The principal certifications
| Certification | Subject |
|---|---|
| Structural safety | load capacity and serviceability of the structure |
| Fire safety | the protection objectives of passive fire protection |
| Sound insulation | protection from external and neighbouring noise |
| Thermal and energy performance | requirements for new build and existing stock |
| Accessibility | access and usability |
Which certifications are required, who may prepare them and whether they are subject to third-party checking follows state law and additionally depends on the building class and special building status. The building class and any special-building status are further criteria.
The article on building classes covers classification, and the article on entitlement to submit covers the entitlements. The permissions are covered in the article on authorisation to submit building applications.
Building regulations law states objectives
The state codes generally prescribe not how to build but what objective must be achieved. That technique shapes the whole of building regulations law.
For fire safety the objective is in essence that the outbreak of fire and the spread of fire and smoke must be prevented, and that in the event of fire the rescue of people and animals and effective firefighting must be possible. Rescue of people and animals and effective firefighting must also remain possible.
That wording opens two routes, and they reach the same objective through different procedures.
| Route | Content | Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting the specific requirements | what the code and the introduced technical rules set out | the standard route, without a separate application |
| A strategy achieving the objective otherwise | the protection objective is reached by another means | to be applied for as a deviation |
For special buildings the second route is the norm, because the general requirements frequently do not suit their use. The fire safety strategy there takes the place of the standard certification.
Public law and contract diverge
This is the most consequential point in this branch. It explains why an approved building may nonetheless be defective.
| Level | Standard | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Building regulations law | minimum requirements | prevention of danger, aimed at a minimum of safety and health |
| The contract | the recognised rules of technology and, beyond that, the agreed characteristics | both may exceed the public-law minimum |
The difference emerges most clearly in sound insulation: observing the public law minimum does not exclude a contractual defect. The article on sound insulation covers the relationship.
The system of the recognised rules is covered in the article on recognised rules of technology. It also sets out when a DIN standard has that rank at all.
Scope of examination depends on the procedure
A certification may be required without being examined by the authority. Requirement and examination are two separate questions.
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Certification required and officially examined | official scrutiny |
| Certification required but not examined | full responsibility of the parties |
| Certification not required | requirements nonetheless apply |
The second and third rows are the common ones and the risky ones. Removing the examination leaves the requirement untouched.
For practice management it follows that internal checking should be most thorough where the authority does not examine. The article on consent procedures covers the procedures.
The certifications interlock
One point matters both for design and for cost work. The certifications frequently concern the same elements.
A separating wall between two dwellings must meet both fire safety and sound insulation requirements. A floor construction concerns structural safety, fire safety, impact sound and possibly thermal performance.
It follows that the certifications must be pursued together rather than in sequence. A construction satisfying one and breaching another leads to redesign at a stage where it is expensive, because the detailed design already builds on it.
For cost work it means the governing requirement is always the strictest of those involved. An element is priced on the highest certification rather than on an average.
The three deeper articles in this branch
| Deeper article | Content |
|---|---|
| Fire safety evidence | the protection objectives, the classification of materials and elements, and the link to the building class |
| Sound insulation evidence | the minimum requirements, enhanced sound insulation and the contractual agreement |
| Accessible building design | the duties under building regulations law and the relevant standards |
Related articles
This article reflects the position of the rules at the date of checking and serves professional orientation. It does not constitute legal advice and does not replace assessment of the individual case.