Habitat et Environnement certification has been requested for all Bouygues Immobilier homes built since 1 July 2007. This environmental certification is awarded by an independent body called CERQUAL, a subsidiary of QUALITEL. Working to increase the quality of today’s homes is the job of QUALITEL Development Director Xavier Daniel.
All about certification - 16 October 2008
- What role does QUALITEL play in terms of environmental issues?
- But why use an external certification body?
- Do the baseline requirements developed by QUALITEL always correspond to legal requirements, or are they just a reflection of what the developer wants to highlight?
- Why should buyers choose a certificated development?
- In practical terms then, how does the certification process actually work? Who is involved in it?
- Habitat & Environnement certification involves the choice of sustainable materials. What does that actually mean in practice?
- Should the developers of certificated homes encourage future occupants to continue the good work?
- On average, how many new homes are you certifying every month at the moment? Have you seen strong growth in requests for certification?
- QUALITEL certifications
What role does QUALITEL play in terms of environmental issues?
“QUALITEL is a not-for-profit association formed under France’s ‘1901 Law’ in 1974. As an umbrella body, it brings together public authorities, consumer associations and construction industry organisations to address the common objective of evaluating and promoting the quality of homes through certification. Working on the basis of consensus, we define and validate the baseline certification requirements applying to the construction and renovation of homes.
As the operational entity of QUALITEL, CERQUAL is responsible for developing and awarding new home certifications. CERQUAL covers every region of France from four offices using a national network of auditors, inspectors and examiners”.
As the operational entity of QUALITEL, CERQUAL is responsible for developing and awarding new home certifications. CERQUAL covers every region of France from four offices using a national network of auditors, inspectors and examiners”.
But why use an external certification body?
“Certification awarded by an external body is a guarantee of independence, which is as vital as it is legally required. The French Consumer Code requires that certifying bodies are completely separate from the companies responsible for the product being certified.
But in addition to fulfilling that legal obligation, an external body can offer developers many benefits, including:
But in addition to fulfilling that legal obligation, an external body can offer developers many benefits, including:
- an independent confirmation of quality, rather than a self-certified one
- an objective and reassuring guarantee of comfort and quality
- the opportunity to anticipate regulation and deliver homes that go beyond the bare legal requirements
- the opportunity to respond to customer demand by providing practical and credible evidence of their commitment to addressing environmental issues
- the opportunity to progress, and to measure that progression under the critical gaze of an independent and respected organisation”
Do the baseline requirements developed by QUALITEL always correspond to legal requirements, or are they just a reflection of what the developer wants to highlight?
“Our baseline requirements correspond to legal requirements where these exist, and where they do not exist, then they refer to accepted industry best practice. In many areas, our requirements go beyond the demands of current regulations. With Habitat & Environnement, for example, that is the case with internal acoustic insulation and heat insulation, where our values anticipate future regulation. Developers must comply with these requirements if they wish to obtain certification of their developments. This certification process is based on voluntary and individual agreement”.
Why should buyers choose a certificated development?
“When you buy a certificated home, you can be certain that the technical aspects, construction methods and all the other things you cannot see comply fully with all the necessary requirements. You can also view the list of points that have been examined and evaluated. You can’t buy this certification, you can only earn it!
As an assurance of quality, certification is essential when you are investing in a property asset for 15 years, 20 years or perhaps even longer”.
As an assurance of quality, certification is essential when you are investing in a property asset for 15 years, 20 years or perhaps even longer”.
In practical terms then, how does the certification process actually work? Who is involved in it?
“Habitat & Environnement certification involves three people from CERQUAL, and a number of employees on the developer’s site. The process follows a number of different stages.
- At a very early stage, and ideally before planning permission is granted, one of our auditors will evaluate the project on the basis of environmental criteria to ensure compliance with our Environmental Management and Clean Site requirements
- At the same time, one of our inspectors will make a preliminary evaluation of all the technical criteria
- As the development progresses, the inspector will make a second and third evaluation of the project, home-by-home, with reference to a precise specification. It is on the basis of the audit and final evaluation report that certification is either granted or withheld
- Lastly, an examiner appointed at random will conduct a full compliance check of every item on the baseline requirements list prior to handover of the development”
Habitat & Environnement certification involves the choice of sustainable materials. What does that actually mean in practice?
“The materials used in the construction process must meet precise criteria governing not only their quality, but also their origin. For example, where wood is used, it must be sourced from sustainably-managed forests.
The materials selected must have no damaging effects on the occupants, so we forbid the use of toxic adhesives and solvents, materials capable of releasing particles into the atmosphere and many other types of hazardous product. In evaluating these materials and making these decisions, we take our cue from the accreditations granted by the CSTB (the French Building Science and Technology Centre).”
The materials selected must have no damaging effects on the occupants, so we forbid the use of toxic adhesives and solvents, materials capable of releasing particles into the atmosphere and many other types of hazardous product. In evaluating these materials and making these decisions, we take our cue from the accreditations granted by the CSTB (the French Building Science and Technology Centre).”
Should the developers of certificated homes encourage future occupants to continue the good work?
“What would be the point of being so demanding over the quality of design and construction if the occupants weren’t to get the full benefit of all these efforts? Developers should therefore provide their buyers with a guide designed and published specifically for each development, which sets out all the best ways to make the most of its benefits. By providing information and practical advice, this guide helps occupants to get into the habit of doing the right things and using the features of their home to maximum advantage – in fact, this is one of our requirements.”
On average, how many new homes are you certifying every month at the moment? Have you seen strong growth in requests for certification?
“Habitat et Environnement certification is a real success story. In its launch year of 2003, we certified 3,300 homes. In 2004, it was 7,130, followed by 14,000 in 2005 and 26,000 in 2006. Last year, 47,000 new homes were covered by requests for Habitat & Environnement certification!”
QUALITEL certifications
QUALITEL offers a number of distinct and complimentary certifications.
- Qualitel certification, which is awarded on the basis of technical criteria (acoustic and thermal insulation and home comfort installations) and financial criteria (control over bills)
- NF Logement certification, which focuses on the building and services provided by the project owner
- Habitat et Environnement Certification, which has been developed in response to environmental challenges
