Certification is third-party verification that the house was actually built to spec.
There are many builders who say 'built to Passive House principles'. Very few lodge the evidence with the Passive House Institute and let an independent certifier sign off on it. Marvel Homes builds and lodges for PHI certification where clients want it, and builds to the same standard even when they don't.
Start a conversationDocumented, independent proof of performance.
Passive House certification is not a marketing label. It is a documented, third-party review of the PHPP energy model, the construction details, the product selections, and the measured blower-door results. The certifier either signs off, or they don't.
For the owner, this becomes a durable asset: proof of airtightness for insurance, a certified energy profile for valuation, documented ventilation commissioning for health and comfort claims, and portable evidence if the house is ever sold. The cost uplift for certification is small next to the value it locks in.
The three certification levels (PHI 2020+)
- Classic: the original benchmark, 15 kWh/m²·yr heating, 0.6 ACH50, no renewable generation requirement
- Plus: adds a minimum generation and primary-energy-renewable cap. Suitable for most Sydney sites
- Premium: highest spec, exceeds generation target by a wide margin. Typically requires larger roof area
Four stages, from concept to certificate.
Energy model built in parallel with the DA drawings. If we cannot hit the target, you know before lodgement.
All thermal envelope products specified with certified thermal values. No substitutions without PHPP re-run.
Two blower-door tests (pre-lining and final). MVHR balancing records. Photo documentation of every airtightness layer.
Package lodged with PHI-accredited certifier. Certificate issued with the house address on it.
'Passive House principles' vs PHI-certified build.
| Factor | Principles-only build | PHI certified build |
|---|---|---|
| PHPP model | Often not built, or built once at DA | Built at concept, updated through construction |
| Blower-door test | Sometimes, not always | Mandatory, pre-lining and final |
| Independent review | None | Third-party PHI-accredited certifier |
| Product substitutions | Builder's discretion | Only if PHPP re-run supports it |
| Outcome on resale | Claimed performance | Documented, portable certificate |
We take five to eight builds a year.
That means we are honest about fit before you spend. Certified passive house construction tends to be right for a particular kind of project.
A good fit
- Construction budget in the $900K to $2M+ range, spent on measured performance
- Planning around a 14 to 22 month timeline, not starting next month
- You value documented comfort, health and running cost over the lowest headline price
Probably not
- You want the cheapest quote and are not concerned with what it includes
- You need a fixed build price today, before anyone has reviewed your site
Not sure where you sit? The lowest-risk first step is a builder-agnostic site assessment. You own the report, whoever you build with.
Frequently asked
- Typically 0.5 to 0.8% of construction cost. That covers certifier fees, additional documentation, and the second blower-door test.
Worth certifying? Let's look at your site first.
Certification is not right for every project. We will tell you plainly whether yours is a good candidate.