Kiwa report (TAB)

Here you will find information on the Kiwi report (TAB).

Kiwa report (TAB-report)

The Kiwa certificate refers to the independent testing, inspection and certification of construction products and construction processes by Kiwa Deutschland GmbH.
This is crucial to ensure compliance with national and international quality and safety standards.

Kiwa’s TAB assessment is a special service offered by Kiwa Deutschland GmbH.
TAB stands for “Technical Acoustic Assessment”.
This expert opinion relates to the assessment and certification of the acoustic properties of building products, particularly with regard to their sound absorption and sound insulation.

Award criteria for the Kiwa expert opinion

Kiwa Deutschland GmbH attaches great importance to independence, professional competence and transparency when awarding its expert opinions and certificates.

Below you will find a list of the award criteria for the Kiwa appraisal in the construction industry:

Conformity with standards and regulations:

Construction products and processes must comply with the relevant national and international standards and regulations.
These include, for example, DIN standards, EN standards and other specific regulations.

Inspection and test requirements:

Products must pass a series of tests that evaluate mechanical, physical, chemical and sometimes electrical properties.
These tests are carried out in accordance with the specified standards.

Quality management systems:

Companies must demonstrate an effective quality management system (e.g. in accordance with ISO 9001) that ensures that product quality is continuously monitored and improved.

Production controls and inspections:

Regular checks and inspections of the production facilities are necessary to ensure compliance with quality standards throughout the entire production chain.

Documentation and evidence:

Extensive documentation on product specifications, test reports, manufacturing processes and quality controls must be provided.

Traceability:

Complete product traceability must be guaranteed, from the raw materials to the finished product.

Environmental and safety standards:

In addition to the quality requirements, environmental and safety standards must also be met.
This includes, for example, proof of environmental compatibility and occupational safety.

Periodic checks:

Once an expert opinion or certification has been issued, regular checks are carried out to ensure ongoing conformity and quality.

Award criteria for the TAB report

The award criteria for Kiwa’s TAB certificate comprise a series of requirements and standards that ensure that the acoustic properties of building products comply with national and international standards.
These criteria ensure that the products provide reliable and accurate results in terms of sound absorption and sound insulation.

Conformity with standards and regulations:

The products must comply with the relevant national and international standards, such as DIN standards (German industrial standards) and EN standards (European standards).

Acoustic performance:

Products must prove that they meet certain performance requirements in terms of sound absorption and sound insulation.
This includes measuring the degree of absorption (α value) and sound insulation (Rw value).

Inspection and test requirements:

Products are tested in accredited laboratories to determine their acoustic properties.
This includes standardized test procedures for measuring sound absorption and sound insulation.

Production controls and quality management:

Manufacturers must demonstrate an effective quality management system that ensures that product quality is maintained throughout the production chain.
Regular production controls and inspections are required to ensure continuous compliance with quality standards.

Documentation and evidence:

Comprehensive documentation on the product specifications, test reports, manufacturing processes and quality controls must be submitted.
Proof of compliance with the relevant standards and the results of the tests must be documented in detail.

Traceability:

Complete product traceability must be guaranteed, from the raw materials to the finished product.

Environmental and health requirements:

In addition to the acoustic requirements, the products must also meet environmental and health requirements, such as low VOC emissions (volatile organic compounds) and the use of environmentally friendly materials.
For detailed information on VOC limits and emission requirements, please contact Kiwa directly.

The Kiwa expert opinion is suitable for the following product groups:

The Kiwa expert opinion is suitable for a large number of product groups in the construction industry.
Here is a list of the relevant product groups:

Building materials (e.g. concrete, mortar, cement)
Insulation materials (e.g. thermal insulation materials, sound insulation)
Building products made of wood (e.g. construction timber, wood-based materials)
Metal products (e.g. steel beams, metal profiles)
Roof and façade materials (e.g. roof tiles, façade cladding)
Windows and doors (e.g. plastic windows, wooden doors)
Sanitary technology (e.g. pipes, fittings)
Electrical installations (e.g. cables, switches)
Floor coverings (e.g. tiles, parquet)
Insulation materials (e.g. pipe insulation, seals)

In addition to products, Kiwa also certifies persons or personal skills, types of construction, work processes, (management) systems and is also authorized for CE marking.
You can find more detailed information on the individual certification options here.

The TAB report is also suitable for the following product groups:

Wall and partition systems (e.g. drywalls, partition walls)
Ceiling and ceiling systems (e.g. suspended ceilings, ceiling elements)
Floor coverings (e.g. carpets, acoustic floors)
Facade cladding (e.g. facade panels with sound-absorbing properties)
Room acoustics products (e.g. sound insulation panels, acoustic curtains)

Kiwa expert opinion: Certification body

If you wish to have your product, process, (management) system, design or persons certified by Kiwa, it will be checked by a Kiwa auditor. Kiwa therefore certifies itself and acts as an independent third party. For this to be possible, Kiwa must also be regularly approved for this purpose. If the auditor’s inspection shows that the product or similar to be certified meets all requirements, you will receive the certificate and, if applicable, the certification quality mark.

Costs for the Kiwa expert opinion

Kiwa requests financial compensation for its certification activities.
How high the costs are depends on the complexity and size of the company, the number of sites or subsidiaries involved and the type of certification.
You have the option of requesting a price list from Kiwa in advance, taking into account the time and costs involved.

Is the Kiwa report/TAB report mandatory?

In the construction industry, the use of the Kiwa report or the TAB report is often a voluntary but beneficial measure that helps to ensure quality and conformity.

Recognition of the Kiwa assessment (TAB) for certification systems

The Kiwa report and the TAB report are recognized by various other certification systems and standards.
Here is a brief summary:

Kiwa expert opinion:

ISO certifications: Kiwa reports can be recognized as proof of compliance with ISO standards such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management), as Kiwa also carries out ISO certifications.
CE marking: In Europe, Kiwa assessments are often used to prove conformity with the CE marking for construction products, especially if they meet the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011.
Trade associations and industry organizations: Many trade associations and industry organizations in the construction industry recognize Kiwa reports as valid proof of compliance with specific industry norms and standards.

TAB report:

DIN standards: The TAB report is often used and recognized to document compliance with DIN standards, such as DIN 4109 (sound insulation in building construction).
EN standards: Compliance with European standards, such as the EN standards for sound insulation (e.g. EN 12354), is also confirmed and recognized by TAB reports.
Performance and quality seals: Various performance seals and quality brands in the construction industry take TAB reports into account as proof of the acoustic performance of products.

Source: https://www.kiwa.com/de/de/