Guides for property managers · BRUXELLES
PEB evidence for shared roofs and façades in Brussels
How Brussels property managers can organise invoices, plans and photographs documenting roof and wall insulation for apartment PEB certificates.
“The roof was insulated, but we cannot find the details.” Before a PEB campaign, that is a reason for a targeted search. A finished wall or roof does not always reveal its layers. The managing agent’s task is to gather verifiable information and identify where the work took place. A small, well-labelled file can be more useful than hundreds of unexplained attachments.
Identify each building element first
Draw a simple plan naming the main roof, extension, street façade, rear façade, exposed side wall and floor above the basement. Keep these names consistent. Record known works and approximate dates, clearly separating confirmed information from points still to check. This map will help former contractors understand your request.
A Brussels building altered in stages may contain different roof constructions. An invoice for the extension does not necessarily describe the main roof. Likewise, façade repairs do not by themselves prove that insulation was added. Leave uncertainties visible instead of filling the gaps with assumptions.
Look for documents that support one another
The assessor evaluates evidence under the regional method. The official certification resources include the protocol and visit preparation guidance. Receiving a document does not automatically make it acceptable evidence.
- Detailed invoices: identify the address, affected element and materials or work described.
- Technical sheets: connect the specified product with evidence that it was used on this building.
- Plans and works records: check whether they describe what was actually built.
- Photographs: retain their context and useful views identifying the location.
- Earlier files: locate references to evidence used in previous certification.
A product brochure describes a product; it does not establish that the product was installed here. Make that connection understandable and let the assessor decide how the evidence can be used, particularly where different records conflict.
Connect shared elements with the relevant homes
A roof, exposed side wall and basement ceiling do not affect every apartment in the same way. A top-floor home and a central apartment have different areas in contact with those elements. Our educational building model illustrates these relationships. Its colours identify relevant building parts rather than assigning energy ratings.
Add a list of homes potentially connected to each element, clearly marked for professional verification. Keep original documents alongside short explanations. Do not edit an invoice to fill in missing information. If needed, ask its issuer for clarification or a correct copy.
Handle missing evidence honestly
Contact the contractor, architect or the co-ownership’s archive. A request specifying the address, approximate date and type of work is more effective than asking for everything. If no useful evidence is found, record the gap. The regional explanation of PEB results describes the use of default values for some unknown features.
Do not open a wall solely to complete the file without professional advice. Any further investigation needs a useful purpose and an appropriate method. Finding a document may improve the precision of the assessment, but does not guarantee a different rating.
Prepare evidence for future works
Before the next project, agree what contractors will provide: final descriptions, product references, invoices and useful photographs before layers are covered. File them by building element as they arrive. This makes future certification and a handover to another managing agent easier.
Equipment needs its own preparation. See our guide to communal heating and ventilation records for managing agents.
Compare PEB Collectif, Vision Copro and Décision ACP to choose how much building-level support you need. Describe the evidence available when requesting a quotation; you do not need to resolve every technical question first. Linked regional sources are in French.
Prepare your file, then choose the level of support that fits your building.
Review my building’s evidence