Towards a wider adoption of EN 17037: A Scandinavian perspective

The aim of the EN 17037:2018 Daylight standard is to ensure consistency of assessment method across Europe. It also provides recommendations as to levels of daylight which are considered to be acceptable. The lack of natural light common to Scandinavian winters provides a unique opportunity for application of the standard’s guidelines for daylight provision, yet across the region practical application has been limited. This paper examines the effect of the EN 17037 guidelines for daylight provision on the markets of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, with particular focus on how these guidelines relate to national regulations. The challenges to adoption are unique to each country, but a recurring theme is that the minimum recommendations for daylight provision are widely considered to be too stringent. This holds particularly true for application to multifamily residential buildings in urban settings. In a number of the countries, the standard’s acceptance has been further hindered by the persistence of simplified compliance methods. This paper advocates for the standard’s minimum thresholds for daylight provision to be adjusted to better align with market conditions. If the EN 17037 is to fulfil its potential, we regard this to be a necessary step.