- What is the certification process timeline?
- How do I assign an EDGE Auditor to my project?
- Where can I find the documentation list that needs to be submitted for certification? Are there different documents required for the design and site audits?
- Can a project skip the Preliminary Certificate and proceed directly to the post-construction stage?
- Does EDGE registration expire?
- Do EDGE Preliminary Certificates expire?
- How long after a project’s completion must the site audit take place?
- Can I use an alternate compliance approach (not listed in the EDGE App) to demonstrate compliance with a measure?
- What does the site audit involve? Is there any testing involved?
- Water pressure is not typically provided in manufacturer documentation in my country. What additional documentation would be acceptable?
What is the certification process timeline?
The initial round of the design or site audit is anticipated to be 5 business days, at which time the EDGE Auditor will contact the project team with a list of any clarifications or outstanding documents that need to be provided.
Note: there may be additional rounds of review (back-and-forth between the EDGE Auditor and the project team) before the EDGE Auditor submits their certification recommendation to GBCI.
GBCI will then perform a quality assessment of the EDGE Auditor’s recommendation. Once the Auditor submits to GBCI, the final decision regarding Preliminary Certificate (outcome of a design audit) or Final EDGE Certification (outcome of a site audit) will be provided approximately 10 business days after the Auditor’s recommendation is made to GBCI. More details on timelines are available on the GBCI EDGE website.
How do I assign an EDGE Auditor to my project?
Once your project has been submitted for registration, reply to GBCI’s follow up email with the full name of the EDGE Auditor that you have chosen to audit your project. GBCI will then complete the assignment process.
Where can I find the documentation list that needs to be submitted for certification? Are there different documents required for the design and site audits?
The specific documents that must be submitted for each audit stage are outlined in the User Guides and are also listed in the EDGE App under each measure.
Can a project skip the Preliminary Certificate and proceed directly to the post-construction stage?
Yes, if a building is under construction or has been recently completed, we recommend skipping the design stage audit (Preliminary Certification) and moving directly to the post-construction stage (Final EDGE Certification). In the EDGE App, you would select "Post-Construction" as the Certification Stage within the Design Tab of each subproject. Note the project team may need to submit both design phase and construction phase documentation outlined in the User Guides. The EDGE Auditor will review the documentation, conduct a site audit, and submit to GBCI for quality assessment (QC). After GBCI QC, a Final EDGE Certificate will be issued. Note that the site audit must take place within 12 months of a project's practical completion for new building projects.
Does EDGE registration expire?
Registration does not expire, however, projects that are registered under EDGE Version 2 must achieve certification by December 2025.
Do EDGE Preliminary Certificates expire?
EDGE Preliminary Certificates expire 36 months after issuance or 12 months after a project is practically complete, whichever comes first. Projects can reach out to GBCI if an extension is needed.
How long after a project’s completion must the site audit take place?
The site audit must take place within 12 months of the project’s practical completion to qualify the building as a new building project. After this period, the project may be pursued under EDGE as an existing building.
Can I use an alternate compliance approach (not listed in the EDGE App) to demonstrate compliance with a measure?
Yes, if you would like to pursue an alternative compliance approach, please email GBCI at edge@gbci.org. A member of our team will provide you the Special Ruling Request (SRR) form that you can utilize to seek approval of your alternative compliance approach.
What does the site audit involve? Is there any testing involved?
The site audit includes visual verification of the measures claimed in the EDGE App. There is only one test that is conducted by the EDGE Auditor, and that is to measure the water flow rates. The EDGE Auditor will take photographs and/or videos of measures installed.
Water pressure is not typically provided in manufacturer documentation in my country. What additional documentation would be acceptable?
Since one of the goals of EDGE is to move the market forward, EDGE Auditors and developers should continue requesting pressure and flow rate test results from manufacturers and suppliers. In the meantime, on-site flow tests conducted by the EDGE Auditors are acceptable.