Building Quality Assurance Act

Since Jan. 1, 2024, the new Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) has been in effect alongside the Omgevingswet . The purpose of the Wkb is to improve construction quality. There is also more control during construction. This means that before you start building or renovating, you must check whether your building falls under the Wkb. This can be done in the Omgevingsloket. 

If you submit the intention to build to the municipality, you must take into account the Wkb. The WKB does not immediately apply to all structures. This law initially applies to new construction. Remodeling does not yet fall under this law.

The video shows you what to do if an architect or contractor is going to do construction plans for you or if you are going to build yourself.

Before 2024, the municipality tested in advance whether your building plan complies with building regulations. Now the municipality no longer does this for low-risk structures (Consequence Class I). This is done by the quality assurance agency. You hire this one yourself.

What does a quality assurance officer do?

The quality assurance officer tests construction quality before, during and after construction. 

  • Before construction: the quality assurance officer checks that the building plan meets the technical requirements.
  • During construction: the quality assurance contractor monitors construction
  • After construction: if the construction complies with the rules, the quality assurance company will prepare a statement that you send to the municipality. 

Technical regulations deal with, for example, fire safety, foundation or energy efficiency. The regulations are contained in the Building Works Decree for the Living Environment.

Which structures are covered by the Wkb?

The Wkb applies from January 1, 2024 to building and remodeling in consequence class 1. The consequence class says something about how risky a structure is. Consequence class 1 are low-risk structures. For example, ground-level homes and simple commercial buildings. It also includes houseboats, recreational houses and industrial buildings of up to 2 storeys. There are also exceptions, including monuments.

How is it when you start building?

If you are going to build, use the Environment Desk to check what rules apply and whether you need permits. For a renovation, the WKB does not yet apply and the technical assessment is done by the municipality. You must also inform the municipality that you are going to start building. In doing so, you also indicate who your quality assurance agency is. You can find a quality assurance company in the register of instruments for quality assurance . 

Roadmap Wkb notification consequence class I

Step 1: hire a quality assurance contractor

You hire a quality assurance company yourself. You can find a list of quality assurance providers on the website Admission Organization Quality Assurance Construction.

Step 2: submit a construction notification

You may not begin construction until you have submitted a complete notification. At least 4 weeks before construction begins, submit the construction notification through the Environment Counter:

  • Go to "Apply.
  • Under "Activities," select "Construction Activity.
  • Choose "Construction Activity (Technical) Notification.

This is also where you indicate who your quality assurance provider is. Also provide the other information requested. Is any information missing? Then you must submit a new notification. Four weeks after submitting the notification, you may begin construction.

Step 3: start construction

Two days before construction begins, you notify the Omgevingsloket. This is called information duty.

Step 4: inspection by quality assurance contractor

The quality assurance officer checks before and during construction whether the building regulations are met. You receive a certificate from the quality assurance officer if the building meets the building regulations.
Note: The municipality can also check whether the building regulations are met. It can also enforce if they are not. The quality assurance company cannot do this.

Step 5: file a completion notice

You may not use the structure until you have submitted a complete notification of completion. You should do this at least 2 weeks before you intend to use the building. This can be done via the environment counter. You will need the declaration of the quality assurance agency (step 4) for this (competent authority file).
The municipality will indicate whether your notification of completion has been accepted or rejected.

Step 6: report the end of construction work

One day after stopping all construction work, report it through the Environment Counter. This is mandatory.

Special local conditions

When building under quality assurance, specific local conditions or risks should be considered as a starting point for the risk assessment and assurance plan. Below, you can read more about the local conditions in the municipality of Kerkrade that may play a role in your product. 

Post-ice effects mining

For centuries, coal has been mined in the vicinity of Kerkrade and Herzogenrath. The first reports on this date as far back as the fourteenth century and the last from 1974 when the last mine was closed. Even today, this centuries-long mining history may have implications for building plans in the territory of the municipality of Kerkrade. For the entire former mining region in South Limburg, 7 possible after-effects of this mining have been identified. Some effects are tied to specific locations, others may occur within larger areas. Not all 7 possible effects are relevant for building plans. 

For more information, contact the Environment and Building Department, tel 14 045

Soil Quality

Kerkrade does not have generic soil policy but area-specific soil policy, the "multi-track policy. This not only deals with the application of soil, but also provides an assessment framework for zoning plans, new construction (homes and businesses) and soil remediation. The area-specific policy was adopted because of the occurrence of mine rock as a result of former coal mining. There are remediated built-up former mining sites subject to aftercare under the Soil Protection Act and Mine Rock Areas, established under the Soil Quality Decree.

Kerkrade has a Soil Quality Map and a Soil Management Memorandum, including for PFAS. 

The bottom line is that in the area built up before about 1970 (Zone 1: Upper Ground Residential), the soil quality map does not provide sufficient assurance of soil quality. Locally, non-area-specific, strong soil contamination may be present, which may be an obstacle to planned new construction. Light soil contamination with lead may also occur, which exceeds the GGD Zuid Limburg's advisory values for planned use. This advice can be sent upon request.

In "Zone 2: topsoil AW2000" the BKK is more reliable and, if the location according to Preliminary Investigation (NEN5725) is expected to have area-specific quality, an actual soil investigation can be omitted. This is elaborated in the Soil Management Memorandum.

Soil information can be requested from the municipality prior to new construction or soil testing. This includes; known soil investigations, fuel tanks and any operating history of a site.

Soil remediation and HBB sites.

Information on cases of serious soil contamination (Soil Protection Act) and sites from the historical soil database (HBB) can be found on the Soil Counter.

For further information contact the Environment and Building Department, tel 14 045.

Soil structure

Information on soil structure, geomorphology and groundwater in Kerkrade can be found on the DINOLoket and the BROloket There are a few topics of interest for geotechnical investigations and foundation methods.

Gravel deposits

Beneath the loess loam, deposits of Beegden (Maas gravel) are mostly present, consisting mainly of gravel and sand. Large natural stones, 1 to 2 m in diameter, may be present in these deposits.

Tectonic fractures

Along (some active) tectonic fractures and at the transition of two different Maasterraces, gravel deposits and bearing soil layers may be present at different depth levels. All this may affect the performance of CPTs and pile foundations.

Groundwater

Below in the stream and river valleys of, for example, Anstelerbeek, Anselderbeek, Strijthagerbeek and Worm, groundwater higher than 5 m-mv may be present and may be important for foundations, soil improvement or basement construction. The stream and river valleys can be found in the geomorphological Map in the BROloket

Mining areas

In Kerkrade, as a result of former coal mining, areas of mine rock are present. This is present in the form of embankments. These areas can be found in the Soil Counter
For further information contact the Environment and Building Department, tel: 14 045.

Explosive Remnants of War

The Municipality of Kerkrade is making a Soil Explosive Remnants of War Map available digitally. This Map indicates the places in Kerkrade where acts of war took place during World War II.
The fact that an area is indicated on the Map does not mean that explosives are actually there; only that the possibility must be taken into account. This is important for safety when carrying out work in the ground, such as excavation work or soil drilling.

Based on the Soil Tax Map, all of Kerkrade is generally suspect for the presence of fanned artillery ammunition from 20 to 155 mm. Further locations with additional or lower levels of suspicion are shown on the Soil Tax Map.

Supplementary to the Soil Tax Map, a "preliminary investigation post-conflict period - supplement risk map municipality of Kerkrade" has also been carried out. This indicates for a number of areas whether and to what depth they are less or non-suspicious. This is because after World War II a lot of soil movement or raising took place in these areas.

The 'Soil Tax Map' and 'Risk Map Supplement' are available for anyone to view

In addition to the Map , this page also provides more information and advice on work.

The Soil Tax Map Explosive Remnants of War (OO) indicates the locations in Kerkrade where acts of war took place during World War II, as a result of which unexploded explosives may still be present in the soil at those locations. This mainly concerns artillery (grenades), demolition ammunition (aerial bombs) and small-caliber ammunition (hand grenades). The Soil Contamination Map OO has been created so that anyone in Kerkrade can find out whether there is an increased chance of the presence of Explosive Remnants of War at a particular location. This is especially important for anyone performing work in the soil (e.g., soil testing, excavation, or soil drilling).

Environmental safety risks

The Province of Limburg has an overview map that shows all risk situations in the living environment This Map provides information about risks in a certain geographical area in a clear and quick manner. It also shows the transport routes of hazardous materials. With this Map , you are aware of the risks in your neighborhood and can take any necessary measures when building or renovating your structure.          

Noise levels due to (rail) traffic and industry

As a result of (rail) traffic and/or industrial noise, your building may be subject to such noise levels that the preferred noise limit value is exceeded and the noise protection of your facade is insufficient. You must then apply for a higher noise limit value and/or take additional noise protection measures. An acoustic investigation into the noise levels and/or noise barriers is necessary in these situations. On the page noise maps you can read more about this.

Drainage of domestic wastewater or rainwater

All buildings where wastewater is produced in some way, such as through toilets or machinery should be connected to the municipal sewage system. A standard connection for a home is 125 mm. Separate arrangements will be made for larger products such as apartment buildings or factory halls. The connection can be requested through the municipality

Rainwater may not be connected to the sewage system and will have to be treated on the property. To this end, it must be taken into account that 80mm of the paved surface must be stored. This is possible by means of infiltration crates but preferably by storage in tanks. On Parkstad Waterklaar you can find information about the various options for dealing with rainwater. Depending on the choice, a soil permeability study may be required.