The RE2020 continues its gradual rollout. Decree no. 2026-16 of 15 January 2026 provides for the extension of its application to new building types. This change concerns building permits and prior declarations filed from 1 May 2026. This means that project owners, developers, manufacturers and engineering firms must start anticipating these new regulatory obligations now.
Which new buildings are concerned by the RE2020?
From May 2026, the regulation will apply in particular to:
- Media libraries and libraries
- Atypical educational buildings
- University teaching and research buildings
- Hotels
- Early childhood facilities
- Restaurants and shops
- Healthcare facilities with accommodation
- Health establishments
- Air terminals
- Industrial and craft buildings
- Sports facilities
This extension marks a major milestone: the RE2020 no longer concerns only housing or certain offices, but broadens to varied sectors of the tertiary, health and industry fields.
A reminder: the 5 performance requirements of the RE2020
1. Optimising energy design
The building must be designed to reduce its energy needs from the architectural phase (orientation, insulation, compactness, etc.).
2. Limiting primary energy consumption
The objective is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to favour high-performing, low-carbon systems.
3. Reducing the carbon impact linked to energy consumption
Beyond energy performance, the regulation requires limiting the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the building's use.
4. Limiting the carbon impact of building components
This is where the building LCA becomes central. Materials, equipment and technical systems must be assessed according to their environmental impact over the entire life cycle (manufacturing, transport, installation, end of life). This implies the use of reliable and verified EPDs and PEPs.
5. Limiting thermal discomfort in summer
The RE2020 introduces a specific indicator to measure summer comfort, in order to anticipate the heatwave episodes linked to climate change.
Why this extension is strategic for manufacturers
With the inclusion of industrial, craft and health buildings, regulatory pressure increases on manufacturers of building products. To meet RE2020 requirements, they must:
- provide precise environmental data
- produce compliant EPDs or PEPs
- structure their LCA data collection
- make their environmental declarations reliable
The carbon performance of components becomes a decisive criterion in tenders.
Anticipating the RE2020 through LCA and data structuring
The broadening of the RE2020 confirms an underlying trend: environmental data is becoming strategic. Setting up a structured Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach makes it possible to anticipate future regulatory requirements, secure product compliance, respond faster to RE2020 projects and showcase one's environmental performance.
Conclusion
From 1 May 2026, the RE2020 takes a new step by including many tertiary, industrial and health buildings. For players in the sector, the challenge is clear: anticipate, structure and make their environmental data reliable right now.