Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb)
Since 1 January 2024, the Quality Assurance in Construction Act (Wkb) has been in force, simultaneously with the Environment Act. The Wkb changes who supervises construction quality: no longer only the municipality, but also an independent quality assurer. For private individuals who have buildings constructed or renovated, it is important to understand what this means for the process, the application and the delivery. This article explains the Wkb step by step: what its purpose is, which buildings it already applies to, what new steps are involved in the process and what that concretely means when you engage a contractor.
The Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) has applied since 1 January 2024 and adds an independent quality assurer who checks technical building quality instead of the municipality. In its first phase the act only covers new-build in consequence class 1, such as ground-level homes; it is not yet in force for renovations. New steps are the construction notification (at least 4 weeks before starting), the assurance plan and the declaration at completion. The contractor is also liable for defects for longer.
What is the Building Quality Assurance Act?
The Wkb is a new law that fundamentally changes the way construction quality is inspected. Before its introduction, the municipality was the only party that checked whether a building complied with the technical requirements of the Building Decree (now: the Bbl). A municipal building inspector visited the construction site and checked on a sample basis.
The Wkb adds an independent layer to this: the quality assurer. This is a certified party that monitors compliance with the technical construction requirements throughout the entire building process. The quality assurer does not work for the municipality, but is an independent or specialised organisation that must meet strict accreditation requirements.
The legislator's intention is clear: to place more responsibility with the construction sector itself, to improve construction quality, and to strengthen the position of the consumer. After all, the contractor remains liable for defects even after completion. That is an important fact for you as a private client.
The government's official explanation of the Wkb can be found at the Informatiepunt Leefomgeving (iplo.nl).
Phased implementation: for which structures does the Wkb apply now?
The Wkb is being introduced in phases. This means that not all structures fall under the new system at the same time. The legislator has deliberately chosen a step-by-step rollout, so that the market (contractors, quality assurers, municipalities) can get used to the new way of working.
The first phase focuses on consequence class 1: the category of structures where the consequences of a construction defect are relatively limited. Think of ground-level new-build homes and certain smaller structures. More complex structures, such as multi-storey housing, larger utility buildings and infrastructure, fall into higher consequence classes and will be brought under the Wkb later.
Important to know: renovation and refurbishment still largely fall outside the Wkb in the first phase. The scope of the act is being expanded step by step. Whether your specific building project already falls under the Wkb depends on the type of structure and the scale of the intervention. When in doubt, check with your municipality or contractor, as the situation may differ per project and the legislation is evolving.
It is therefore incorrect to say that the Wkb already applies to all new construction or all renovation. The law is intended to grow, but the practice of the first phase is more limited than some reporting suggests.
State of play for renovations. The Wkb has applied since 1 January 2024 to new-build in consequence class 1, such as most single-family homes. For renovations, the Wkb has not yet come into force: an independent quality assurer is therefore not currently mandatory for a private renovation. The national government will decide on an implementation date for renovations at a later stage. You can find the current status at the Informatiepunt Leefomgeving (iplo.nl).
The new two-track model: technical building activity and environment plan activity
The introduction of the Environment Act and the Wkb has led to a new division of the permit process. Where you previously applied for a single building permit under the Wabo, there are now two separate activities to distinguish:
Environment plan activity (OPA) This activity assesses whether your building plan fits within the municipality's environment plan. The environment plan governs what is permitted on a plot: building and living, how much building volume, which functions, how close to the plot boundary. This track remains with the municipality. The municipality assesses the plan and grants (or refuses) the permit for the environment plan activity.
Technical building activity (TBA) This activity assesses whether the building meets the technical requirements of the Bbl: structural safety, fire and sound insulation, energy performance, ventilation, and more. For buildings that fall under the Wkb, the assessment of this technical track shifts from the municipality to the quality assurer.
Both activities can be applied for simultaneously via the Omgevingsloket. It is also possible to submit them separately, but in practice most private individuals opt for a combined application to save time.
This two-track model has a direct consequence: in addition to the permit for the environment plan activity, you also have to deal with the quality assurer for the technical track, as soon as your building project falls under the Wkb.
Construction notification, quality assurance plan and declaration upon completion
The Wkb introduces three new steps in the building process that you as a client need to know.
Construction notification Before the start of construction work, you must submit a construction notification to the municipality, at least four weeks before the planned start date. With the construction notification you indicate that you are going to build, which quality assurer has been engaged, and which assurance instrument is being used. The municipality cannot refuse this, but needs the notification period to be able to impose additional requirements or prepare supervision. Without a construction notification you may not start.
Assurance plan The quality assurer draws up an assurance plan . This describes which risks the quality assurer has identified and how he checks during construction whether the work meets the technical requirements. The assurance plan is not a permit document, but an internal control instrument. The quality assurer carries out inspections on the building site and assesses technical files such as structural calculations and material specifications.
Declaration at completion At the end of the project the quality assurer draws up a declaration . In it he states that the completed structure, to the extent he has been able to assess it, complies with the technical requirements of the Bbl. Without this declaration the structure may not be taken into use. Completion is also reported to the municipality (completion notification). The municipality receives a competent authority file: a summary of the assurance process and the declaration.
These three steps come on top of the normal permit process, not instead of it.
What changes for you as a private client?
If you engage a contractor for a structure that falls under the Wkb, there are a few concrete changes compared to the old situation.
You are involved in choosing the quality assurer earlier Just as you choose a contractor, you also choose (together with the contractor) an accredited quality assurer. The quality assurer is independent of the contractor. It is advisable to arrange this early in the process, because the construction notification cannot be submitted without a quality assurer being linked to the project.
The contractor is liable for longer The Wkb also has consequences for the contractor's liability. Hidden defects that only come to light after completion can more easily be recovered from the contractor. The contractor is required to remedy defects at their own expense, unless they can demonstrate that the defect cannot be attributed to them. This is more favourable for you as a consumer.
Communication and file-building become more important The quality assurer has access to all relevant technical documents: the construction drawings, the structural calculation and the material specifications. A complete and correct set of construction drawings is therefore not only a requirement for the permit but also the basis on which the quality assurer can do their work. Incomplete drawings lead to questions, delays or additional inspections.
The municipality acts less directly In the old system, the municipality had an active role in technical building supervision. Under the Wkb, that role is smaller for structures covered by the quality assurer. The municipality focuses on the environment plan activity and receives the completion notification with the file at the end. This does not mean you build without oversight: the quality assurer takes over that role.
What changes for your contractor?
The Wkb places more responsibility with the contractor than in the old system. This has indirect consequences for you as the client.
The contractor must demonstrably work in accordance with the assurance plan and must cooperate with the inspections of the quality assurer. Changes to the design or the materials during construction must be documented and passed on to the quality assurer. Silent adjustments that deviate from the permitted drawings are more problematic than before, because the quality assurer must be informed of everything they assess.
In addition, the contractor is required to provide a consumer file at completion: an overview of what was built, which materials were used and which inspections were carried out. This file is intended for you as the client and gives you insight after completion into how the structure is put together.
A professional contractor who is used to working with good files and correct drawings will have less difficulty with the Wkb than a contractor who records little. Choose your contractor also on the basis of how they handle documentation and quality control.
How Tekenpunt lays the foundation for good quality assurance
The quality assurer can only do their work properly if the underlying technical documents are correct. Missing dimensions, unclear cross-sections, or inconsistencies between floor plans and facades lead directly to questions during the assurance process or to additional inspections on the building site.
Tekenpunt produces construction drawings and structural calculations that meet the submission requirements of the Environment Regulation and align with what the quality assurer needs: dimensions on all planes, clear existing and new situations, correct scales and consistently formatted cross-sections. Because Tekenpunt works with a KIWA-certified structural engineer, the structural substantiation that the quality assurer needs is also directly available.
Thanks to the focus on complete applications, 90% of the drawings pass the aesthetics committee first time, without requests for corrections. That completeness also helps in the assurance process: the quality assurer immediately has a clear dossier and does not need to request data afterwards.
Tekenpunt is a drawing office and not an architect or quality assurer. The choice and engagement of the quality assurer is your responsibility and that of your contractor. What Tekenpunt does is ensure that the drawings and calculations the quality assurer needs are correct from the outset. Construction drawings can be ordered from €595. For rush submissions, a delivery time of 1-2 working weeks is possible (standard 4 weeks).
Frequently asked questions
Q01Does the Wkb already apply to my renovation?
In the first phase of the Wkb, renovations and refurbishments are largely not yet covered. In this phase the law focuses primarily on certain new-build in consequence class 1, such as ground-level homes. Whether your specific project already falls under the Wkb depends on the type of building and the scale. Check this with your municipality or contractor.
Q02Who chooses the quality assurer?
The client and the contractor together choose a recognised quality assurer. The quality assurer must be independent of the contractor. Ensure the quality assurer is linked to the project early in the process, because the construction notification cannot proceed without one.
Q03What is a construction notification and when must I submit it?
A construction notification is a mandatory notification that you submit at least four weeks before the start date of the construction work via the Omgevingsloket. With it you indicate that you are going to build and which quality assurer has been engaged. Without a construction notification you may not start building.
Q04Can I occupy the building without a declaration from the quality assurer?
No. For buildings that fall under the Wkb, you may not put the building into use until the quality assurer has issued a declaration that the building complies with the technical requirements. That declaration forms part of the completion notification to the municipality.
Q05What is consequence class 1?
The Wkb classifies structures according to the possible consequences of a construction defect. Consequence class 1 covers structures where the consequences are relatively limited, such as ground-level new-build homes. More complex structures (multi-storey construction, large utility buildings) fall into higher consequence classes and will be brought under the Wkb later.
Q06What is the difference between the environment plan activity and the technical building activity?
The environment plan activity tests whether your building plan fits within the municipality's environment plan (what is permitted on the plot). The technical building activity tests whether the structure meets the technical requirements of the Bbl. For structures that fall under the Wkb, the quality assurer carries out the technical assessment instead of the municipality.
Q07How does my building project benefit from good construction drawings under the Wkb?
The quality assurer bases their work on your construction drawings, structural calculations and technical documents. If these are incomplete or unclear, it leads to questions and delays in the assurance process. Complete, correct drawings speed up the process and prevent additional inspections. Tekenpunt delivers drawings that directly match what the quality assurer needs.
Q08What does the consumer file that the contractor must provide at delivery entail?
The Wkb requires the contractor to hand over a consumer dossier at completion. This contains what was built, which materials were used, which inspections were carried out, and which maintenance recommendations apply. This dossier is for you as the client: it gives insight into your building and is valuable if you have maintenance or modifications carried out later.
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