KOMO certification in the context of Dutch and European construction requirements

CE marking is solely a mechanism to demonstrate compliance with European testing requirements. It does not make any statement about building performance. KOMO does. KOMO provides robust performance guarantees and complies, where applicable, with the requirements of the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit) and the Building Materials Decree (Bouwstoffenbesluit).

A key distinction between KOMO and CE marking is that KOMO has been an established quality mark for decades, specifically tailored to Dutch construction practice and the performance requirements set out in Dutch building regulations. CE marking is not a quality mark and has only relatively recently become mandatory for construction products. KOMO certification is issued by an independent third party. In contrast, CE marking is often based on a manufacturer’s declaration of conformity.

Furthermore, CE marking addresses only the safety characteristics of a product. KOMO certification is linked to the application of a product within a building structure and to the associated requirements under Dutch building regulations. In this respect, KOMO aligns with the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit), which sets performance requirements at the level of the entire building. This approach differs from many other countries, where requirements are typically imposed at product level only. In addition, each European country continues to apply its own national requirements. There are no indications that these requirements will be harmonized across Europe in the coming decades, if harmonization is feasible at all.

For more than 50 years, the KOMO label has been the leading quality mark in the Dutch construction sector. A KOMO quality declaration represents independently verified quality based on objective criteria. If your products or processes are covered by a recognized KOMO quality declaration, stakeholders can rely on their compliance with the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit), the Building Materials Decree (Bouwstoffenbesluit) and specific quality, performance and safety requirements set by the market. This eliminates the need for time consuming verification procedures during permitting and on-site inspections. Notably, nearly 94 percent of the Dutch population recognizes the KOMO mark, reinforcing its position as a symbol of assurance and trust.

KOMO quality declarations are issued by independent certification bodies. These declarations fall within a system recognized by the Dutch authorities as sufficient evidence of compliance with the relevant requirements of the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit).