Drafting standards for the building and construction industry
Voluntary standards for the building and construction industry are developed by professionals in the field through committees that bring together all stakeholders, with the aim of serving the public interest.
France's standardization strategy
The most famous of these are the NF DTU , these standard technical provisions for construction contracts relating to structures or parts of structures built using commonly accepted techniques, and the Eurocodes , these codes for the design and calculation of structures, which are usually mandatory.
The French Standardization Strategy for 2025–2030 devotes a section, among others, to low-carbon cements and concretes. CEN/TC 51 “Cements and Construction Limes” is leading the effort to organize the implementation of the strategic standard EN 197-5 on low-carbon cement. More broadly, the work being carried out at the European level within the High Level Forum recommends, in particular, the development of so-called “performance-based” standards, in order to address a wider variety of cements while ensuring safe and high-performance structures.
The leading standards body for this sector: the Office for the Standardization of Building Construction Techniques and Equipment (BNTEC), acting on behalf of AFNOR.
