Scottish Government Confirms March 2028 Release for ‘Passivhaus Equivalent’ Building Standards Update
On 19th December 2025 the Scottish Government published an update following previous consultations on creating a Passivhaus Equivalent in the next revision to Section 6 within their Building Standards for new homes. This update gave some key information on a number of the proposals in the stage 1 consultation issued in 2024.
A stage 2 consultation is expected later in 2026 to give more details on many of the areas still to be finalised.
Definition of Passivhaus equivalent
In the stage 1 consultation there was discussion around how Passivhaus equivalent should be defined in the context of future Building Standards. This update has now confirmed that fully Passivhaus certified will not be mandated in the next revision to Building Standards. However, there will be recognition that fully certified Passivhaus buildings will be seen as an alternative method of demonstrating compliance with standard 6.1 of the Building Standards. Further proposals will be found in the stage 2 consultation document later this year.
Approved Calculation methodologies
The stage 1 consultation sought views on the methodologies that will be used to demonstrate compliance with the future Building Standards. It was proposed that the Home Energy Model (HEM) would be used.
The Stage 2 consultation will provide further details on the proposed methodologies to be used and include consultation versions of the HEM/Scottish compliance ‘wrapper’. It has also been confirmed that a modified version of Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) used for Building Standards compliance will be developed and a testing version released in 2026.
Setting the compliance standards
The stage 1 consultation sought views on using the current approach to setting compliance standards by use of a notional dwelling. An alternative approach of using absolute targets was also explored. Further information on this area will be provided in the stage 2 consultation.
In regards to the metrics used to demonstrate compliance with the future Building Standards, it was proposed to retain the current delivered energy rate metric covering regulated energy use (heating, lighting, hot water, ventilation and cooling) only. Scottish Government have now confirmed the delivered energy metric rate will continue to be used to demonstrate compliance with the future standards. It has also been confirmed that this will only include regulated energy use however unregulated energy use (cooking and appliances) will be reported from the approved calculation methodology used.
Finally, there was confirmation that a new compliance metric based on space heat demand will be introduced in the next Building Standards. This will be known as the Target Space Heating Rate (TSHR) and be included under standard 6.2 of the Building Standards. Further details on this will be included in the stage 2 consultation.
Implementation timelines
The stage 1 consultation proposed the new standards would be mandated from early 2028 with further guidance and tools using the approved calculation methodologies being released in 2026.
The date for the new standards to come into force has now been confirmed as 31st March 2028. Scottish Government believe this gives time for the industry to prepare for the changes prior to their implementation.
New Build Dwellings Manager Jason Hewins commented;
“Elmhurst welcomes this update from Scottish Government on progress towards their next revision to Building Standards. We support the majority of the proposals however we are concerned about allowing the use of two approved calculation methodologies HEM and PHPP to demonstrate compliance. We believe this naturally results in unintended consequences, can be confusing for the construction industry and could result in differing compliance outcomes depending on what methodology is used.
We look forward to the stage 2 consultation being published later this year and will keep members updated with developments in this area.”