Quality assurance from design phase to assembly

Prefabricated housing concepts with concrete shells 

The Netherlands faces a major construction task. Whether that building task will be realized depends on the approach. Will the construction sector succeed in switching to an industrial construction method with a high degree of standardization? In light of the Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb), that switch has a very positive effect on the construction process. At the same time, the quality assurance process is making a major efficiency leap. 

The process of quality assurance on the construction site is considerably simplified if the supplying industry already has its processes independently tested in advance. The larger and more complete these industrially produced units are delivered, the more quality aspects can already be secured in the factory. The Wkb performance ladder previously reported on by KOMO makes this transparent.

KOMO certification

Quality assurance agencies already set their conditions to reduce assurance efforts. One is that another body has already assessed the industrial process, at least at the same level. This objective is in line with the objective of KOMO certification. After all, anything pre-certified in the factory means relief for quality assurance personnel. 

Advance quality assurance

In the field of concrete construction, Kiwa Nederland B.V. is developing the BRL 2840 for prefabricated housing concepts with concrete shell. Part 1 - the basis for certification of the design - is already ready. Part 2 - for the assembly of the houses on the construction site - will appear soon. Thus a house, designed and assembled under KOMO certification, complies by definition with building regulations. 

Shifted burden of proof

With the advent of the Wkb, the burden of proof in the Civil Code shifts to the builder. For all activities during production and upon completion, the builder becomes responsible. Even in the years thereafter, the builder must be able to prove that his housing concept meets the building regulations and requirements for correct assembly. He must be able to prove the actual construction quality achieved - the as-built quality - for each construction project.

KiK templates

The KOMO Instrument for Quality Assurance (KiK) has been developed for dossier formation by builder and quality assurance contractor. The basis of KiK - software application KiK-tool - is available free of charge. In the KiK tool, templates can be created for each housing concept. Once a project is completed, the templates can be adapted again to the next housing concept. They are designed to collect evidence - from design phase to assembly - in a structured manner. This provides the quality assurance officer with all the information he needs for his work.

Linking KiK templates and KOMO certificates

The KiK templates can be linked to the KOMO certificates. The quality assurance contractor can then see at a glance which aspects have already been assessed under the KOMO certificate and which aspects he still needs to assess for quality. The KOMO certificate thus constitutes a risk management measure with which the quality assurance officer can limit the intensity of his supervision - and the associated costs. 

Does, of course, raise the question of whether this does not give quality assurance professionals too little work? But quality assurance expert Keimpe Stroop of gBOU. is not afraid of that. "There is enough work for quality assurance officers. Moreover, working according to the Wkb remains affordable this way."