The standard for the digital quality of commercial real estate
Where an energy label assesses a building's energy performance, the IT-Label shows how digitally ready a building is, and to what extent a tenant can be operational right away.
What is the IT-Label?
The IT-Label is the independent standard that provides insight into the digital quality, performance and IT delivery level of commercial real estate. It is established through an independent audit, carried out by a certified partner.
In an age where digitalisation, cloud solutions and Artificial Intelligence determine business operations, IT is no longer a facility but an essential utility. Without reliable connectivity and a well-functioning digital infrastructure, a building loses functionality, appeal and ultimately value.
Comparable to the energy label, but for IT
Energy label
- Assesses a building's energy performance
- Seven levels, from A to G
- Covers consumption and sustainability
- Legally required for sale and rental
IT-Label
- Assesses a building's digital infrastructure
- Six levels, from IT1+ PREMIUM to IT5 SHELL
- Covers connectivity, performance and delivery level
- Clarifies in advance which facilities are present
Why the IT-Label?
The real estate market is changing fast. Organisations are placing increasingly higher demands on the digital performance of their work environment.
- The rapid growth of AI and data processing.
- Increasing strain on networks.
- Longer waiting times for internet connections.
- Higher demands on reliability, speed and continuity.
- The rise of Smart Buildings.
This raises a new question
Is a building digitally ready for the way companies work today and tomorrow? The IT-Label provides an objective, transparent and measurable answer to this.
What does the IT-Label assess?
The IT-Label looks at a building's complete digital foundation, not only whether facilities are present, but also whether they actually function, are reliable and grow with the user.
Connectivity
Type of internet connection, capacity, redundancy, speed, latency and stability.
More information →Digital infrastructure
Cabling (CAT5e to CAT6A and fibre optic), WiFi coverage, patch and server rooms, network management, cybersecurity, monitoring and back-up connections.
More information →Smart Building
Smart climate installations, access control, camera security, visitor registration, booking systems and building management systems.
More information →Next-generation facilities
Smart parking management, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, community and building apps, and integration between building systems.
More information →An objective assessment method
The IT-Label is established through an independent audit that assesses both the physical infrastructure and the actual performance. This covers connectivity, infrastructure, performance, scalability, integration and Smart Building functionalities.
The outcome is translated into an IT-Label ranging from IT1+ to IT5. The certificate is valid for two years. After changes or upgrades, recertification may take place. Read more about the methodology or see how the process works.
Clarification: the IT-Label and existing standards
The IT-Label does not replace ISO, NEN or other technical standards and certifications. Where those standards focus on technical quality, installations and processes, the IT-Label translates that information into an understandable IT delivery level for the user of commercial real estate.
The aim of the IT-Label is to make clear which IT provisions a building actually offers, so that tenants, investors, property owners and agents can compare buildings on their digital readiness more easily, without having to immerse themselves in the underlying technical standards.
The IT-Label is therefore not a technical judgement or a replacement of existing standards, but a transparent translation between technical infrastructure and the commercial real estate market.
The IT-Label alongside existing standards and labels
| IT-Label | ISO and NEN standards | Energy label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focuses on | Translating IT provisions into an understandable delivery level | Technical quality, installations and processes | The building's energy performance |
| Intended for | Tenants, investors, owners and agents | Engineers, installers and auditors | Owners, tenants and government |
| Outcome | An IT delivery level, from IT1+ PREMIUM to IT5 SHELL | Certification of systems and processes | An energy class, from A to G |
| Relationship | Builds on underlying technical standards; does not replace them | Remain the technical foundation | Comparable aim, different domain |
Certification Standard
The six classifications
Each level describes a different delivery level. View all label categories for the full explanation of each classification.
IT1+ PREMIUM
Fully future-proof and AI-proof. Landlord takes care of everything.
IT1 HIGH PERFORMANCE
Ready to use immediately. Tenant only connects own equipment.
IT2 PLUG & PLAY
Ready to use immediately. Fibre and cabling present.
IT3 READY
Good basis, own setup still needed.
IT4 CORE
Basis up to the building, internal IT still to be set up.
IT5 SHELL
Shell, fully transparent about required investment.
No judgement, only transparency
The IT-Label deliberately does not assess real estate as good or bad. An IT1+ building is not automatically better than an IT4 or IT5 building: each delivery level suits a different target group. A fully fitted-out office environment offers maximum peace of mind, while a shell building offers maximum freedom for customisation. The right classification depends on the user, the business activities, the desired degree of control and the investment strategy.
The new standard for real estate
Commercial real estate is developing from physical space into a digital ecosystem. Buildings no longer compete solely on location, appearance or sustainability, but increasingly on digital connectivity, performance, user experience, technology integration and future-proofing.
The IT-Label makes these qualities objectively measurable and comparable with one another. It provides transparency about the digital delivery level, offers a clear starting point for agreements and helps tenants, landlords, investors and developers make better decisions.
Because in tomorrow's real estate market: data determines use, use determines value, and value starts with IT.
Curious about your building's IT-Label?
See how the certification process works, or search by address to check whether a building already has an IT-Label.
How it worksRelated information
Why an IT-Label?
AI, network strain and Smart Buildings raise a new question: is a building digitally ready for how companies work today and tomorrow?
How does the IT-Label work?
An independent audit assesses both the physical infrastructure and the actual performance. The certificate is then valid for two years.
The IT-Label classifications
The IT-Label has six classifications. Each level describes a different digital delivery level and what that means for the user.
The methodology
An independent audit assesses both the physical infrastructure and actual performance, using one fixed method for every partner.