SBToolCZ: A Czech Tool for Sustainable Construction

Sustainability in the construction industry has become a key topic not only for professionals but also for the general public in recent years. Growing demands for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality have increased the need for tools that allow these aspects to be assessed objectively. Certification systems are therefore becoming a common part of the planning, construction, and maintenance of buildings.

SBToolCZ is a Czech certification tool for assessing the sustainability of buildings, which is used to assess the quality of a building in terms of environment, social comfort, economy, and location. The methodology is based on a multi-criteria approach and adapted to Czech conditions, which allows its practical use in the local environment. The system is adapted to different types of buildings, including office buildings, family houses, apartment buildings, schools, and high school buildings.
The following overview in the form of questions and answers presents the main benefits of SBToolCZ, its assessment principles and the certification process.

Why does it make sense to certify a building and what does SBToolCZ bring?
SBToolCZ certification brings a number of practical and strategic benefits for developers, architects, investors, and end users:

• Increased property value and operational efficiency through the evaluation of building s performance for sustainability perspective,
• Support for environmentally responsible development,
• A powerful marketing tool for developers,
• Assessment of the environmental impact of the building, including possible optimisation of this impact throughout its life cycle,
• Support in finding innovative solutions with regard to ecology,
• Assessment of the technical design of the building and its operation,
• Reducing operating costs and improving user comfort (supporting the reduction of energy consumption of buildings),
• Assessment of the quality of the locality in which the proposed building will stand.

What are the advantages over foreign systems?
The big advantage of SBToolCZ is its localization. The methodology is fully adapted to the Czech environment, which means not only language availability, but also relevant technical and legislative requirements. The system is also more affordable than foreign alternatives such as BREEAM or LEED and offers a comparable level of objectivity and expertise.

How does SBToolCZ work?
The system is based on multi-criteria assessment. This means that each building is evaluated based on four categories:
- Environmental criteria (include environmental protection, emissions, energy, materials, drinking water savings, etc.),
- Social criteria (indoor comfort, indoor climate, user comfort, accessibility),
- Economics and management (life cycle costs, facility management),
- Location (site risks, availability of services, ecological value of the site).

Each criterion is scored on a scale of 0 to 10 according to defined criterion ranges based on available statistical and parametric data. On the basis of the overall score, a certificate is awarded, indicating the achieved level of sustainable building quality: basic, bronze, silver, or gold. For example, to achieve the Bronze level, a minimum score of 4 (out of 10) in each of the core assessment areas is required and the minimum criteria must be met.
The range of criteria assessed depends on the type of building and the stage of its life cycle - a distinction is made between certification of the quality of the building design and certification of the quality of the completed building.

When is the best time to start certification? 
In the case of building assessment at the design stage, this is referred to as design stage certification (new building at the design stage). After the building is completed, the building can then go through the process of post-construction certification (completed building). There are also variants such as reconstruction or the so-called Shell and Core (buildings without interior fittings).
The choice of a specific certification option depends on the implementation phase and the preferences of the client. However, from the point of view of optimising outputs and cost-effectiveness, it is ideal to involve the SBToolCZ methodology at an early stage of project design. This allows the design to be adjusted so that the building best meets the required criteria.

How does the certification process work?

• Starting cooperation with the authorized person ("assessor"). 
• Collection of documents.
• For design quality assessment: project documentation (DSP/DPS), bill of quantities, PENB, lighting and acoustics studies, material certificates (EPD, FSC, PEFC) if applicable.
• For completed building quality assessment: DSPS documentation, operating manuals, measurement results (lighting, acoustics, air quality), operation and maintenance documents.
• Elaboration of the assessment. The assessor performs the analyses, calculations and prepares the evidence according to the requirements of the methodology.
• Verification by a certification authority. The assessor's results are reviewed by the certification authority. Since 2012, there are two authorized bodies in the Czech Republic:
• Technical and Testing Institute of Construction Prague (TZÚS Praha, s.p.),
• Research Institute of Civil Engineering - Certification Company, s.r.o. (VÚPS).
• Issuance of the certificate. On the basis of the approved assessment, the project is awarded the appropriate level of certification.

How much does SBToolCZ certification cost?
The documents required for the issuance of the certificate are prepared by an SBToolCZ authorized person. The cost of certification is always determined individually and by agreement, depending on the type and size of the building and the specific scope of work (the SBToolCZ National Platform does not interfere with the cost). On the basis of the prepared documentation, the certification itself is carried out by an accredited certification authority. 
In general, however, the certification of a design or completed building does not usually exceed 1% of the total investment, and is often considerably lower (from 0.01%). The total cost does not usually exceed 500,000 CZK, excluding VAT, with about one third of this amount going to the relevant certification authority.

The SBToolCZ certification system is a comprehensive tool for assessing the sustainability of buildings in the Czech context. Thanks to its localization, it takes into account the specifics of legislation, climate, and building practice in the Czech Republic, offering a relevant framework for assessing the quality of both the design and implementation of buildings. The certification also serves as an effective communication tool between designers, investors, and the public and contributes to the overall development of sustainable construction.
Most of the information in this article is based on official materials available on the SBToolCZ website: www.sbtool.cz

Interested in certification or want to learn more?
Feel free to contact us for a consultation, price quote, or additional information about the SBToolCZ system.