PROCERTUS and the Power of Standards in the Concrete Industry
Last updated:
May 19, 2026
At first glance, concrete and concrete products may seem like ordinary building materials, but behind every precast wall, foundation, or structure lies a complex mix of binders, aggregates, reinforcement, and strict quality standards. Standards serve as the connective tissue that ensures safety and reliability.
Anyone in Belgium who discusses standards development, quality control, and certification of concrete and concrete products will quickly come across PROCERTUS . The organisation in 2024 through the merger of BE-CERT, PROBETON, and OCBS, making PROCERTUS a single integrated player that supports the entire concrete supply chain.
One of the people who helps shape this every day is Laurent Mbumbia. His conviction is clear:“Standards form the basis for most of our certifications.” But he also emphasizes that standards go far beyond certification alone: “What’s in the standards represents the state of the art, based on science, knowledge, research, and years of practical experience.”
That principle characterizes not only his work, but also the role that PROCERTUS plays in the sector today.
Anyone designing a concrete structure must be able to rely on materials with clearly defined properties. Laurent explains it simply: “The designer must be able to trust that the material supplied meets the specifications used in the design. And if those specifications are set out in a standard, then the designer has a solid frame of reference.”
According to him, standards are a kind of shared grammar: “Standards are a universal language. If we all use them, we know exactly what we mean.”
In an industry where mistakes can have serious consequences, that’s no luxury. Laurent points to recent incidents: “Safety factors are built into the calculation standards, but if the material’s properties don’t match the expected performance, it can be fatal.”
It is precisely to avoid such risks that PROCERTUS is so deeply involved in standards development. The application of these standards, monitored through certification, serves as a necessary complement to this effort.
PROCERTUS plays a very active role in developing standards across all sectors in which it provides certification and inspection services. However, for the precast concrete sector, PROCERTUS goes a step further. PROCERTUS has been recognized by NBN as the sectoral standards operator for precast concrete. This means that, on behalf of NBN, it manages several standards committees for concrete products and provides substantive guidance to the sector in the development and updating of standards.
As a sectoral standardization body, PROCERTUS manages three NBN committees: E177 (autoclaved aerated concrete elements and concrete with lightweight aggregates and an open structure), E178 (paving products), and E229 (precast concrete products). PROCERTUS also supports the NBN by developing or adapting national standards for concrete pipes and manholes.
In recent years, PROCERTUS, through its experts, has been active in European standardization committees, working on the revision of mandates (for the Construction Products Regulation CPR 305/2011), the drafting of new standardization requests (under the new CPR-2024/3110), and the development of standards within the framework of the CPR Acquis process.
This process emphasizes the environmental sustainability of buildings and the environmental impact of construction products, making these key and ongoing considerations. Laurent is convinced that European standardization will now serve as a strategic lever to prepare the sector for the new requirements of the CPR, with PROCERTUS acting as an active link between the field and Europe.
Standard development is therefore not a theoretical exercise. It is work that has a direct impact on the sustainability and safety of concrete and concrete products in Belgium.
What sets PROCERTUS apart from other participants is that it is both actively involved in the field and involved in standard-setting. The organisation manufacturers, conducts inspections and takes samples, and interprets test results.
That practical experience is then fed back into the standards committees. Laurent explains why this is essential: “In the standards committee, we receive input from normative research on the one hand. The results of that research form the basis for developing the standard requirements, but not without testing them against real-world experience. It’s really a whole chain. If you’re missing a link there, it becomes more difficult.”
This interaction ensures that standards are not only technically sound, but also practical for manufacturers and verifiable by certification bodies.
At the same time, committee work provides valuable insights. “As an expert, you have a front-row seat. You receive all the relevant information and know what has been researched, as well as where the strengths and weaknesses lie,” says Laurent.
For PROCERTUS clients, this sends a strong message: their certification body not only understands the standard, but also knows the background and rationale behind every decision.
Standards help shape the direction of innovation in the concrete industry. The introduction of concrete with a lower carbon footprint, alternative binders, and recycled aggregates is closely linked to updated standards such as NBN B 15-001.
In Laurent’s words, sustainable concrete is, among other things, about cement: “The biggest factor in concrete is the Portland clinker in the cement. It has a very large carbon footprint.” He believes that innovative types of cement are necessary to make progress.
That is why PROCERTUS closely monitors technological developments and translates them into clear, practical standards.
Standard development is not a solo effort. Laurent emphasizes the diversity of voices on the committees: “Sometimes interests are at odds. There are manufacturers who are eager to have new products included in the standards so that their use can become more widespread. And then, of course, there are the representatives of building owners, both private and public, who don’t want to take any risks when it comes to quality and safety.”
Consensus is essential in this regard: “So far, we have always managed to reach a consensus before a draft standard is published for public comment.”
PROCERTUS plays a mediating role in this process by combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the sector’s needs.
The concrete industry faces significant challenges: stricter emission standards, circularity, new binders, precise quality control, and the digitization of processes. But standards are the driving force behind progress in addressing all of these challenges.
PROCERTUS occupies a unique position in this landscape: closely connected to the field, firmly rooted in standards committees, and with a broad overview of the entire concrete supply chain. By incorporating its expertise into the concrete standards of the future, PROCERTUS contributes every day to the safety, sustainability, and reliability of the Belgian construction sector.
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