What the catalogue contains
It lists all documents cited by the framework, with their exact references. The exact citation is what makes the prescription enforceable.
Four families sit side by side.
Belgian and European standards, defining product characteristics, test methods and rules of application.
Technical information notes and similar publications, reflecting the state of practice and widely followed by the industry.
Regulatory texts, decrees and decisions, notably on environment, waste and safety.
Reference works, rarer, cited where no normative text covers the subject.
The volume is considerable, several hundred references, and it grows with each version of the framework.
Dated or undated reference
This is the most important distinction of the subject, with direct contractual consequences. It separates the standard made mandatory from the standard cited for reference.
A dated reference targets a specific version of a document. It remains stable even if the standard evolves, and the contract stays governed by the text cited.
An undated reference targets the document in its version in force. It follows developments, which may alter applicable requirements mid-project.
| Dated reference | Undated reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | high | low |
| Risk | requirement gone obsolete | requirement changed mid-course |
| Indicated use | where the performance sought is precise | where one wants to follow the state of the art |
The choice is not neutral, and it should be conscious. A particular specification mixing the two without logic invites disputes about the applicable version.
Equivalence with European standards
A principle drawn from European law, and often misunderstood. It forbids specifying a brand without a statement of equivalence.
Where a specification cites a standard, it cannot in principle exclude products complying with an equivalent standard from another member state. A reference to a standard is therefore a performance requirement, not a requirement of origin.
The framework incorporates that principle in its drafting rules, and a particular specification must respect it. The set wording appears in the administrative volume.
The practical consequence is that a tenderer may propose a product under another normative framework, subject to demonstrating equivalence. Refusing that demonstration exposes the contracting authority.
The annual update
The catalogue follows the rhythm of the framework and is completed with each version. A reference checked last year may therefore have changed.
Two consequences.
A reference may disappear. A withdrawn or superseded standard is no longer cited in the next version, while the particular specification of an ongoing contract continues to refer to it.
A reference may be added. A new requirement appears in the framework without applying to contracts already awarded under an earlier version.
Hence the rule that runs through this whole guide: cite the version of the framework. Without it, knowing which references apply becomes reconstruction work.
This point is covered in the article on the annual update of the framework. Version management is explained there.
What the catalogue does not do
Two limits deserve stating.
It does not make standards mandatory of itself. A cited standard becomes contractual through the contract, not through its presence in the catalogue. Outside a contract, the status of a standard remains what it is, generally voluntary.
It does not give access to the texts. Standards remain paid documents, distributed by standardisation bodies. The catalogue identifies them; it does not replace them.
What this means for a professional
Four rules.
Check whether the references in the particular specification are dated or not, since that determines what applies.
Do not require a standard where a performance will do. A performance requirement opens competition; a standard requirement may restrict it unduly.
Allow for the cost of access to standards in the fee budget, particularly on technical projects.
Check consistency between the standards cited and the version of the framework, or the particular specification may refer to withdrawn texts.
This article reflects the position of the framework and the rules at the date of checking and serves professional orientation. It does not replace consulting the official sources.