Technical Approval

What is Technical Approval?

Technical approval is a formal confirmation that a building product meets specific requirements for safety, quality, and functionality. It ensures that the product is fit for use in construction projects and may be legally placed on the market. This approval is based on a combination of laboratory tests, calculations, visual inspections, expert opinions, and relevant technical documentation. These assessments follow building regulations, applicable Polish and European standards, and guidelines concerning product application and expected durability.

Who Issues Technical Approval?

Technical approval is issued by an authorised institution known as the approving body. The head of this organisation is responsible for signing the document. The approving body is also in charge of granting, modifying, or withdrawing technical approvals. A registry of issued and cancelled approvals is maintained.

If a technical approval is denied, it cannot be reapplied for the same product to the same authority. Approval may also be withdrawn if the product is later found not to meet the specified standards.

Key Institutions Responsible for Technical Approval

• Building Research Institute (Warsaw) – for most construction products, including thermal insulation and fibre-cement materials.

• Road and Bridge Research Institute (Warsaw) – for civil engineering products used in roads and bridges.

• Oil and Gas Institute (Krakow) – for products used in gas installations and fuel networks.

• Energy Institute (Warsaw) – for materials used in high-voltage (above 24 kV) electrical engineering.

• Institute of Environmental Protection (Warsaw) – for products used in wastewater treatment and sludge processing.

• Military University of Technology (Warsaw) – for products used in military construction only.

• Railway Research and Development Centre (Warsaw) – for products used exclusively in railway infrastructure.

• Centre for Construction Insulation "Izolacja" (Katowice) – for thermal, waterproofing, and fibre-cement products.

• Central Mining Institute (Katowice) – for explosion-proof equipment used in buildings.

• Fire Protection Research Centre (Józefów) – for fire safety equipment and rescue systems.

• Institute of Technology and Life Sciences (Falenty) – for agricultural construction materials.

• National Institute of Telecommunications (Warsaw) – for telecom, radio-TV, and IT network equipment.

• Central Cooling Institute (Krakow) – for heat pumps and HVAC cooling components.

These organisations provide public technical recommendations, except for defence-specific constructions.

Confidentiality and Fees

The technical approval process is paid for by the applicant. Approving bodies must ensure confidentiality regarding proprietary test results, technology descriptions, and construction documentation submitted during the approval procedure.

Validity of Technical Approval

A technical approval is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. It can be renewed upon the owner’s request without restarting the entire approval process. The issuing body has up to 2 months from receiving complete documentation to provide a written decision. If rejected, the applicant is notified within one month with a justification.

Conditions for Granting Approval

To receive technical approval, the applicant must submit all required documents and test reports. The approving body then assesses the product’s compliance with building application standards. The applicant is responsible for obtaining all required documentation and testing—these are not part of the approval body’s duties.

The required technical criteria are based on Polish or European standards, or other technical documents in justified cases. If clear and binding standards already exist, there is no need to create new evaluation criteria.

What Products Require Technical Approval?

Products that lack a harmonised standard but are essential for construction safety or durability may require approval. These include materials related to:

• Structural safety

• Fire protection

• Acoustic and vibration insulation

The Role of the Building Research Institute (ITB)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration defines the technical criteria and legal basis for issuing technical approvals. The National Technical Approval (Krajowa Aprobata Techniczna - KAT) is a positive technical evaluation for products without an existing Polish standard or where product characteristics differ from those specified in national norms.

Approvals are issued when the technical and functional properties of a product help meet essential construction requirements in buildings where the product is applied. Once all test reports and documents are submitted, the approving unit may consult a technical commission, which includes manufacturers, contractors, and independent experts.

The Building Research Institute also maintains a central registry of approvals and represents Poland in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals.

European Technical Assessment (ETA)

The European Technical Assessment (ETA) replaced the previous European Technical Approval (also abbreviated ETA) system after July 1, 2013. These assessments are valid for five years. Construction products can be marketed within the EU once they are CE marked by the manufacturer, demonstrating compliance with ETA standards.

Technical Approval by the Railway Institute

Before 2017, the Railway Institute issued approvals for railway-specific products. These were based on thorough evaluations, including testing, inspections, expert input, and documentation. Since January 1, 2017, the Railway Institute no longer has the authority to issue or revise technical approvals and now provides National Technical Assessments instead.

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