Recognition of Quality and Conformity of Concrete Repair Products and Protection Systems/ Belgian and European experiences

Recognition of product quality and conformity supposes the existence of two elements: a users’ requirements document and a certification system for product conformity with this document.
The document is generally drawn up by a group representing all the interested parties (public and private users, producers, certification or monitoring bodies, testing laboratories,
experts …). Depending on circumstances, the document appears as the norm approved in a certain country or as a normative document (approval guide, technical prescriptions,…) recognised by the various interested parties.
The certification body is a public or private body which has the competence, independence and impartiality to certify that a duly identified product conforms to a normative document. The certification body works within a certification system that also includes inspection bodies and testing laboratories.
In certain cases, the certification body is approved by a competent national authority. In Belgium, the Ministry of Communication and Infrastructures approves certification or inspection bodies and also testing laboratories for building activities.