Gas boilers in new-build homes in Brussels: what the Good Living regulation changes

A regulation reshaping heating in new-build homes in Brussels

If you're planning a construction, reconstruction or significant extension project in Brussels, you've probably already heard of Good Living, the regional planning regulation that replaced the old RRU. Beyond questions of building height, parking or outdoor layout, this text has very concrete consequences for the heating system you're allowed to install in a new building.

The trend is clear and fits into the Brussels Region's broader climate strategy: gradually limiting the use of fossil fuels, gas included, in new buildings, in favour of systems considered more efficient from an energy and environmental standpoint. For a project owner, architect or future homeowner, this means the heating system needs to be considered much earlier in the project than before, or you risk having to go back to the drawing board in the middle of structural works or technical installations.

As an approved heating engineer active in Brussels, we are regularly contacted by private individuals and contractors who discover these constraints too late, sometimes when filing the planning permit, sometimes even worse, in the middle of construction. This article takes stock of what Good Living actually means for gas heating in new builds, and the solutions that allow you to stay compliant without sacrificing comfort.

Why the Region is restricting gas in new buildings

The reasoning behind this tightening is fairly easy to understand. A new building, built today, will still be standing in fifty or sixty years' time. Installing a gas boiler right from construction creates a dependency on fossil fuels for several decades, even as the Region has committed to a trajectory of reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to buildings, which remains the leading source of emissions in Brussels.

In a renovation, the reasoning is different: replacing an old heating oil boiler with an efficient condensing gas boiler is often still a genuine improvement, and sometimes the only technically and financially realistic option in the short term. But in new builds, where everything is still to be designed, the logic changes: why fit a building with a technology that is known to be gradually phased out, when it's possible to start directly with a lasting system?

This is the logic behind the requirements of Good Living and, more broadly, the energy performance standards applicable to new buildings in Brussels (the well-known EPB (energy performance of buildings) requirements for new builds, which are already very strict independently of the planning regulation itself).

What this means in practice for your project

In practice, several elements combine, and it's important not to confuse them:

The EPB requirements applicable to new builds

For several years now, every new building in Brussels has had to meet very strict energy performance requirements, close to the nearly zero-energy standard. This doesn't mean gas is banned as such, but that a building heated solely by gas statistically struggles much more to reach these performance levels than a building fitted with a heat pump, especially if the building envelope is itself very well insulated.

The planning guidelines under Good Living

The Good Living regulation, for its part, incorporates sustainability objectives that strongly steer technical choices from the design stage, and which can translate into specific conditions or recommendations when your planning permit application is reviewed, depending on the nature and scale of the project.

Specific conditions imposed on a case-by-case basis

It's also worth knowing that the authorities issuing the permit can attach specific conditions relating to the heating system, particularly for larger-scale projects or those located in certain areas. These conditions aren't always identical from one case to another, which makes it all the more useful to find out in advance, on a project-by-project basis, rather than relying on general rules.

In practice, this means there is no absolute, blanket ban on gas in every new building project in Brussels, but rather a set of converging constraints that make gas increasingly difficult to justify, both technically and administratively, as a main heating source in new builds. The safest approach for any project owner is to check the requirements applicable to their specific case with the municipal or regional planning authority before finalising technical choices.

Which systems to turn to in order to stay compliant

The good news is that alternatives to gas in new builds are now mature, well established and perfectly suited to current building standards.

The heat pump, the go-to option

In the vast majority of well-insulated new-build projects, the air-to-water heat pump naturally stands out as the main heating solution. It works particularly well with underfloor heating or low-temperature radiators, which is exactly the kind of installation found in current new-build homes. Combined with good insulation and effective ventilation, it allows the EPB requirements applicable to new builds to be met without difficulty, while offering stable heating comfort.

Air-to-air heat pumps also exist, simpler to install but less suited to covering all the needs (heating and domestic hot water) of a family home. The choice between the different technologies depends on the layout of the building, its surface area, its orientation and the occupants' needs: this is a point worth discussing with a professional right from the preliminary design stage, not once the plans are finalised.

Connection to a district heating network, depending on location

In certain neighbourhoods of Brussels, particularly where district heating networks already exist or are being developed, connecting to an urban network can be an attractive alternative, especially for larger projects such as apartment buildings. This option depends heavily on the location of the plot and is worth checking very early on with the relevant network operators.

Hybrid solutions, for particular cases

For certain unusual projects, notably extensions or very extensive renovations treated as equivalent to new builds, a hybrid solution combining a heat pump with a gas top-up can still be technically justified, for example when peak demand is difficult to cover with the heat pump alone. However, this kind of setup must be approved on a case-by-case basis with the relevant authority, as its acceptability depends directly on the rules applicable to the specific project.

The case of extensions and reconstructions

This article focuses specifically on new builds, but it's worth bearing in mind that major extensions and extensive reconstructions can, depending on their scale, be treated by the regulations in a way fairly similar to a new building. If you're planning to significantly extend your home or rebuild after demolition, it's essential to check as early as the sketch design stage whether your project falls under the regime applicable to new builds or the more flexible one for renovations. This distinction can radically change the heating options available to you.

Planning ahead rather than reacting: steps to take before work begins

The main pitfall we see on the ground is not so much the ban on gas itself, but the point at which this constraint is discovered. Too often, the choice of heating system is still seen as a technical detail to be sorted out at the end of the project, once the architectural plans have been approved. Given current requirements, this is a risky approach.

We recommend incorporating energy considerations from the preliminary design stage onwards, alongside the architectural design:

• Check with the municipal or regional authority the precise conditions applicable to your permit, particularly regarding heating and energy performance.
• Have an energy study of the building carried out beforehand, to properly size a heat pump or any other solution being considered.
• Check the availability of a district heating network if the plot is located in a relevant neighbourhood.
• Plan the technical spaces (outdoor unit, plant room, ducting) right from the design stage, as a heat pump doesn't have quite the same installation constraints as a traditional gas boiler.
• Find out about current regional grants and eligibility conditions, which change regularly and can influence the final choice between different technologies — up-to-date information is available on bruxelles-environnement.be.

This forward planning avoids permit revisions during construction, extra costs linked to late changes, and above all situations where a building is handed over with a heating system that ultimately doesn't match the requirements of the permit issued.

What we can do for your project

At DPS Chauffagiste, we regularly support project owners, architects and contractors in Brussels in choosing and sizing the heating system for a new-build project. Whether you're still at the planning stage, putting together a permit application, or already on site and facing a technical question about the connection or the plant room, we can assess with you the options genuinely suited to your building: an air-to-water heat pump, a hybrid solution in cases where it's justified, or connection to an existing district heating network.

Our role isn't to steer you towards one technology as a matter of principle, but to help you make a choice that's consistent with your building, your budget and the regulatory framework applicable to your specific project, so that heating never becomes the sticking point of a construction project.

In summary

Gas is not purely and simply banned from every new building project in Brussels, but the regulatory framework, driven by Good Living and the EPB requirements applicable to new builds, makes its use as a main heating source increasingly difficult to justify for a building constructed today. The alternatives, particularly the heat pump, are now effectively the standard in most new-build projects in Brussels. The key to avoiding unpleasant surprises remains the same as it's always been in construction: ask the right technical questions as early as possible, and check the precise requirements applicable to your own project before committing to the plans.