Country Guide
BACS Requirements in Belgium
The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2024/1275) requires building automation and control systems in non-residential buildings across the EU. Belgium's federated structure means EPBD transposition is handled by three regions — Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital — each with their own EPB regulations.
The first deadline has already passed
Since 31 December 2024, non-residential buildings with HVAC systems above 290 kW effective rated output are required to have building automation and control systems under EPBD Article 13.
Legal basis
The requirement comes from Directive (EU) 2024/1275, the recast EPBD. Article 13 mandates BACS in non-residential buildings where technically and economically feasible.
In Belgium, energy performance is a regional competence. Each region transposes the EPBD separately:
- Flanders: Energiedecreet and Energiebesluit (VEA/VEKA)
- Wallonia: Décret relatif à la performance énergétique des bâtiments (PEB)
- Brussels-Capital: Ordonnance PEB / EPB-Ordonnantie
The technical standard referenced is EN ISO 52120-1(formerly EN 15232). Class C is the minimum acceptable BACS level.
Deadlines and thresholds
| Threshold | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC >290 kW | 31 December 2024 | Passed |
| HVAC >70 kW | 31 December 2029 | Approaching |
Which buildings are affected
The mandate targets non-residential buildings — offices, retail, hotels, hospitals, schools, and logistics or industrial sites with significant HVAC load. Scope is set by the effective rated output of the technical systems: the combined capacity of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and hot-water plant. A building with a 120 kW heating system and a 60 kW cooling system reaches 180 kW, well inside the 70 kW threshold and so in scope for 2029.
Residential buildings are excluded, and mixed-use buildings are assessed on their non-residential portion. Belgium's federal structure means the precise obligation depends on where the building sits — Flanders, Wallonia, or Brussels-Capital each implement the EPB/PEB framework independently, so two identical buildings in different regions can face different reporting and inspection rules.
What a compliant BACS must do
Reaching EN ISO 52120-1 Class C is about capability, not just hardware. A compliant system must continuously monitor energy use, benchmark it against expected performance, detect faults and efficiency drift, give operators actionable information, and control HVAC to actual demand rather than fixed schedules. Timer circuits and standalone thermostats do not qualify.
For owners across the three regions, the practical first question is the same: can the existing building management system already monitor, report, and optimise — or does it only switch plant on and off? That answer determines whether compliance is a configuration project or a controls upgrade.
Belgium-specific context
- Flanders (VEKA) has the most advanced EPB framework with BACS monitoring obligations for large buildings.
- Wallonia (SPW Énergie) integrates BACS into PEB certification and inspection frameworks.
- Brussels-Capital has ambitious climate targets and existing energy audit requirements for large buildings.
- Regional premie/prime programs offer subsidies for energy efficiency upgrades including building automation.
Check your building now
Enter your HVAC capacity and building type to find out if you are in scope for the 2029 BACS deadline — free, no signup required.
Start compliance checkOfficial sources anchor legal and policy claims. Industry guidance can explain practical readiness, but it is not presented as law. Demo assumptions are labelled and must be replaced with verified project data before decisions.
Review source authority levelsThis guide provides indicative planning information only. It does not constitute legal, engineering, or financial advice. Confirm requirements with qualified advisers and official regional energy agencies.