least 1/6 of the living space.
Accelering the devlopment of renewable
energy
Apply their use more widely in houses (various financial aids)
It can be:
- Being connected to a heating network fed by renewable energy
for more than 50%;
- Solar thermal collectors for domestic hot water;
- Solar electric panels to generate electricity;
- A boiler or a stove.
Alternative solutions exist such as thermodynamic water heater.
Ensuring good use of the building Measuring or assessing the energy consumption for each use
Informing occupants.
Ensuring overall energy quality Local energy production is not taken into account beyond self-
consumption
