The German building materials market is subject to continuous change in regulatory framework conditions. Over the past 30 days, several developments have emerged that are of immediate relevance to planners, building material manufacturers, and traders. The harmonization of European and national standards, new requirements for EPD certificates, and changes in testing procedures are shaping the current discussion.
European standardization projects and national implementation
The interplay between European standardization procedures and national building regulations remains a central issue. Several DIN EN standards are currently undergoing revision, particularly in the areas of concrete and insulation materials. The adaptation of DIN EN 206 for concrete standards and the new version of testing standards for thermal conductivity directly influence product approval and application technology. Manufacturers such as Heidelberg Materials and Holcim must update their product data sheets accordingly.
At the same time, the question of general building authority approval (abZ) and European Technical Assessment (ETA) is gaining importance. The German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) is recording an increasing number of applications for innovative building materials, particularly in the field of carbon concrete and hybrid constructions. The average processing time for approvals is currently 18 to 24 months – a bottleneck that the industry is watching critically.
Tightening of documentation requirements for environmental product declarations
Requirements for Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are increasing continuously. Public construction tenders increasingly demand product-specific EPDs instead of generic industry EPDs. This development particularly affects manufacturers of cement, insulation materials, and wood-based products. Companies such as STEICO have expanded their EPD documentation accordingly to meet the requirements of DGNB certification and other assessment systems.
The harmonization of EPD calculation methods at the European level – such as through EN 15804+A2 – leads to more comparable data, but requires many manufacturers to recalculate existing declarations. This applies in particular to products with high clinker factor or complex supply chains. The demand for transparency throughout the entire value chain is further reinforced by the CBAM regulation.
Testing procedures and material approvals in focus
Current research work, such as from Fraunhofer IBP, aims at more precise testing methods for sound insulation and fire behavior. These methodological improvements are gradually incorporated into standardization and influence product approval. Particularly for multi-layer systems – such as ETICS or timber frame construction – this results in new requirements for evidence provision.
The assessment of recycled building materials is also undergoing change. The Substitutes Construction Materials Ordinance defines new limit values and installation criteria that directly affect the use of recycled aggregates in concrete or asphalt. The practical implementation of these requirements is currently being tested in pilot projects.
Outlook: Digitalization of standards and BIM integration
A longer-term trend concerns the digitalization of standard data and its integration into Building Information Modeling (BIM). Various associations are working on machine-readable product data sheets that can be integrated directly into planning software. This development facilitates conformity checking and reduces errors in material selection. For manufacturers, however, this means considerable effort in data maintenance and interface development.
The coming months are likely to bring further adjustments to the regulatory environment, particularly through the national implementation of the revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Planners and purchasers should carefully monitor the development of the standards pipeline in order to anticipate delays in product approval at an early stage.
