Quality assurance for new building projects
Do you plan to start a new construction project, for example for a house or a simple commercial building? If you need an environment and planning permit for building, the Quality Assurance (Building Sector) Act (Wet kwaliteitsborging voor het bouwen, Wkb) requires you to have your building plan checked by a quality assurer.
The Wkb aims to improve building quality and increase builders' liability for construction defects.
When is a quality assurer mandatory?
You must use a quality assurer if your building plan falls into consequence class 1 (gevolgklasse 1, in Dutch). This is the lowest risk class, for example building projects for houses and simple business premises.
What does a quality assurer do?
Before the start of the construction work, an independent quality assurer assesses the risks associated with the building plan. The quality assurer then determines which measures are necessary to prevent or limit those risks.
A quality assurer (in Dutch) must, among others:
- be independent
- be included in the Building Quality Assurance Register (Register Toelatingsorganisatie Kwaliteitsborging Bouw, in Dutch)
- check if the new construction project complies with the rules when it is completed
- issue a statement that the new building project has been built according to the rules (in Dutch)
Have your building plan assessed
To find out if you have to use a quality assurer, first check if you need an environment and planning permit. You can do this online in the Environment and Planning Portal (Omgevingsloket , in Dutch). If you need an environment and planning permit, the municipality must check your building plan against the environment plan. The municipality then checks whether your building plan fits within the environment. After you have received the environment and planning permit, you must let an independent quality assurer check your building.
To find out what you need to do to meet the regulations on building quality, you can watch the video with a step-by-step plan (in Dutch).
Wkb takes effect in stages
The Wkb is introduced gradually for new construction in stages from 1 January 2024, at the same time as the Environment and Planning Act. At a later date, the obligation to hire a quality assurance officer will most likely also apply to projects with a higher risk class. It is not yet known when the Wkb will take effect for renovations.