Standards play a crucial role in the public sector, especially in infrastructure and mobility. How do standards influence the daily work of public servants? And what advantages do they offer? Gauthier Michaux, construction engineer at the Walloon Public Service Mobility and Infrastructure, provides insight.
Standards influence different aspects in the daily work of the Walloon Public Service Mobility and Infrastructure. "We make extensive use of standards in our Qualiroutes specifications. These are administrative and technical provisions that construction products and materials on road construction sites must comply with," explains Gauthier Michaux. Because technical specifications already exist at the Belgian and European levels, there is no need to rewrite everything in the specifications: "When we draft technical clauses, it is enough to refer to the existing standards." As the person in charge of signage, Gauthier speaks from experience.
The engineer also ensures that references are always up-to-date. "We have a subscription to the NBN portal, which contains all the Belgian and European standards in our collection. I manage this platform for the general directorates of the Walloon civil service," he adds. "Thanks to this strict control, we comply with harmonized standards that are mandatory at the European level. We also refer to standards whose application is voluntary, such as testing standards."
The Walloon Public Service Mobility and Infrastructure has an impressive library of more than 2,500 standards. About 700 of these are cited in Qualiroutes' specifications. They cover a wide range of construction products, including concrete, aggregates,reinforcement, cement, steel and road surfacing.
Michaux emphasizes the importance of these standards: "They reflect the latest technical insights. They also create a common language between different authorities and product manufacturers."This uniformity ensures effective cooperation and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.
Standards improve not only the quality but also the efficiency of government services. "We voluntarily certify based on compliance with product standards. During such certification, independent third parties confirm, completely neutrally, that the product meets the standards," Gauthier explains. This certification greatly simplifies work on the construction site, as it eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming tests or verifications.
It may seem complex to apply the standards, but the state Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has implemented effective procedures to minimize the difficulties. Gauthier Michaux explains: "The NBN portal keeps us informed of every update. Moreover, as experts, we are directly involved in the drafting of standards at the European level. We know exactly where we are going. This involvement allows us to anticipate changes and adapt quickly, allowing us to inform all concerned colleagues in a timely manner and ensuring a smooth transition."
Standards serve as a common technical language. They facilitate cooperation between different government agencies and other stakeholders. "When we talk about a test method, it is identical throughout Europe," notes Gauthier Michaux. Although there may be specific differences between certain countries, evaluation methods remain uniform. "For example, road signs may not have the same color everywhere, but the way their effectiveness is evaluated is the same across the continent."
The NBN portal also plays an indispensable role, providing quick access to the necessary standards. "Before, everything went through the mail. That took a very long time. Now we have a pdf within ten minutes," he concludes with satisfaction.
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From Eurocodes to electrical engineering standards. Can you still see the forest for the trees? It is extremely important to use standards, but what is the best way to do this? We are happy to answer these and many other specific questions during this free live webinar.