Product label DIBt certificate, abZ, aBG, ETA
Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt)
The Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik(DIBt) is an authority responsible for the technical approval and monitoring of construction products and types of construction. The DIBt issues general building approvals and European technical assessments for construction products and monitors compliance with them. The DIBt also supports the building supervisory authorities of the federal states and promotes technical development in the construction industry. The following expert opinions are issued by the DIBT:
- National technical approval (abZ)
- General construction technique permit (aBG)
- European Technical Assessment (ETA)
National technical approval (abZ), General construction technique permit (aBG)
Since 1968, the DIBt has been granting general building approval for construction products that are to be used throughout Germany.
The general building approval(abZ) and the general type approval(aBG) are suitable for the following product groups :
- Building products that are listed in the building regulations lists A and B.
- Construction products for which there is no harmonized European standard.
- Construction products that deviate from the existing technical regulations or are new.
- Construction products that have to meet special requirements in terms of safety, health protection and environmental protection.
The abZ/aBG ensures that these products comply with German building authority requirements and can be used safely.
The criteria for the general building approval (abZ) include
- building authority relevant properties of the building product
- Areas of application
- Processing
- Transport
- Storage
- Labeling
- Confirmation of conformity
- The abZ may only be issued by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt).
Costs:
- between € 500 and € 50,000 depending on the amount of work involved in processing the application.
- The abZ is mandatory when it comes to the use of construction products that are not covered by harmonized European standards or other technical regulations. It ensures that such construction products comply with the national building authority requirements. Without this approval, the corresponding construction products may not be used or placed on the market in Germany.
European Technical Assessment (ETA)
- The ETA is a product performance certificate that leads to CE marking. It can be used to distribute a product throughout the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Turkey – and also worldwide. The ETA enables manufacturers to obtain a CE marking for their products.
The ETA can be used for the following product groups:
- Construction products that are not or only partially covered by harmonized standards.
- Innovative construction products that are new to the market and do not yet have harmonized standards.
- Construction products with special properties that are not fully covered by harmonized standards.
The criteria for the ETA include:
- Mechanical strength and stability: Assessment of the load-bearing capacity and stability of the construction product.
- Fire protection: Resistance to fire and the ability to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
- Hygiene, health and environmental protection: Effects of the building product on the health and safety of people and on the environment.
- Safety in use: Protection against accident hazards when using the construction product.
- Noise protection: Ability to reduce noise pollution.
- Energy saving and thermal insulation: Efficiency of the building product in terms of energy consumption and thermal insulation.
- Sustainable use of natural resources: environmental compatibility and resource conservation of the building product.
- The ETA may only be carried out by so-called technical assessment bodies (TABs). These bodies are designated by the Member States of the European Union and recognized by the European Organization for Technical Assessment (EOTA). They must have the necessary competence and independence to be able to evaluate construction products objectively and reliably.
- No, ETA is not mandatory. It is a voluntary option for manufacturers of construction products who wish to affix the CE marking to their products on the European market, especially if their products are not or only partially covered by harmonized standards.