Strong as concrete thanks to NBN: the impact of the standards portal at PROCERTUS

For an organisation PROCERTUS, which is responsible for quality control in the concrete sector on a daily basis, standards are not passive documents. They are a working tool. They form the basis for certification, determine how inspections are carried out, and what information producers must provide. In this world, error-free access to standards is essential. An incorrect version, a missing change, or an inaccurate search result can have a direct impact on audits or certification schemes.

That is why PROCERTUS makes extensive use of the NBN standards portal. Pascale De Kesel, who plays a central role in certification and standards development at PROCERTUS, puts it simply: "We use the standards every day, so you have to be sure you are working with the right version."

The portal helps them guarantee exactly that.

Standards at the heart of daily operations

PROCERTUS works with hundreds of standards: product standards for ready-mixed concrete, concrete products, their raw materials, and structural steel; testing standards for laboratories; national additions to European texts; and requirements necessary for the correct assessment of BENOR, CE, or ATG schemes. The organisation the NBN platform with a lease formula that provides ample purchasing capacity, so that employees can always respond quickly.

Pascale says: "We mainly search by number and find the relevant result right at the top." That efficiency is important to PROCERTUS. When inspectors or auditors are in the field, every version of the standard must be correct — without doubt, without delay.

Favorites and notifications: small features with a big impact

Within PROCERTUS, standards play a key role in the certification of construction products. Pascale explains how important it is to always work with the correct version: "We use the standards every day, so you have to be sure you're working with the right version."

That's why favorites lists and automatic notifications are so valuable to her team.

Pascale says: "We work with lists. That's useful for audits. We can create a list for a specific schedule and share it with colleagues."

But these lists don't just help with audits — above all, they support the certification files that PROCERTUS manages on a daily basis.

PROCERTUS has three major certification clusters (Materials, Concrete & Mortar, Steel) and works with numerous standards, certification schemes, and brands such as BENOR, CE, ATG, and the PROCERTUS brand. As Pascale says:

“On the one hand, I am Cluster Manager Materials and, since this year, I am also Head of Certification at PROCERTUS. So I work with certification on a daily basis and strive to ensure that the entire team uses the standards platform.”

Updates to the standards portal ensure that no one is working with outdated versions anymore. "Since the update, the relevant result appears at the top of the list. That's a real improvement. In some cases, however, references are still made to earlier versions. Recently, historical versions have also been included in the standards portal, which is a real added value."

How the standards platform supports certification

According to Pascale, certification is one of PROCERTUS's core tasks:

"That is our core business. The two operational branches are verification and certification."

In concrete terms, this means:

• processing applications from manufacturers who want BENOR certification or CE marking,

• handling files concerning new materials or cement types that are undergoing ATG or EPD processes.

PROCERTUS uses a broad set of standards that are constantly evolving for all these processes. It is crucial that certification staff, auditors, and inspectors know exactly:

• which version of the standard applies,

• what changes have been made in the meantime,

• whether a standard is part of a specific certification scheme.

The NBN platform ensures that all file managers have access to the correct standards at all times — from product standards to test standards.

Training and knowledge sharing within PROCERTUS

Pascale also actively uses the platform for internal training. New employees, young engineers, and colleagues who are starting audit processes learn via the platform how standards are structured, where they can find changes, and how to compare versions.

She puts it bluntly: "The platform helps us to familiarize people much more quickly with the standards they really need."

This transfer of expertise is important. Standards change regularly—new insights, recycling, sustainability, modified testing methods, European revisions—and it is a challenge to keep everyone on board. In this context, the platform functions as a shared, up-to-date source of knowledge.

Collaboration with NBN: direct, honest, and efficient

Pascale also has high praise for the collaboration with NBN, particularly with file manager Justine. "If there is anything, we can always say so. Communication is open and transparent."

This openness means that problems or questions are resolved quickly. Sometimes this concerns licenses or user management, sometimes functionalities that require additional explanation. "We feel that they really listen to us. And if something isn't possible right away, they'll just be honest about it."

The result is a collaboration based on trust and expertise. Two organizations that are closely connected to the sector find it easy to work together.

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