TEK17 (Building Regulations) is the Norwegian regulatory framework that sets minimum technical requirements for construction works. These requirements must be met for a building to be legally constructed or altered in Norway. The regulations came into force on 1 July 2017 and replaced TEK10.

The purpose of TEK17 is to ensure high-quality buildings with regard to safety, health, environment, energy efficiency, and universal design. Direktoratet for byggkvalitet

TEK17 is function-based. This means the regulations define what a building must achieve, but to a lesser extent how the requirements should be met in practice.

The requirements apply to both new buildings and modifications to existing buildings, and include, among other things:

• Safety against fire, structural failure, and natural hazards

• Universal design and accessibility

• Indoor climate, health, and environmental conditions

• Energy and environmental performance requirements

• Documentation demonstrating compliance with the requirements

For many projects, it is the documentation requirements that create the most uncertainty:
What needs to be documented? Who is responsible? And at what stage in the project must this be in place?

TEK17 requirements are the minimum technical requirements that apply to construction works in Norway. They are function-based and define the performance level a building must achieve in areas such as safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, indoor climate, and environmental impact. To demonstrate compliance, the project must be able to document the selected solutions.

While TEK 17 applies to construction works and building permits, manufacturers also play a critical role by providing documentation on product information that enables designers and contractors to demonstrate their compliance. How this happens is well explained in Forskrift om dokumentasjon av byggevarer (DOK).

TEK17 applies to projects that require building application approval, including new buildings and significant alterations to existing buildings.

This means that whether you are constructing a new building, carrying out renovations, or rehabilitating an existing structure, the relevant TEK17 requirements must be assessed and documented.

TEK17 came into force on 1 July 2017 and replaced the previous regulations, TEK10. The regulations apply to building applications processed after this date and to measures subject to the Planning and Building Act.

Ja. TEK17 er en forskrift fastsatt med hjemmel i plan- og bygningsloven og er juridisk bindende for tiltak som er søknadspliktige. Det betyr at kravene i TEK17 må være oppfylt for at et prosjekt skal kunne godkjennes. 

TEK17 is divided into chapters covering areas such as documentation, energy performance, indoor climate, safety, and universal design. The regulations also set requirements for documentation proving that the criteria have been met.

In many projects, TEK17 compliance is handled through PDFs, manual checklists, and unstructured notes. This can lead to:

• Unclear responsibilities between roles and disciplines

• Lack of alignment between requirements, solutions, and documentation

• Poor traceability when changes occur during the project

• Non-compliances discovered late in the process

These challenges increase the risk of errors and extra costs—especially when documentation needs to be reviewed, handed over, or reused later.

TEK17 sets legally binding minimum requirements for construction works in areas such as safety, fire performance, environmental performance, and energy efficiency. Successful compliance depends on understanding both the regulatory requirements and the importance of structured, reliable documentation throughout the entire project lifecycle.

See how Cobuilder supports the management of TEK17 requirements, responsibilities, and documentation throughout the construction process.