Living Future Buildings Certification: Audit Process
This document outlines the audit process for Living Future Buildings Certifications: Living Building Challenge, Core, Zero Carbon, and Zero Energy. Each project receives a two part audit performed by a third-party auditor.
STEP 1: Submit project documentation and pay the certification invoice
Compile all of your project documentation and click submit in Portal. Ready Audit documentation includes all non-performance based project documentation and Final Audit documentation contains performance data (following a 12 month performance period). Please refer to the Program Manual for the documentation requirements for each audit. Audits can only start once the certification invoice has been paid.
STEP 2: Auditor review
One of our third-party auditors will review your documentation. Living Future will provide an audit report with clarification requests from the auditor. Auditors generally take about 3 weeks to return an audit report.
STEP 3: Clarification requests
Your team will have up to 90 days to respond to the auditor’s clarification requests. Want to craft a great response narrative? Check out our Clarification Request How-To!
STEP 4: Auditor reviews clarification request responses
The auditor will review your responses to their Clarification Requests and determine their ruling. Auditors generally take about 3 weeks to return an audit report.
STEP 5: Ruling
A successful Ready Audit results in a Ready Designation ruling. A successful Final Audit results in a Certification ruling. Check out our guidelines for sharing the news about your Ready Designation here and check out our guidelines for sharing the news about your Certification here!
STEP 6: Celebrate!*
You did it! Celebrate your journey to a living future!
Questions about Living Future’s building certification audit process?
Reach out to certifications@living-future.org.
*If the project fails to receive Ready Designation or Certification, the project may appeal up to two times for an additional fee.