1. HQE and its brand new sustainable reference framework challenge: case study in fiocruz, brazil
HQE French method, which has been adapted into AQUA Brazilian Certification – an acronym for HQE (High Quality Environmental) in Portuguese.
The new HQE reference framework was released in May 2015 but it will be gradually introduced in France starting 2016 and, in other countries only after 2017.
Marcia CORREIA, Monica SALGADO
FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation / UFRJ, Federal University – Rio – Brazil

2. Objectives
The main objective is to compare the former and the new HQE sustainability certification framework with the help of a study case from FIOCRUZ, important public heath foundation from Brazil.
The complex program of this facility includes:
research laboratories,
animal housing, administrative and
lab support,
totalizing ,62m²
in its eight levels with a semi underground parking floor.
Fig.1 3D image of future new FIOCRUZ headquarters in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

3. Methods
Tab.1 Building EQP for FIOCRUZ Facility – considering HQE former reference framework.
The former HQE 14 building targets
New Building Performance Level
Eco-construction
Category 1
Relation between the building and its surroundings
Best practices
Category 2
Integrated choice of construction products, system and process
Base
Category 3
Low environmental impact construction site
Management
Category 4
Energy management
Category 5
Water management
Category 6
Waste management from building use and operation
Category 7
Maintenance of environmental performance
Comfort
Category 8
Hydrothermal Comfort
Good practices
Category 9
Acoustical Comfort
Category 10
Visual Comfort
Category 11
Olfactory Comfort
Health
Category 12
Ambience Sanitary Quality
Category 13
Air Sanitary Quality
Category 14
Water Sanitary Quality
In order to obtain AQUA certification, and according to the method, it was necessary to define the Building EQP (Environmental Quality Profile), which must consider at least three targets with excellent performance, and maximum seven with base performance.

4. No equivalent categories
Results
Tab. 2 Analysis of FIOCRUZ Facility considering
new HQE requisites
Original HQE Categories
Revised HQE Commitments
FIOCRUZ Facility
8 to 14
Life Quality
Category 8
Good practices
Category 9
Base
Category 10
Category 11
Category 12
Category 13
Category 14 1
Best practices
4 to 5+7
Environmental Respect
Category 4
Category 5
Category 7
3+6 to 7
Category 3
Category 6
No equivalent categories
Economic Performance
No comparison
2 + 4 to 7
Responsible Management
Category 2
Conclusions:
The case study suggests that buildings that have received the original HQE certification will not be able to be certificated by the new rating system.
Indicating the need:
1) To incorporate economic aspects of sustainable construction in projects decisions and solutions.
2) To improve and incorporate LCA data, economic performance and continuous improvement.