Luxembourg CCDL Exam cheat sheet

Loi du 25 février 1979 sur le logement: defines social housing (logement social) and the role of the SNHBM and communes in subsidised rental and acquisition schemes.

Loi du 21 septembre 2006 sur le bail à usage d'habitation: governs residential leases, notice periods (3 months for tenant, 6 months for landlord with justification), and limits on deposits (max 2 months' rent, returned within 1 month of handover).

Loi du 8 septembre 1998 (bail commercial) does NOT apply to dwellings; misclassification of a residential lease as commercial is void against the tenant.

Bail à usage d'habitation must be in writing, state surface area and number of rooms (loi 2006), and include an état des lieux (inventory) at entry and exit.

Rent indexation is tied to the consumer price index (échelle mobile); a rent increase requires 3 months' written notice and cannot exceed the index adjustment.

Loi du 22 octobre 2008 on the impôt foncier and the taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (TVA) at 3% super-reduced rate applies to certain owner-occupied principal residences (conditions: single dwelling, minimum surface, completion within deadline).

Loi du 19 juillet 2004 (Code du travail) and loi du 7 août 2023 on the protection of tenants: eviction requires a court order; winter truce (trêve hivernale) from 1 November to 15 March restricts enforcement.

Copropriété: loi du 16 mai 1975 (as amended) governs co-ownership, mandatory syndic, general assembly voting majorities (art. 13: 3/4 for structural works, unanimity for change of destination).

Loi du 30 juillet 2013 concernant l'aménagement du territoire: hierarchy of plans - Programme directeur (national), plans directeurs régionaux, PAG (plan d'aménagement général, communal), PAP (plan d'aménagement particulier, project-level).

PAG (Plan d'Aménagement Général) replaced the former PAG/POS system; it defines zones (habitat, mixte, activités économiques, agricole, forestier, verdure, etc.) and is adopted by the commune after public enquiry and ministerial approval.

PAP (Plan d'Aménagement Particulier) must be compatible with the PAG; two types - PAP 'quartier existant' (existing fabric) and PAP 'nouveau quartier' (new development). PAP requires a convention with the commune for infrastructure.

COS (coefficient d'occupation du sol) and CUS (coefficient d'utilisation du sol) are set in the PAG/PAP; COS = footprint/plot area; CUS = gross floor area/plot area.

Superficie d'emprise au sol (footprint) and superficie de plancher (gross floor) are distinct; only the latter counts toward CUS.

Servitudes urbanistiques (setbacks, building lines, height limits) are registered in the PAG/PAP and bind subsequent owners; they run with the land.

Loi du 28 juillet 2011 (as amended) on the Pacte logement: communes receive subsidies for creating housing; the Pacte logement 2.0 (2023) links funding to densification targets.

Modification of a PAG requires: communal council vote, public enquiry (enquête publique) of 30 days, ministerial approval; a PAP requires a similar but shorter procedure.

Loi du 19 juillet 2004 (as amended) on the organisation of construction (loi sur l'aménagement communal et le développement urbain) requires a permis de construire (building permit) for new construction, substantial alteration, change of use, and certain demolition.

Application is submitted to the commune; the commune has 3 months (extendable) to decide; silence beyond the legal period does not equal approval - explicit authorisation is required.

Permis d'aménagement (PAP) and permis de construire are distinct; a PAP must be approved before a building permit can be granted for a new development.

Commissions: Commission des sites et monuments nationaux (for listed/heritage buildings), Commission consultative (communal), and the Ministère de l'Intérieur for appeals.

Recours: appeal against a refusal is lodged with the Conseil d'État (administrative jurisdiction) within 3 months of notification; an appeal suspends neither the works nor the decision unless a référé-suspension is granted.

Déclaration préalable (notification) is required for minor works (fences, small extensions below thresholds set by communal règlement); it is not a permit.

Certificat d'urbanisme (certificate of urbanism) is a non-binding information document issued by the commune stating applicable planning rules for a plot.

Récolement (final inspection) and conformity certificate: works must conform to the permit; unauthorised works can be ordered to be demolished or regularised under the loi du 19 juillet 2004.

Loi du 23 décembre 2016 (as amended) on energy performance of buildings (performance énergétique des bâtiments, PEB) transposes the EPBD; applies to new buildings and major renovations.

PEB certificate (certificat de performance énergétique) is mandatory for new buildings, sale, and rental; classes range from A to I; the certificate is valid 10 years.

Nearly zero-energy building (nZEB / bâtiment à consommation quasi nulle) is mandatory for new buildings from 2021 (public) / 2023 (private).

Key U-values (residential, W/m²K): roof ≤ 0.15, external wall ≤ 0.20, floor on ground ≤ 0.25, windows ≤ 1.10 (Uw); thermal bridging must be limited (ψ ≤ 0.01 W/mK).

K-value (coefficient de transmission thermique global) for residential ≤ 0.30 W/m³K (new build); airtightness n50 ≤ 1.5 h⁻¹ for nZEB.

Summer comfort: overheating risk assessed; solar factor (g-value) of glazing ≤ 0.35 for south-facing; external shading recommended.

Moisture: Glaser method for interstitial condensation; vapour barrier on warm side; capillary break at floor-wall junction.

Circular economy and sustainability: LCA (analyse du cycle de vie) increasingly required; use of renewable energy (heat pumps, solar thermal/PV) and rainwater harvesting supported by subsidies.

Eurocodes apply in Luxembourg: EN 1990 (basis), EN 1991 (actions), EN 1992 (concrete), EN 1993 (steel), EN 1995 (timber), EN 1996 (masonry), EN 1998 (seismic). National Annexes (ANL) adopted.

Seismic: Luxembourg is in zone 0/low seismicity; EN 1998-1 with national annex; design ground acceleration ag ≤ 0.04g for most of the territory - nominal seismic design for ordinary buildings.

Snow load: sk ≤ 0.8 kN/m² at ground for altitudes < 300 m; wind: basic velocity vb,0 ≈ 24 m/s (terrain categories per EN 1991-1-4).

Imposed loads (EN 1991-1-1): residential floors qk = 1.5 kN/m², stairs 3.0 kN/m², balconies 2.5 kN/m² (categories A, B).

Concrete: C25/30 minimum for reinforced concrete in normal exposure (XC1); cover cnom = cmin + Δcdev (Δcdev = 10 mm typical).

Timber: EN 1995-1-1; service classes 1-3; kdef for deflection; connections per EN 1995-1-1 §8.

Masonry: EN 1996; characteristic compressive strength fk from unit and mortar; slenderness ratio limits.

Foundations: Luxembourg geology - Luxembourg Sandstone (Lias) in the centre/east, schist and quartzite in the Ardennes (Oesling); geotechnical investigation per EN 1997 required before foundation design.

Heating: EN 12831 load calculation; condensing boilers with seasonal efficiency ≥ 90%; heat pumps (air-water, ground-source) encouraged under PEB.

Ventilation: EN 13141/EN 13779; residential mechanical extract ventilation (VMC) minimum 0.3 air changes per hour; nZEB requires demand-controlled ventilation with heat recovery (η ≥ 80%).

Domestic hot water: solar thermal with min. 50% coverage for new residential buildings (PEB requirement); legionella prevention - store at ≥ 60 °C, distribute at ≥ 50 °C.

Electrical: RGIE/AREI (règlement général des installations électriques) applies; differential protection 30 mA for socket circuits; earthing per TN system.

Gas: installation per EN 1775; gas certificate required; annual inspection.

Fire safety installations: smoke detectors mandatory in dwellings (loi du 8 juin 2004); detection in common areas of apartment buildings.

Lifts: EN 81-20/50; inspection every 12 months by an approved body (Sécurité-Santé au travail / ITM).

Rainwater and greywater: separate networks; infiltration encouraged; rainwater harvesting for WC and garden permitted with backflow protection.

Loi du 17 juin 1994 (as amended) on safety and health at work - employer obligations; chantier coordination required when multiple contractors work on site (coordinateur sécurité-santé).

Loi du 8 juin 2004 on fire safety in residential buildings: smoke detectors in every dwelling; common areas protected; escape routes maintained.

Fire compartments: residential buildings - compartmentation between units (REI 30/60 depending on height); stairwells protected; max travel distance to exit ≈ 20 m (residential).

Reaction to fire: EN 13501-1 classification (A1 to F); floor coverings in escape routes ≥ Bfl-s1; wall linings ≥ B-s1,d0 in common areas.

Emergency lighting and signage: EN 1838; escape routes illuminated ≥ 1 lux; exit signs per ISO 7010.

Construction site: EN 13374 edge protection; scaffolding per EN 12811; excavation shoring required > 1.25 m depth; PPE per loi 1994.

Asbestos: loi du 6 février 2007 (as amended) - inventory required before renovation of buildings pre-2005; removal by certified firms.

Access for fire services: minimum 3 m wide access road, 4 m clear height, turning radius per communal règlement; dry riser in buildings > 8 m.

Loi du 7 janvier 2022 on accessibility (loi portant sur l'accessibilité des lieux ouverts au public) - replaces earlier provisions; applies to public buildings and public spaces.

Ramp: max slope 6% (5% preferred) for new buildings; length ≤ 10 m per flight; landing ≥ 1.5 m; handrails both sides at 0.90 m.

Door clear width ≥ 0.90 m (0.80 m minimum for interior doors in dwellings); threshold ≤ 2 cm; lever handles at 1.00-1.10 m.

Accessible WC: min. 1.50 m turning circle; grab bars; seat height 0.45-0.50 m; emergency call.

Corridors: min. 1.20 m clear width (1.50 m preferred); passing places every 10 m.

Lift: min. car 1.10 × 1.40 m; door width ≥ 0.90 m; controls at 0.90-1.20 m; tactile and acoustic signals.

Parking: accessible spaces min. 3.30 m wide (2.50 m + 0.80 m transfer); 1 per 50 spaces minimum; located near entrance.

Visual contrast: 30% luminance contrast for door frames, stair nosings; tactile guidance paths at public entrances.

Architect's contract: loi du 28 décembre 1988 (as amended) on the profession of architect and engineer; architects must be registered with the Ordre des Architectes et des Ingénieurs-Conseils (OAI).

Mission types per OAI: esquisse, avant-projet, projet, dossier d'autorisation, appel d'offres, chantier, réception - defined in the contrat d'architecture.

Public procurement: loi du 8 avril 2018 on public contracts (transposes EU directives 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU); thresholds - €143,000 (works) / €221,000 (services) for central government; EU thresholds updated biennially.

Contract types: marché à forfait (lump sum), marché à bordereau (unit price), marché à régie (cost-plus); forfait limits variation claims to unforeseen circumstances.

Réception (handover): provisional acceptance (réception provisoire) starts the 1-year guarantee (garantie de parfait achèvement); 10-year decennial liability (responsabilité décennale) for structural and waterproofing defects.

Retenue de garantie: 5% of contract price retained until final acceptance; can be replaced by a bank guarantee.

Insurance: architects and contractors must hold professional indemnity (RC professionnelle) and decennial insurance (assurance décennale) for construction.

Delay penalties (pénalités de retard): typically 1/1000 of contract price per day, capped at 10%; force majeure suspends.

Site safety coordination: coordinateur sécurité-santé required from design phase (loi 1994); OAI code of ethics governs conflicts of interest and fee transparency.