Individual laws, regulations and standards apply in the various member states, underpinned by overarching EU requirements.
What the 2024 EPBD sets out
The recast of the EU Buildings Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1275) has been in force since 28 May 2024. Article 15 deals with the smart readiness of buildings and sets two deadlines for the SRI: By 30 June 2026 the EU Commission submits a report to Parliament and Council on the testing and implementation of the SRI (As things stand, submission is delayed; the report is now expected only towards the end of 2026), Auf dieser Grundlage erlässt die Kommission bis zum 30 June 2027 a delegated act making the application of the SRI mandatory for non-residential buildings with a rated output of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems of more than 290 kW.
The EU Buildings Directive sets Europe-wide minimum standards for the energy performance of buildings and is a central instrument of EU climate policy. Its aim is to reduce the energy consumption of buildings, cut CO₂ emissions and lay the foundation for a climate-neutral building stock by 2050.
„ The smart readiness indicator should be used to measure the capacity of buildings to use information and communication technologies and electronic systems to adapt the operation of buildings to the needs of the occupants and the grid and to improve the energy efficiency and overall performance of buildings. The smart readiness indicator should raise awareness among building owners and occupants of the value behind building automation and electronic monitoring of technical building systems and should give confidence to occupants about the actual savings of those new enhanced-functionalities. The smart readiness indicator is particularly beneficial for large buildings with a high energy demand. For other buildings, the scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings should be optional for Member States.“
„By 30 June 2026, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the testing and implementation of the smart readiness indicator on the basis of the available results of the national test phases and other relevant projects. Taking into account the outcome of that report, the Commission shall, by 30 June 2027, adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 32, supplementing this Directive by requiring the application of the common Union scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings, in accordance with Annex IV, to non-residential buildings with an effective rated output for heating systems, air-conditioning systems, systems for combined space heating and ventilation, or systems for combined air-conditioning and ventilation of over 290 kW.“
„Provided that the Commission has adopted the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2, it shall, by 30 June 2027, adopt an implementing act detailing the technical arrangements for the effective implementation of the application of the scheme referred to in paragraph 2 to non-residential buildings with an effective rated output for heating systems, air-conditioning systems, systems for combined space heating and ventilation, or systems for combined air-conditioning and ventilation of over 290 kW.“
The test phases
Since 2021, member states have been trialling the SRI in official national test phases: initially Austria, Czechia, Denmark and France, later among others Germany, Croatia, Finland, Slovenia and Spain, as well as Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Greece and Portugal; Italy followed in 2025.
International standardisation
CEN and ISO are central organisations for international standardisation. Together with the national standards bodies, they develop uniform technical standards for products, services and processes.
CEN and ISO also play a decisive role in the digitalisation of buildings: they develop numerous standards that ensure compatibility, transparency and future-proofing. These form the basis for innovative smart building solutions across Europe.
Regulation in the member states
The SRI methodology is defined uniformly across the EU so that results are comparable. How and to what extent the SRI is used is, however, decided by the member states: they determine which method is admissible for which building types, what requirements apply to assessors and whether an assessment remains voluntary
Timeline
Your practical experience feeds into further development
We collect ideas and comments on the SRI and feed them into standardisation work in due course.