Construction | Regulatory changes effective January 1, 2026

Construction 2026 | What Changed on January 1

What should you know about the regulatory changes that came into effect on January 1, 2026? Several major regulations are now applicable in the construction sector. Energy savings certificates, fire safety in public buildings, accessibility of EV charging stations, protection of underground networks, and cyclone-resistant construction in the French Caribbean: the changes are numerous and wide-ranging.

To help you navigate these updates, OOTI breaks down the key measures. Here’s an overview of what’s changing at the start of the year.

Energy Savings Certificates (ESC) | The 6th period begins with significantly higher targets

January 1, 2026 marks the start of the sixth period of Energy Savings Certificates (ESC). This new phase, running until 2030, requires energy suppliers to meet substantially increased obligations. These developments align with recent provisions of the DDADUE law, which also impacts the construction sector.

In concrete terms, the total obligation volume increases by 27%, rising from 825 to 1,050 TWh cumac. About one quarter of this volume, approximately 280 TWh cumac, is specifically allocated to low-income households. The income thresholds defining these categories have also been updated for 2026.

Several notable changes also affect standardized operation sheets:

Residential sector: the BAR-TH-166 sheet (collective air-to-water or water-to-water heat pumps) is replaced by two new sheets:

• BAR-TH-179 (air-to-water)
• BAR-TH-180 (water-to-water or glycol-water-to-water)

Tertiary sector: the BAT-TH-113 sheet is replaced by:

• BAT-TH-163 (air-to-water)
• BAT-TH-164 (water-to-water or glycol-water-to-water)

These changes aim to better regulate collective heat pump installations based on their technology.

Energy Efficiency | The European directive comes into force

Several measures stemming from Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency come into effect on January 1, 2026. This European transposition directly impacts your activity if you work on energy-intensive buildings and is part of a broader push toward sustainable construction across Europe.

You must now account for new requirements related to energy audits and energy management systems. Operators of certain installations are also required to carry out cost-benefit analyses to assess the economic feasibility of improvements to heating and cooling supply systems.

The directive also clarifies expectations regarding the monitoring of data center energy performance.

If you operate a non-efficient district heating or cooling network with a capacity equal to or greater than 5 megawatts, you are required to develop an improvement plan. This plan must aim to increase the use of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and limit distribution losses.

Fire Safety | New rules for public buildings and high-rise buildings

Fire safety regulations are evolving for public-access buildings (ERP) and high-rise buildings (IGH). Provisions related to technical installations distributing or using gas have been amended as of January 1, 2026.

If you design or manage Category 5 ERP (small public buildings), new inspection and control requirements now apply to technical installations. You must ensure that your equipment complies with this strengthened regulatory framework. An ERP solution dedicated to architecture firms can help centralize and monitor these regulatory obligations.

Please note that provisions concerning the inspection of new or modified gas installations will only become applicable as of July 1, 2026, giving you additional time to comply with this specific requirement.

These changes reflect the public authorities’ intention to strengthen fire and panic risk prevention in buildings open to the public.

EV Charging Stations and Underground Networks | What changes for you

Two major regulatory developments have been in effect since January 1, 2026, concerning accessibility and the protection of networks.

Local authorities must now comply with new minimum thresholds for accessible parking spaces equipped with EV charging stations. These thresholds apply at the municipal or inter-municipal (EPCI) level:

Total number of equipped parking spaces
10 to 50 spaces: 35% accessible spaces
51 to 100 spaces: 25% accessible spaces

Regarding damage-prevention regulations for underground networks, the obligation to use georeferenced plans has been extended to sensitive underground networks located outside urban areas and non-sensitive networks located within urban areas.

You must therefore ensure that your work declarations rely on the most accurate mapping data available from the relevant local authority.

French Caribbean | Cyclone-resistant construction rules now apply to single-family homes

Guadeloupe and Martinique are exposed to the same cyclone risks. As of January 1, 2026, new cyclone-resistant construction regulations now apply to new single-family homes, as well as to the structural resistance of windows and doors in all buildings.

Other new buildings had already been subject to these rules since January 1, 2025. This final implementation phase aims to strengthen the resilience of the Caribbean building stock against cyclonic winds and to provide long-term protection for residents in these exposed territories.

To effectively manage these new regulatory constraints and secure your projects, discover how OOTI can simplify your day-to-day operations.
And don’t forget to start preparing now for mandatory electronic invoicing, another major milestone coming in 2026.

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