BRL 9500-W for homes and BRL 9500-U for non-residential buildings
BRL 9500 has two variants. BRL 9500-W is for residential construction, such as single-family homes and apartments. BRL 9500-U is for non-residential construction, so buildings that are not homes, such as offices, shops and schools. You determine which variant you need per building type.
The guidelines come from InstallQ , the foundation that manages them. The adviser determines the label using the NTA 8800 calculation method. The parts of BRL 9500 show all documents together.
The letter in the name refers to the building. A -W adviser labels homes, and a -U adviser labels non-residential buildings. The same calculation method applies to both variants.
Which buildings fall under which variant?
The division is simple as long as the building has one function. For mixed-use buildings, ask your certifying body or RVO which variant applies.
| Building | Variant | Competence required |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family home | BRL 9500-W | EP-W/B or EP-W/D |
| Apartment building | BRL 9500-W | EP-W/B or EP-W/D |
| Office building | BRL 9500-U | EP-U/B or EP-U/D |
| Shop or supermarket | BRL 9500-U | EP-U/B or EP-U/D |
| School or sports hall | BRL 9500-U | EP-U/B or EP-U/D |
The competence determines whether you may do a basic assessment or a detailed assessment. You can read about that difference on basic vs detailed assessment.
What do the two variants have in common?
Both variants work in the same way. A company that wants to label must obtain a certificate. To do so, the company studies the guideline, writes a quality manual and takes a national exam. An admission audit follows. Kiwa describes these steps on its own BRL 9500 page.
The auditor looks at two projects per subarea. For one project, they assess only the documents. For the other project, they also visit the site. Afterwards, they check whether the quality manual is followed in practice.
The label itself works the same way. The adviser registers it in EP-Online , and the label must always be produced with approved software and the designated NTA 8800 version.
What is different?
The competences and the exam differ per variant. The codes are different, and the exam is separate for residential and non-residential construction.
| Component | BRL 9500-W (residential) | BRL 9500-U (non-residential) |
|---|---|---|
| Adviser competences | EP-W/B and EP-W/D | EP-U/B and EP-U/D |
| Exam | National exam for residential construction | National exam for non-residential construction |
| Custom advice | MWA-W (custom advice for residential), registrable with RVO | MWA-U (custom advice for non-residential), registrable with RVO |
| Certificate | Separate certificate for -W | Separate certificate for -U |
A company that does both variants therefore needs two certificates. Custom advice (MWA) for homes and for non-residential buildings each requires its own registration.
An EP-W competence does not give you the right to label a non-residential building. For non-residential buildings, you need EP-U.
An example: a construction company with homes and an office
Bouwbedrijf Hoekstra is fictional. It builds twelve homes and an office next to the homes. The company needs a certificate for both variants, because it delivers both homes and non-residential buildings.
For the homes, Hoekstra deploys an adviser with EP-W/D. That adviser also carries out the detailed calculation for the permit. For the office, the company deploys an adviser with EP-U/B, because the building is existing and only the basic method is needed. This way, each building has the correct competence.
The company keeps track of the two certificates and checks whether the advisers have completed their continuing training.
What applies to a new version?
The guidelines are updated from time to time. According to InstallQ, version 2026 applies to BRL 9500-U. It replaces the version of 1 July 2024. Certificates based on the version of 1 July 2024 lose their validity one year after the new version is designated. For BRL 9500-W, the same rule applies with version 2026.
RVO reports that since 29 May 2026 the energy label has a new design. Ask your adviser which version of the guideline and of the calculation method they use. This way, you know whether the label is based on the latest rules.
Frequently asked questions
May an adviser with EP-W also label a non-residential building?
No. EP-W and EP-U are separate competences. For a non-residential building, you need an EP-U competence. You can find more about those competences on the EP adviser exam.
How do I know whether my building is residential or non-residential?
Look at the function the building has. A home is a place to live in. Everything that is work, education or sales falls under non-residential. If in doubt, ask RVO or your certifying body for confirmation.
Do I need both variants if I only label one type of building?
No. If you only label homes, BRL 9500-W is enough. If you only label offices or schools, you need BRL 9500-U. You only need both certificates when you label both types of building.