News item | 07-03-2025 | 17:43
Insulating cavity walls can now be easier thanks to the innovative research method Edna. From March 7, this method was included as a recognized measure in the so -called Environmental Regulation. With the EDNA method, insulation companies can demonstrate in a more effective way whether bats are present in the cavity walls. The Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning and the State Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature Write this in the Letter Letter Minders of Parliament, which was sent to the Lower House today.
The EDNA method makes it possible to reliably investigate throughout the year whether bats are present in cavity walls. If a negative EDNA test shows that no bats are staying, it is simply insulated without additional measures.
How does the Edna method work?
Bats often stay in a cavity wall and use small openings to go inside and out. They lose traces that contain DNA, such as skin cells and droppings. These traces are collected with a sponge or roller. They are then tested in a laboratory, which can be used to demonstrate whether there is DNA from a bat or not. If no DNA material is found, insulating can be done without additional measures.
After positive EDNA test: Make use of bat -friendly measures
If the EDNA test is positive, it means that bats can be present in the home. In order to insulate the house, a bat -friendly insulation method must be used in that case, so that the animals are not killed and disturbed. Extra measures are taken here. For example, insulation companies must then hang so -called Exclusion flaps, so that bats that may be present in the cavity wall can first fly out. They also have to comply with the nature calendar, so that the animals are not disturbed during the breeding and maternity season and hibernation. This is true conditions.
The EDNA scheme is a supplement to the national approach to nature-friendly insulation, in which we work on area-oriented (pre) species management plans (SMPs). If there is an SMP, the use of the EDNA method is no longer necessary, because then the nature-friendly measures have already been taken.
More information about the scheme has been published in the Government Gazette.