The parts of BRL 9500 at a glance
BRL 9500 is not a single document, but a collection of assessment guidelines for energy performance. There is a variant for homes (BRL 9500-W) and a variant for non-residential buildings (BRL 9500-U). In addition, guidelines exist for bespoke advice.
This page sets out the parts. For each part you can see who it applies to and which page on this site explains it in more detail. The guidelines are managed by InstallQ . For the official list of documents, check there.
You rarely need all the parts. An adviser who only surveys homes needs BRL 9500-W. For an office or school, that is BRL 9500-U.
On this page
Below are the parts of BRL 9500 with their purpose. Start with the overview if you want to know which part fits your situation. Then read the section you need.
All parts side by side, with the matching page.
The overview in a tableThe two main variants, for homes and non-residential buildings.
BRL 9500-W and BRL 9500-UAdvice tailored to a building, and its registration with RVO.
Bespoke adviceWhy the software must also be certified.
BRL 9501: the calculation softwareThe overview in a table
| Part | Who it is for | What it regulates | Explained on |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRL 9500-W | Homes and residential buildings | How a company and adviser record the energy performance of homes | Home or non-residential |
| BRL 9500-U | Non-residential buildings, such as offices and schools | How a company and adviser record the energy performance of non-residential buildings | Home or non-residential |
| BRL 9500-MWA-W and MWA-U | Bespoke advice for homes and non-residential buildings | The advice tailored to a building, and its registration with RVO | Requirements |
| BRL 9501 | Manufacturers and suppliers of calculation software | Attestation of the software that performs the calculation | NTA 8800 |
This breakdown follows the parts as they currently apply. The pages on this site that cover them are listed in the last column.
BRL 9500-W and BRL 9500-U
The -W and the -U are the two main variants. The letter shows which type of building you may label. Each variant has two types of adviser: a basic adviser and a detailed adviser. That makes four competences in total: EP-W/B, EP-W/D, EP-U/B and EP-U/D.
A company that wants a certificate needs at least one of the two variants. If the company works on both homes and offices, it needs both. According to Kiwa, the company must first hold a valid BRL 9500-W and/or -U certificate before it may register bespoke advice.
You can read about the difference between the variants and the requirements that go with them on BRL 9500 for homes and non-residential buildings. The difference between the two adviser competences is set out on basic versus detailed survey.
Bespoke advice: BRL 9500-MWA
Bespoke advice is advice tailored to a building, on top of the standard energy label. It belongs to the guidelines BRL 9500-MWA-W and BRL 9500-MWA-U. According to Kiwa, these have been in force since 1 July 2023. Bespoke advice has had to be registered with RVO since then.
Older documents sometimes use different numbers for bespoke advice guidelines. Ask your certification body which guideline applies to your advice.
An adviser who produces bespoke advice also needs the EP-maatwerkadviseur (EP bespoke advice adviser) competence, in addition to their standard competence. This applies to both homes and non-residential buildings.
BRL 9501: the calculation software
BRL 9501 is not part of BRL 9500, but it is closely linked to it. It covers the attestation of calculation software. According to RVO, a permit application for a new building requires software attested under BRL 9501.
For the adviser, this means always using the correct software version. That version must match the designated version of NTA 8800. Read more on NTA 8800 explained.
Which numbers do you see on older documents?
You will also find older numbers for these guidelines online. If you are unsure, ask your certification body which document applies. The current list of documents is held by InstallQ.
An example: a consultancy with homes and offices
Energiezaak Noord is a fictional consultancy. It produces labels for homes owned by a housing association and for an office building owned by an insurer. The firm therefore needs BRL 9500-W for the homes and BRL 9500-U for the office.
For one home that needs bespoke advice, MWA-W is added. The office receives advice under MWA-U if the client asks for it. This is how you decide per assignment which parts you need.
During certification, the body looks at the whole company. The firm must be able to demonstrate that every part it uses is in order. You can find more about that process on company certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all the parts of BRL 9500?
No. You only need the parts that match your buildings and your work. A company that works only on homes does not need to obtain the non-residential variant.
What does an old number on my certificate mean?
Ask your certification body which guideline it refers to and what that means for the validity of your certificate.
Where can I find the official list of parts?
It is held by InstallQ, the foundation that manages the guidelines.