Building standards: articles

DIN 18040, DIN 4109 and DIN 5034 translated into the door widths, decibel values and daylight factors that a flat in Germany is measured against.

The Building standards section reads the German DIN standards that decide how a flat is built and fitted out: DIN 18040-2 for barrier-free dwellings, DIN 4109 for sound insulation between flats and DIN 5034-1 for daylight through windows. Each article states the edition of the standard, the exact dimension, decibel value or daylight factor it requires, and where the requirement applies only to the wheelchair-accessible R standard or to new buildings. The figures come from the standards themselves or from the planning guides of the German chambers of architects, and every article names its sources. Readers who rent or buy a flat in Germany can use the tables to check a floor plan, a sales brochure or a renovation quote against the published minimums.