DGNB CRITERION SITE1.

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

CORE AND SCHEME SHEET

Offices Version 2014

TOPIC
Site Quality

CRITERIA GROUP
Site Quality

RELEVANCE FACTOR
2
SHARE OF TOTAL SCORE
0.0%

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OBJECTIVES AND RELEVANCE

Buildings are subject to many different environmental influences. As a rule, legal regulations appropriately
reflect these environmental influences on a building. In addition to this, this criterion deals with extreme
events which can clearly influence the condition and value of a building.

Additional Explanation

Natural hazards result from the geographical conditions of the location. In general, their intensity and fre-
quency cannot be influenced and it is hard to predict them. The methodology takes into consideration the
respective likelihood of occurrence and the possible severity of the impact.

METHOD

The evaluation of the indicators is based on the respective risk maps provided by the European Spatial
Design Observation Network (ESPON). The ESPON maps are available to download (see REFERENCES
AND FURTHER READING).

In countries not covered by ESPON maps, the auditor will be required to identify alternative sources of risk
data. After consultation with DGNB regarding already existing alternative sources, the alternative data will
not use the same categorisation of risks. The checklist points must be recalibrated to suit the different num-
ber of risk categories in the alternative source.

Due to the fact that there is a difference in number and type of risks worldwide, all existing risks are listed in
indicator 1 of this criterion. For the evaluation of site location risks, the Auditor has to select 5 sub-indicators
relevant for the project-specific site. For each of these sub-indicators a maximum score of 12 CLP can be
achieved. Please note that in some sub-indicators the risks are evaluated separately and evaluation points
must be added to calculate the final score, e.g. 1.1 Earthquake and volcanoes, 1.3 Flood, and 1.7 Droughts.
The selection of the relevant risks and the evaluation must be documented in a transparent and plausible
way.

1. Site location risks

The type and number of hazards considered depends on the country specific conditions. Certain hazards
can be excluded from the assessment if they are not relevant, e.g. for climatic, geographic, and geological
reasons.

1.1 Earthquake and volcanoes

The risk depends on the frequency of an earthquake or eruption.

ESPON map:

 earthquake hazard map

 volcanic hazard map

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1.2 Storm surges and tsunamis

Depending on the location the reason for surges can be storms as well as tsunamis.

ESPON map:

 storm surge hazard map

 tsunami hazard map

1.3 Flood
The risk of floods is evaluated by a combination of the number of large flood events and the influence of
precipitation.

ESPON map:

 flood recurrence map

 precipitation contributing to flood risk

1.4 Avalanches
ESPON map:

 avalanche hazard map

1.5 Extreme temperatures

Extreme temperatures include high temperatures (e.g. heat waves) as well as cold temperatures (e.g. cold
snaps).

ESPON map:

 extreme temperature hazard map

1.6 Storms
Storms differ from the southern to the northern hemisphere and take all types of storms into considerations
(e.g. Cyclones, Hurricanes, winter storms, tropical storms, tropical depressions, typhoons, tornados)

ESPON map:

 storm hazard map

1.7 Droughts
The risk of droughts depends on the length of dry spells and the lack of precipitation.

ESPON map:

 dry spell length affecting drought potential

 precipitation deficit as drought potential indication

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1.8 Landslides
ESPON map:

 landslide hazard map

1.9 Forest fires

Because of the increasing long dry spells the evaluation of forest fires consists of the wildfire hazard and the
length of dry spell affecting forest fires. Both indicators have to be evaluated and summed up.

ESPON maps:

 wildfire hazard map

 length of dry spell affecting forest fires

2. Site location conditions

2.1 External air quality
The evaluation of the outdoor air quality is based on the publicly available table of the World Health Organi-
zation (WHO). http://www.who.int/gho/phe/outdoor_air_pollution/oap_city_2003_2010.xls

For the assessment of this indicator the auditor has to select the country and city nearest to the project site
and assign the checklist points corresponding to the associated particulate matter (PM10)-values (see Table
14).

2.2 External noise

The source for information can be either a measurement of external sound level on the location or an exist-
ing noise map with detailed information about the conditions on the location. The value is classified via the
"decisive external sound level" according to DIN 4109-89, table 8 (requirement for airborne sound insulation
of external components).

2.3 Soil conditions

The soil conditions of the complete plot are tested for accumulated waste and remnants of explosives and
munitions. In order to assess accumulated waste (chemicals, building rubble, etc.) the information from a
soil survey of the plot must be used. If no soil survey is available, it is not possible to have a positive evalua-
tion. Information from the bomb disposal team with an initial appraisal of the plot is adequate for testing for
remnants of explosives and munitions. If the presence of bomb craters is also suspected, a more precise
examination of the ground must take place.

2.4 Radon
The evaluation is performed using measured values. The benchmark refers to the national limit values Q 2
a/b, which are listed in the WHO International Radiation Project (IRP).

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EVALUATION

1. Site location risks

1.1 Earthquake and volcanoes*

TABLE 1

EARTHQUAKE CLP

Very high hazard 0

High hazard 1

Moderate hazard 3

Low hazard 4

Very low hazard 6

TABLE 2

VOLCANOES CLP

Particularly hazardous volcanoes or uncertain status of eruption 0

Last eruption after 1800 AD 1

Last eruption before 1800 AD 4

No eruptions 6

* A maximum achievable score of 12 CLP is possible for this sub-indicator.

To calculate the total score, please add the values obtained in each of the above tables

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1.2 Storm surges and tsunamis

TABLE 3

STORM SURGES AND TSUNAMIS CLP

Regions that lie in vicinity to tectonically active zones and have ex- 0
perienced earthquakes/volcano/landslide associated tsunami
and/or
Regions with possibility of storm surge hazards

Regions that experienced landslide associated tsunami 3

and/or
Tsunami potential in coastal areas close to tectonically active zones

No tsunami and no storm surge hazards 12

1.3 Flood*

TABLE 4

FLOOD RECURENCE CLP

Very high 0

High 1

Moderate 3

Low 4

Very low 6

TABLE 5

PRECIPITATION CLP

Increasing impact on flood hazards 0

No or decreasing impact on flood hazards 6

* A maximum achievable score of 12 CLP is possible for this sub-indicator.

To calculate the total score, please add the values obtained in each of the above tables

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1.4 Avalanches

TABLE 6

AVALANCHES CLP

Avalanches 0

No avalanches 12

1.5 Extreme temperatures

TABLE 7

EXTREME TEMPERATUES CLP

High hazard 0

Moderate hazard 5

Low hazard 12

1.6 Storms

TABLE 8

STORMS CLP

High – very high probability 0

Medium – high probability 5

Very low probability 12

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1.7 Droughts*

TABLE 9

DRY SPELLS CLP

Moderate increasing impact on drought potential 0

Low increasing impact on drought potential 1

Very low increasing impact on drought potential 4

No impact on drought potential 6

TABLE 10

PRECIPITATION DEFICIT CLP

Very high 0

High 1

Moderate 3

Low 4

Very low 6

* A maximum achievable score of 12 CLP is possible for this sub-indicator.

To calculate the total score, please add the values obtained in each of the above tables

1.8 Landslides

TABLE 11

LANDSLIDES CLP

High hazard 0

Low hazard 12

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1.9 Forest fires*

TABLE 12

WILDFIRE HAZARD CLP

Very high 0

High 1

Moderate 3

Low 4

Very low 6

TABLE 13

DRY SPELLS CLP

High increasing impact on forest fire hazard 0

Moderate increasing impact on forest fire hazard 1

Low increasing impact on forest fire hazards 4

No impact on forest fire hazards 6

* A maximum achievable score of 12 CLP is possible for this sub-indicator.

To calculate the total score, please add the values obtained in each of the above tables

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2. Site location conditions

2.1 External air quality

TABLE 14

ANNUAL MEAN PM 10 CLP

> 25 -40 µg/m3 2.5

>10 -25 µg/m3 5

0 - 10 µg/m3 10

2.2 External noise

TABLE 15

CATEGORY CLP

Measurement occurs or noise map present

> 75 dB(A) (noise level range VI and VII according to DIN 4109) 0

< 75 dB(A) (noise level range IV and V according to DIN 4109) 3

< 65 dB(A) (noise level range II and III according to DIN 4109) 6

< 55 dB(A) (noise level range I according to DIN 4109) 10

2.3 Soil conditions

TABLE 16

ACCUMULATED W ASTE CLP

Soil survey present

Soil contamination with a low risk or contamination and partially 1

removal with residual risk resulting in a limitation of use.

No soil contamination or contamination and complete removal of 5

the accumulated waste

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TABLE 17

EXPLOSIVES/MUNITIONS CLP

No contamination, or contamination and verifiable removal of the 5

risk sources present

2.4 Radon

TABLE 18

LIMIT VALUE CLP

Non-compliance with Q 2 a/b 0

Compliance with Q 2 a/b 2.5

< 75% of Q 2 a/b 5

< 50% of Q 2 a/b 10

Conversion table

TABLE 19

CHECKLIST POINTS (CLP) EVALUATION POINTS

VALUE LIMIT G 20 1

REFERENCE VALUE R 50 5

TARGET VALUE Z 100 10

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DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Examples of possible evidence include the following items. The allocation of points for individual indicators
must be backed up by comprehensive and plausible evidence.

1. Site location risks

The information must be presented via the maps and information sources shown above and provided with
the date of the reference and an indication of the source. The location of the building must be indicated as
much detail as possible; the arrangement into the respective category must be documented clearly. The
relevant statements must be marked clearly in surveys and measurement logs.

2. Site location conditions

2.1 External air quality
Annual mean value for PM 10 in the nearest city

2.2 External noise

Submission of the measurement results or a noise map with indication of the building

2.3 Soil conditions

Soil assessment with information on evaluations of contamination and explosives/munitions

2.4 Radon
Radon contamination level at the location
National action level of radon gas concentration Q 2 a/b as listed in the WHO International Radiation Project

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

ESPON (European Design Observation Network):

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/contacts/v.php?id=3922

WHO International Radiation Project (IRP)

http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/IRP_Survey_on_Radon.pdf

External air quality

http://www.who.int/gho/phe/outdoor_air_pollution/oap_city_2003_2010.xls

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