BNA calls for more due diligence in Building Quality Assurance Act

Failure costs in construction must be structurally reduced

Has there ever been a construction project in the Netherlands where everything - but then everything - was really right? Who knows, may say, but actually we do know the answer to that question. So, consumers who are happy to finally receive the key to their newly built home in that beautiful neighborhood are just a little too often disappointed. And, the discussion begins. Therefore, it is fine that that consumer's legal position is (better) protected by the (upcoming) Building Quality Assurance Act (WKB). To summarize: the aim is to limit the number of defects in new construction and renovation, and to better protect the consumer.

Builders will thus be held more accountable for what they deliver. Independent quality assurance agencies will conduct inspections at various points in the construction process. During those checks, a keen (and judgmental!) eye is kept on whether the building project is still in line with requirements on fire safety, health, usability and, of course, energy efficiency. The goal? Fewer errors will need to be fixed after delivery. In short, the error rate goes down. At least, that's how the law intends it.

Nothing wrong with that, it seems.

But will the error rate really go down? That is the critical question that needs to be addressed right away. After all, why is the knowledge of architects not used more? After all, they are the most important link in the preliminary phase of every building project. BNA - The Branchevereniging van Nederlandse Architectenbureaus - believes that the WKB can only be successfully implemented if "the knowledge and skills of architects are utilized." BNA wrote a Position Paper on this in late January that was presented to Minister Hugo de Jonge, Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning.

OPTIMAL MIX OF QUALITY ASPECTS

In the piece, BNA argues for a broader concept of quality. "A client expects quality and this expectation includes more than minimal technical quality." So as far as BNA is concerned, it is also about spatial quality that arises from good craftsmanship. "But it is also about how the environment is experienced, how people come together, how healthy they are (and should remain) and how our cultural history is dealt with." Here - as far as BNA is concerned - we do not think in terms of "a yardstick for spatial quality with a minimum" but rather an optimal mix of different quality aspects for a unique client within set preconditions. 

BNA therefore prefers to see the architect and the quality assurance agent working together. "The architect can ensure that various qualities of a design are included in an assurance plan, which is then also subsequently established by the quality assurance officer. The architect can also take over some of the assurance tasks from the quality assurance officer. This contributes to the efficiency of
the assurance process."  

Architects will ultimately realize maximum added value when they remain involved throughout the design, construction and management process. Such a process ultimately pays off as well, BNA believes. "Quality risks are minimized. Quality assurance costs are kept low. And, the ultimate savings in failure costs more than justifies the investment in design power up front."

Consumers will be delighted. When the key to that new home is (finally) in possession, the champagne bottles should be able to be opened while at the same time the entire construction process is concluded.

The advocacy organization therefore advocates (more) careful introduction and implementation of the new law.