ZVDH Roofing Rules and DIN 4108 (Germany)

In Germany, roofing practice rests on two main bodies of technical rules: the trade rules of the German roofing federation, and national standards from DIN, the German Institute for Standardization.

ZVDH and its technical rules

The Zentralverband des Deutschen Dachdeckerhandwerks (ZVDH) is the national federation of the German roofing trade. It was founded on 2 April 1949 in Marburg and is based in Cologne. Its direct members are the 16 state-level roofing associations, and through them it represents about 6,700 roofing businesses (2024 figure).

The ZVDH publishes the Regelwerk des Deutschen Dachdeckerhandwerks, a collection of technical rules (Fachregeln), guidelines (Richtlinien) and work instructions (Hinweise). They cover the main pitched and flat roof types and related components. The rules set out minimum pitches, overlaps, fixings, underlay classes and detailing. They are widely treated as the "generally recognized rules of technology" (anerkannte Regeln der Technik), which matters legally: German construction contracts and courts use these rules to judge whether work is free of defects.

DIN 4108: thermal and moisture protection

DIN 4108, Wärmeschutz und Energie-Einsparung in Gebäuden (Thermal protection and energy economy in buildings), is the main German standard series on thermal insulation and moisture protection. It applies to habitable rooms in buildings such as homes, offices, schools and hospitals. Parts most relevant to roofs include:

• DIN 4108-2 (2013) – minimum thermal protection, including avoiding condensation and mould and limiting summer overheating
• DIN 4108-3 (2018) – climate-related moisture protection, including the Glaser method for calculating condensation in building elements such as insulated roofs
• DIN 4108-7 (2011) – airtightness of buildings, important for pitched roofs with insulation between rafters

Germany's Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz, GEG) refers to DIN 4108 in several places. DIN 4108-6 is being phased out in favour of DIN V 18599 for energy calculations.

How they fit together

A typical insulated pitched roof in Germany must meet GEG energy requirements, demonstrate moisture safety under DIN 4108-3, achieve airtightness to DIN 4108-7, and follow ZVDH rules for the covering, underlay and details. European product standards such as EN 1304 and EN 12326 apply to the materials themselves.