European Building Regulations in 2026 - The CPR Revision and the EPBD Recast
Author
Paddy McDonnell
Date Published
Two major pieces of European legislation are reshaping the regulatory environment for building professionals across the EU in 2026. The revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) introduce new requirements for product compliance, environmental reporting, energy performance, and building renovation that will affect fire safety engineers, facilities managers, healthcare engineers, and industrial engineers working across the built environment.
The Revised Construction Products Regulation
The revised Construction Products Regulation (EU) was published in the EU Official Journal in December 2024 and entered into force on 7 January 2025. The majority of its provisions became applicable from 8 January 2026. This is the most significant revision of the CPR since its original adoption in 2011.
What the CPR Revision Changes
The revised CPR expands the scope of CE marking for construction products, introduces mandatory environmental declarations, and establishes Digital Product Passports. Key changes include:
Mandatory climate indicators: From 8 January 2026, manufacturers must declare Global Warming Potential (GWP) for products covered by Annex II categories (a) to (d), which include the highest-volume construction materials
Digital Product Passports: The regulation introduces requirements for digital documentation of product characteristics, performance, and environmental data, accessible through standardised digital formats
Expanded CE marking: The scope of mandatory CE marking has been broadened to cover additional product categories and performance characteristics
Phased environmental compliance: Additional environmental indicators under Annex II categories (e) to (m) become mandatory from 9 January 2030, with full compliance across all categories required by 9 January 2032
Priority product categories: Concrete, steel, and insulation materials are prioritised due to their significant embodied carbon and role in energy efficiency
The CPR Working Plan 2026-2029
In December 2025, the European Commission published the first CPR Working Plan for 2026-2029, setting priorities for harmonised technical specifications and product requirements across construction categories. The plan will be renewed at least every three years, with annual progress reporting beginning at the end of 2026. This working plan will determine which product standards are developed or revised, directly affecting what Irish manufacturers and importers must comply with.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast
The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) entered into force on 28 May 2024. Member States must transpose the directive into national legislation by 29 May 2026. On 30 June 2025, the European Commission adopted a support package offering practical guidance to help EU countries with implementation and transposition.
Key EPBD Requirements
Zero-emission buildings: All new public buildings must be zero-emission by 2028, and all other new buildings by 2030
National Building Renovation Plans: Member States must submit renovation plans by 31 December 2025, setting out strategies for upgrading the existing building stock
Non-residential renovation targets: The worst-performing non-residential and public buildings must be renovated from Energy Rating G to at least Energy Rating F by 2027
Fossil fuel heating phase-out: Incentives for fossil fuel heating systems must be eliminated, with a complete phase-out of standalone fossil fuel boilers by 2040
Solar energy provisions: New requirements for solar energy installations on certain building types
Implications for Irish Professionals
Ireland must transpose the EPBD recast into national law by May 2026. This will have significant implications across several IIESMS disciplines:
Facilities management: The renovation targets and zero-emission building requirements will create substantial demand for FM professionals who understand energy management, building performance optimisation, and the interaction between energy efficiency measures and building safety systems. The IIESMS Facilities Management Sector Group provides a professional framework for practitioners in this area.
Fire safety: Energy efficiency retrofits - particularly external wall insulation, window replacements, and heating system changes - have fire safety implications that must be assessed and managed. The interaction between energy performance improvements and fire safety is an area where the IIESMS Fire Safety Group provides specialist knowledge.
Healthcare engineering: Healthcare buildings face unique challenges in meeting zero-emission targets while maintaining the clinical environments required for patient care. Temperature control, ventilation rates, and medical gas supplies must be maintained regardless of energy efficiency obligations. The IIESMS Healthcare Sector Group supports members working in this complex intersection of requirements.
Industrial engineering: Industrial buildings and manufacturing facilities must also comply with the revised EPBD requirements, creating demand for professionals who can optimise energy performance in industrial settings while maintaining production efficiency and safety standards.
Why This Matters for IIESMS Members
The CPR revision and EPBD recast are not distant European policy abstractions. They are laws that Ireland must implement and that will directly affect the day-to-day practice of building professionals across all IIESMS disciplines. Professionals who understand these requirements before they are fully transposed into Irish law will be ahead of their peers and better positioned to advise clients, employers, and the public.
IIESMS monitors European regulatory developments through its sector groups and European partnerships. Members can stay current through CPD events, sector group briefings, and the resources shared through member communications. To join the professional community that keeps you connected to the developments shaping your practice, find your IIESMS membership grade today.
Sources and Further Reading
EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR)