KBOB publishes fact sheet: Methodology for calculating life cycle costs in the construction sector

The Coordination Conference of Construction and Real Estate Bodies of Public Building Owners (KBOB) has published the fact sheet “Methodology for Determining Life-Cycle Costs in the Construction Sector” (Version 1.0). Intep developed the fact sheet in collaboration with KBOB, managed the process, and oversaw the content.

The fact sheet establishes a uniform basis for calculating and evaluating life cycle costs (LCC) in federal government construction projects. It is intended primarily for the federal government’s construction and real estate agencies—including armasuisse Real Estate, the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL), the ETH Board, and the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA).

The aim of this methodology is to enable the comparable, transparent, and traceable evaluation of construction projects throughout their entire lifecycle. This provides a sound basis for investment decisions that takes into account not only construction costs but also the long-term financial implications of buildings.

The methodology is based on recognized international and Swiss standards, in particular ISO 15686-5 on the life-cycle cost analysis of buildings and DIN ISO 20400:2021 on sustainable procurement. Building on this, the fact sheet defines a uniform cost structure and harmonized calculation system for use in federal projects. It also offers other organizations the opportunity to use this methodological approach as a guide for projects in the construction sector.

In the future, the use of this methodology will be mandatory for federal construction projects with investment costs exceeding CHF 10 million.

With this new fact sheet, KBOB is establishing an important foundation for systematically incorporating life-cycle costs into planning and investment decisions, thereby promoting cost-effective and sustainable solutions in public construction over the long term..

The fact sheet (German) is available on the KBOB website under “Sustainable Construction / Life Cycle Costs.” Translations into French and Italian will be published at a later date.