Sustainability-related information on building products is required in various applications and contexts. However, manually maintaining product data across different platforms is time-consuming and prone to errors. The DGNB has therefore developed an interface for the DGNB Navigator that addresses this very issue and enables the real-time exchange of relevant information between the DGNB Navigator and the systems of our cooperation partners.
For manufacturers who have listed products both in the DGNB Navigator and on the platform or software of our cooperation partners, this means in concrete terms that they have the option to transfer information from the DGNB Navigator to our cooperation partners’ systems and have it displayed there as well. Consequently, the information only needs to be maintained on a single platform—the DGNB Navigator. The data in our cooperation partners’ systems is updated in real time. Similarly, information from our cooperation partners’ systems can be transferred directly into the DGNB Navigator via integration through interfaces and automatically updated. Here, too, changes are transferred in real time.
This not only reduces the manual data entry burden for manufacturers but also ensures that data remains up-to-date across all systems, benefiting both planners and DGNB certification experts.
The Platform: SHI Database
- The SHI Database is a platform for collecting and managing information on construction products. It provides validated and up-to-date data that is indispensable for designers, manufacturers, and certification experts.
- The platform is operated by Sentinel Holding Institut GmbH. Sentinel Holding Institut specializes in the testing and certification of construction products and ensures that all information contained in the SHI database meets the highest quality standards.
Integration of the Platform
- Manufacturers whose construction products are listed in the public section of the SHI database can also make their information publicly available in the DGNB Navigator via a digital interface. Additionally, the construction product information is made available to certification experts as part of their project audit. Changes to the product in the SHI database are automatically updated in the DGNB Navigator as well.
- The assessment (classification of a construction product into a quality level) by Sentinel Holding Institut GmbH is accepted by the DGNB as a possible supporting document within the scope of the project audit for the submission of a project for DGNB certification at the product level. Additional supporting documentation may be required at the building level
The Platform: AUSSCHREIBEN.DE
- AUSSCHREIBEN.DE is a portal where manufacturers of construction products publish current tender documents for their products, along with additional information. The portal is operated by ORCA Software GmbH.
- AUSSCHREIBEN.DE contains approximately 4 million product and planning documents, such as tender documents or BIM data.
The Interface
- Manufacturers whose building products are listed in the DGNB Navigator and on the AUSSCHREIBEN.DE platform can use the digital interface to automatically supplement their information on AUSSCHREIBEN.DE with selected sustainability metrics and information (EPD, GWP value, sustainability certificates, supporting documentation) that they provide in the DGNB Navigator.
- To use the interface, the item number/GTIN must be maintained in the product profile in the DGNB Navigator. This must match the respective number stored in the corresponding AUSSCHREIBEN.DE product profile. Additionally, the product profile in the DGNB Navigator must be public. Please refer to the platform itself for information on the necessary requirements on AUSSCHREIBEN.DE.
The Tool: ProCA
- ProCA is a digital tool for the automatic assessment of sustainability requirements for building products. For the first time, this also enables the assessment of an entire product portfolio. EPEA, the tool’s developer, is a leading consulting firm in the field of the circular economy and has been supporting companies for over 30 years in developing healthy, circular products and buildings based on the Cradle to Cradle® design principle.
The Interface
- Manufacturers whose building products have been assessed with ProCA and subsequently verified can publish their products in the DGNB Navigator via a digital interface in an automated and quality-assured manner. This makes the products directly accessible to certification experts and planners, giving manufacturers direct access to sustainable construction projects. The automatically generated and subsequently verified declarations from ProCA are accepted as potential supporting documents for criterion ENV1.2 in the DGNB certification process.
The Tool: BIM.pi
- BIM.pi is an online documentation tool developed by BIMphysics GmbH, a subsidiary of Kurz und Fischer GmbH. As part of the building certification process, it ensures an efficient review and approval process for construction products by providing a comprehensive overview of the relevant requirements and involving all project stakeholders.
The Interface:
- In the future, documentation for criterion ENV1.2 from the BIM.pi online documentation tool will be automatically transmitted to the project section of the DGNB Navigator as part of the project submission. This supports an efficient and seamless submission process for certification experts.
- Further information to be provided.
- Since its founding in 1966, ift Rosenheim has been dedicated to a holistic assessment of building products (windows, doors, gates, facades, glass, etc.), including components (hardware, seals), building elements, and the field of timber construction, through standardization, research, testing, and certification.
- The ift Rosenheim Sustainability Product Passport (NHPP) for building products and the product classification contained therein in accordance with DGNB New Construction System Criterion ENV1.2 is to be accepted in the future as potential supporting documentation within the scope of the project audit (further information to follow).
- In the future, manufacturers will be able to automatically transfer information from the NHPP to the DGNB Navigator and publish this information as a product profile in the DGNB Navigator (further information to be provided)
If you are interested in partnering with the DGNB Navigator, please contact navigator@dgnb.de.
Note: The DGNB Navigator’s interface is documented and implemented as standard. For a partnership to be possible, an interface must also be available in our partners’ systems.
Currently, the DGNB Navigator interface allows for the export of data to our partners’ systems. We are currently working on expanding these capabilities.