Concepts.
The building industry is full of jargon. Here are 25 terms explained so you understand what's happening with your building.
BBR — Danish Building and Dwelling Register
The BBR is Denmark's official register of all buildings and dwellings. It contains data on size, materials, year of construction, heating system and more — and it's public.
BIM — Building Information Modeling
BIM is a digital 3D model of a building containing data about all building elements — not just drawings, but information about materials, dimensions and properties.
BR18 — Danish Building Regulations 2018
BR18 is the Danish building code that governs all construction in Denmark — from fire safety and energy performance to accessibility and climate impact.
Building Permit — Byggetilladelse in Denmark
A Danish building permit (byggetilladelse) is the municipality's formal approval of your construction project. Without it, you risk being ordered to demolish what you've built.
CO₂ Limit — Danish Carbon Threshold for New Buildings
Denmark's CO₂ limit in BR18 sets a ceiling on how much carbon a new building can emit. From 2023, the limit is 12 kg CO₂-eq/m²/year for large developments.
Energy Label — Danish Energimærke
The Danish energy label (energimærke) rates a building from A to G based on its calculated energy consumption. It's mandatory for all property sales and rentals.
EPD — Environmental Product Declaration
An EPD is a standardised document that shows a building material's environmental impact — including its carbon footprint, energy use and resource consumption.
Foundation — Fundament in Construction
The foundation transfers your building's entire weight to the ground. Foundation failure is one of the most serious and expensive building defects.
GWP — Global Warming Potential
GWP measures the climate impact of a material or building in kg CO₂-equivalents. It's the fundamental unit behind carbon calculations in construction.
Heating System — Varmeinstallation in Danish Buildings
Your heating system is the technology that warms your home. The choice of heat source has a major impact on your energy bills, carbon footprint and property value.
Helhedsplan — Comprehensive Renovation Plan for Social Housing
A helhedsplan is a comprehensive renovation plan for Danish social housing estates, funded partly by the national housing fund Landsbyggefonden.
Land Register Plot — Matrikel in Denmark
The Danish matrikel is the official register of all land parcels. Your matrikel number uniquely identifies your plot in the official land register.
LCA — Life Cycle Assessment
A Life Cycle Assessment measures a building's total environmental impact from raw material extraction to demolition. It's the most honest way to calculate a building's carbon footprint.
Listed Building — Fredning in Denmark
A listed building (fredet) in Denmark has the highest level of legal protection. Even minor changes require approval from the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces.
Lokalplan — Danish Local Development Plan
A lokalplan is a legally binding local development plan that determines what you can build, how high, what colours are allowed and how the land can be used.
Maintenance Obligation — Renoveringspligt in Denmark
Danish property owners have a legal duty to keep their buildings in sound and safe condition. Neglect can trigger enforcement notices from the municipality.
Moisture Damage — Fugt in Buildings
Unwanted moisture in building structures is one of the most common causes of building damage and mould in Denmark. Here's what every homeowner should know.
Planning Zones — Zonekort in Denmark
Denmark divides all land into three planning zones: urban zone, rural zone and summer cottage area. Your zone determines what you can build and how your land can be used.
Property Easement — Servitut in Denmark
A servitut is a registered legal restriction on your property — it may limit what you can build, plant or use your plot for, and it runs with the land.
Retrofit Insulation — Efterisolering
Retrofit insulation means adding insulation to an existing building — in walls, roof or floor. For most Danish homeowners it's the fastest payback renovation investment.
Roof Structure — Tagkonstruktion
The roof structure is the load-bearing framework beneath the roof covering. Its type determines insulation options, lifespan and renovation needs.
SAVE Value — Danish Heritage Assessment Score
The SAVE value is a Danish heritage assessment score from 1 to 9 that determines whether a building is considered architecturally and historically significant.
Site Coverage Ratio — Bebyggelsesprocent
The bebyggelsesprocent (site coverage ratio) determines what percentage of your plot you're allowed to build on. In Denmark it's typically 25–40% for single-family homes.
Sustainability Class — Bæredygtighedsklasse in BR18
The sustainability class is a voluntary Danish building class with stricter requirements for carbon footprint, indoor climate and resource use — above the legal minimum.
Vapour Barrier — Dampspærre in Construction
A vapour barrier is a membrane that prevents water vapour from penetrating walls and roofs — stopping mould, rot and structural damage.
Missing a concept?
Come across a term you don't understand? We add new concepts regularly — feel free to suggest one.