Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik

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Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik's fields of activity are:{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/DIBt/Fields-of-activity.html|title=DIBt - Fields of activity|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

• grants national technical approvals (allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassungen) for construction products and construction techniques.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Approvals/abZ.html|title=DIBt – National technical approvals|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• issues European Technical Assessments (ETAs) for construction products in accordance with the Construction Products Regulation{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02011R0305-20140616&rid=1|title=Consolidated TEXT: 32011R0305 — EN — 16.06.2014|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|accessdate=14 October 2018}} (Regulation (EU) No 305/2011).{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Approvals/ETA.html|title=DIBt – European Technical Assessments|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• draws up the Construction Products Lists (Bauregellisten) A and B as well as List C, and publishes them on behalf of the German federal states (Länder).{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-BRL-TB.html|title=DIBt – Construction Products Lists|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}} The Construction Products Lists A and B contain officially recognised technical rules for construction products. List C contains construction products which are less safety-relevant and for which there are no technical building rules.
• prepares the introduction of the List of Technical Building Rules (Liste der Technischen Baubestimmungen), which contains officially recognised design rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-BRL-TB.html#TB|title=DIBt – Technical Building Rules|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• registers energy performance certificates and inspection reports for air-conditioning systems in accordance with the Energy Saving Ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung, EnEV 2013). In addition, DIBt is responsible for the electronic random checks.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-EnEV-Registrierstelle.html|title=DIBt – Registration of energy performance certificates|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• validates stability analyses for structural designs intended for multiple use at different locations (so-called structural design approvals) in its capacity as a structural safety control authority (Bautechnisches Prüfamt).{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-Type-tests.html|title=DIBt - Structural design approval|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• carries out preparatory work for the recognition of testing laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies, which want to become active in the external surveillance of construction products. The Institute also carries out the recognition in most of the federal states.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-Testing-laboratories-LBO.html|title=DIBt - Testing laboratories, inspection and certification bodies|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• notifies independent third-party bodies (so-called notified bodies), which assess and verify the constancy of performance of CE marked construction products.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-Testing-laboratories-EuBauPVO.html|title=DIBt - Notified bodies|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• is active in the market surveillance of CE marked construction products in its capacity as the joint market surveillance authority of the federal states.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-Market-surveillance.html|title=DIBt - Market surveillance|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• promotes building research.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/Fields_of_activity/GF-Building-research.html|title=DIBt - Building research|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}
• prepares expert opinions on behalf of the Federation and the federal states.
• is actively involved in devising technical regulations (in particular standards) at a national, European and international level.

The work of Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik focuses on the protection of public interests, in particular in relation to stability, fire protection, health and environmental protection, acoustic and thermal insulation, energy efficiency, sustainability, safety in use as well as water pollution control.

After the Second World War, construction supervision and building control law fell into the jurisdiction of the German federal states (Länder). They were confronted with two issues in relation to the approval of construction products. On the one hand, there was a substantial increase in the technical complexity of the approvals due to the numerous new products and processes developed during the time of the German economic miracle. On the other hand, the construction product industry demanded approvals which were valid across Germany. In response to this, the "Institut für Bautechnik" was founded in 1968 based on an agreement between the Federation and the federal states. The Institute became responsible for issuing technical approvals (valid across Germany) and additional engineering-related tasks.Cf. Dieter Gutekunst, 50 Jahre ARGEBAU, Ein Teil Deutscher Geschichte – ein Stück Föderalismus!, Festschrift anläßlich der Jubiläumsveranstaltung am 4. Dezember 1998 im Rathaus der Freien Hansestadt Bremen, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der für das Bau- und Siedlungswesen zuständigen Minister und Senatoren der Länder, Bremen, 1998

After the German reunification, the new Länder joined the agreement in 1993. The name of the Institute was changed to "Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik" (DIBt). The Institute is known by its abbreviation "DIBt" among experts far beyond national borders.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/DIBt/History.html|title=DIBt - History|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

Since its foundation, the Institute has taken on many additional tasks. Since 1993, it has been active in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA). Since 1994, it has published the Construction Products Lists (Bauregellisten) on behalf of the Länder. In 1998, Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik granted the first European technical approval in Europe. In 2007, DIBt was recognised by the Land of Berlin and the Land of Brandenburg as Structural Safety Control Authority (Bautechnisches Prüfamt). In 2008, it took over the coordination of the market surveillance of CE marked products and since 2014, it has been the "joint market surveillance authority of the Länder". In 2012, DIBt was designated as the sole Technical Assessment Body in Germany, as well as the notifying authority in accordance with the new Construction Products Regulation. Upon publication of the revised Energy Saving Ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung) in November 2013, DIBt also became responsible for registering energy performance certificates and inspection reports for air-conditioning systems, as well as for carrying out electronic random checks.

DIBt is a public-law institution (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) with legal capacity. Since 2009, the Institute has been led by Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Breitschaft. He is supported by the Supervisory Board, which decides on general policy matters.

The Senate Department (Senatsverwaltung) of the Land of Berlin carries out the technical and legal supervision of the Institute.

DIBt is structured in five departments:{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/DIBt/Organisation.html|title=DIBt – Organisation|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

Department I - Structural Engineering

Head: Mr Andreas Kummerow

Department II – Health and environmental protection, Registration of energy performance certificates

Head: Mr Dirk Brandenburger

Department III – Building physics, Technical building equipment

Head: Mr Prof. Gunter Hoppe

Department P – Presidential Department

Head: Mr Dr.-Ing. Karsten Kathage, Vice President of DIBt

Department ZD – Administration and Services

Head: Ms Dr. Patricia Döring

Departments I to III jointly cover all technical requirements for construction works. Approximately 150 engineers and scientists are employed here. The Presidential Department includes the Sections for National as well as European and International Law. The coordination with the Technical Assessment Bodies of other European countries and the recognition and notification of third parties is also carried out here. The Market Surveillance Section is also part of the Presidential Department. The Administration and Services Department carries out internal administration tasks and is responsible for communication with the European and international partners of DIBt.

DIBt is supported in its technical work by approximately 600 honorary experts from science, industry and administration. They are organised in product and subject-specific expert committees, as well as in interdisciplinary General Policy Committees (Ausschüsse für Grundsatzfragen).

The tasks and structure of Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik are set out in the Agreement on Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt Agreement). This agreement was enacted with the Act on Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik of 22 April 1993 and last revised in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.dibt.de/de/DIBt/data/DIBt-Gesetz_Abkommen_und_Satzung.pdf|title=Startseite|website=DIBt|accessdate=14 October 2018}} Details are laid down in the Statutes of Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik.

The Building Codes of the German federal states (Landesbauordnungen) are the most important legal basis for the engineering-related activities of the Institute at a national level. These are based on the Model Building Code (Musterbauordung) developed by the Conference of Construction Ministers (Bauministerkonferenz).[http://www.bauministerkonferenz.de/IndexSearch.aspx?method=get&File=b8a84yy3y8b984808abb4yb8y9ya8ayyb9y884b94ya2a0a14849a3abaaa04b80b8y0dnqu224ghtloxxnsikcwyx03 Model Building Code (in German)]

For certain construction products and construction techniques, the Institute also assesses the compliance with water pollution control provisions.A model ordinance is also available in this sector: [https://www.bauministerkonferenz.de/IndexSearch.aspx?method=get&File=b8a84yy3y8b984808abb4yb8y9ya8ayyb9y884b94y4b4b4yybbby94y8b84yy8a4848a44b80b8y0lg3woy4oaieyiqfnbl0mbxaf Bauministerkonferenz – Model Ordinance for Assessing the Compliance of Construction Products and Techniques with Water Provisions (in German)]

The activities of the Institute in the field of registering energy performance certificates and inspection reports for air-conditioning systems, as well as carrying out electronic random checks are mainly governed by the revised Energy Saving Ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung, EnEV 2013).{{cite web|url=http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/enev_2007/|title=EnEV - nichtamtliches Inhaltsverzeichnis|website=www.gesetze-im-internet.de|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

The recognition of testing laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies is based on the Länder ordinances on the recognition as a testing laboratory, inspection and certification body in accordance with the Building Codes.A model ordinance is also available in this sector:: [https://www.bauministerkonferenz.de/IndexSearch.aspx?method=get&File=b8a84yy3y8b984808abb4yb8y9ya8ayyb9y884b94ya2a0a149a0a0a1a04b80b8y0lg3woy4oaieyiqfnbl0mbxaf Bauministerkonferenz – Model Ordinance on the Recognition as a Testing Laboratory, Inspection and Certification Body (in German)]

The Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 305/2011) forms the most important legal basis for the activity of the Institute under European law. On 1 July 2013, the Construction Products Regulation replaced the Construction Products Directive (Directive 89/106/EEC) which applied previously.

The structure and procedures of market surveillance are regulated on a cross-sectoral basis in Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:218:0030:0047:en:PDF|title=Regulation(EC) N0 765/2008|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

The exchange with experts is an important part of the technical work of DIBt.{{cite web|url=https://www.dibt.de/en/DIBt/Participation.html|title=DIBt – Participation][https://www.dibt.de/en/DIBt/Cooperation.html DIBt - Cooperation|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2018}}

Through its membership, DIBt supports, among others, the German Geotechnical Society (DGGT), the German Committee for Reinforced Concrete (DAfStb), the German Committee on Steel Construction (DASt), the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and the Public Service Employer Association of Berlin (KAV Berlin) at a national level. Furthermore, DIBt cooperates closely with the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) and it actively participates in the standardisation activities of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN).

At European level, DIBt is active in the following bodies: the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA), the European Union of Agrément in Construction (UEAtc), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the Standing Committee on Construction (SCC), the Expert Group on Fire Related Issues (EGF), the Expert Group on Dangerous Substances (EGDS) and the Administrative Cooperation Group for Market Surveillance under the Construction Products Regulation (AdCo CPR).

DIBt is also a member of the World Federation of Technical Assessment Organisations (WFTAO).

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Category:Non-profit organisations based in Berlin