The Passive House detail, without the Passivhaus label.
For clients who want Passivhaus comfort (airtight, continuously ventilated, thermally stable) but don't need the certified stamp, we build to the same envelope standard without the lodgement cost.
Start a conversationIt is the same envelope, just without the PHI paperwork.
For roughly 80% of clients who come to us asking about Passive House, the building detailing is what they actually want, not the certificate. A high-performance build from Marvel Homes uses the same wall, roof and slab details as our Passivhaus projects. The difference is the documentation pathway.
- Full airtightness layer, continuous and inspected before lining
- MVHR on every home, with F7/ISO ePM1 filtration
- Triple or high-spec double glazing, sized to the PHPP model
- All-electric fitout, heat-pump HVAC, heat-pump hot water, induction
What you don't get is the lodged PHI certificate, the mandatory second blower-door test, and the third-party certifier review. If the certificate matters for resale or valuation, the certified Passive House builder page covers the full pathway.
High-performance vs certified Passivhaus.
| Factor | High-performance | Certified Passivhaus |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / roof / slab detail | Same | Same |
| Airtightness target | ≤1.0 ACH50 | ≤0.6 ACH50 |
| Blower-door tests | One (final) | Two (pre-line and final) |
| PHPP model | Built at DA | Built and maintained through construction |
| Third-party certifier | No | Yes |
| Certificate on completion | No | Yes, from PHI |
| Typical cost uplift vs premium code-minimum | +4 to 8% | +8 to 12% |
We take five to eight builds a year.
That means we are honest about fit before you spend. A high-performance build tends to be right for a particular kind of project.
A good fit
- Construction budget in the $900K to $2M+ range, spent on measured comfort
- Planning around a 14 to 22 month timeline, not starting next month
- You value 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
- Not reliably. Certification requires evidence captured during construction. If that evidence isn't captured, it can't be retro-fitted. Decide the path at concept stage.
Certified or high-performance. Which is right for your site?
Send the address and brief. We will recommend a path and give you a rate range for each.