Guaranteeing safety and innovation in industrialised construction: ETAs and TCs

With the support of TECNALIA ETAs and TCs: guaranteeing safety and innovation in industrialised construction in Europe

The European Technical Assessments (ETA) and the Technical Suitability Documents, such as the Technical Conformity Report - TC issued by TECNALIA, are key pillars for the development of industrialised construction in Europe. They ensure that the products used in this construction model meet the strict safety and quality requirements for construction sites.

Industrialised construction offers numerous benefits, such as greater speed of execution by manufacturing elements in parallel to the construction, which reduces both time and costs. Moreover, by producing in controlled environments, high quality is ensured with fewer failures and greater efficiency in the use of resources, making it more sustainable. It also generates less environmental impact on the construction site. Thanks to technology, it allows for customised designs, overcoming the perception that it only applies to standardised modular projects.

Industrialised construction uses a wide range of prefabricated products, which require technical assessments to ensure their quality and safety. The following products can be highlighted:

• Prefabricated elements: concrete panels, metal structures and ready-to-assemble walls.
• Volumetric modules: complete units that include bedrooms, bathrooms or kitchens.
• Cladding systems: light and ventilated façades, among other systems.
• Prefabricated foundations: foundation solutions designed for rapid installation.
• Installation systems: electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning ducts pre-installed in the modules.

TECNALIA collaborates with manufacturers in the identification of regulatory needs and the issue of TC and ETA documents

We collaborate with manufacturers in the identification of regulatory needs and the issue of TC and ETA documents. This approach is essential for sectors such as healthcare, education and offices, where speed, efficiency and controlled quality are essential.

1. Quality assurance in prefabricated products: the key to success in industrialised construction is the standardisation and quality of the components. The ETA and TC assessment documents ensure that prefabricated and modular products without harmonised standards comply with aspects, such as structural safety, durability, fire resistance and thermal and acoustic insulation. This ensures that the products are suitable for on-site assembly whilst fulfilling the highest standards.

2. Driving innovation and new technologies: in an environment in which modularity and prefabrication are evolving rapidly, ETA and TC assessment documents play a crucial role in facilitating innovative products to be marketed in Europe. For materials and systems not covered by traditional standards, these assessments ensure that they have passed rigorous technical tests and assessments, which are just as strict or even stricter than those to which traditional materials and products are subjected.

TECNALIA contributes decisively in this field, collaborating with manufacturers in identifying unfulfilled regulatory needs and issuing TC and ETA documents for new products, facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies in the market.

3. Production control: in the mass production of industrialised construction, it is vital that each component maintains consistent quality. Verification of the production controls within the framework of the technical assessment ensures that the prefabricated modules meet the safety and quality requirements at all stages of production.

TECNALIA's laboratories play a crucial role in providing a rigorous assessment and certification framework, which enables manufacturers to improve their production processes, guaranteeing a consistent and reliable product.

4. Compliance with European standards and structural safety: safety is essential in industrialised construction. TC and ETA certifications validate that prefabricated structural products comply with national and/or European standards, guaranteeing their resistance to fire, wind loads, earthquakes and other extreme conditions throughout their service life.

The resistance and durability tests carried out by TECNALIA enable the performance of these products to be assessed, ensuring that they fulfil the strictest standards.

5. Transparency and confidence in the European market: the use of certified products with technical assessments (TC or ETA) offers manufacturers, architects, developers and end users transparency and confidence, facilitating marketing throughout the European Union.

Relevance of TC and ETA certifications

TC and ETA certifications, backed by TECNALIA's experience and innovative work, are essential to consolidate industrialised construction as a sustainable, safe and efficient construction model. These assessments not only ensure the quality of prefabricated products, but also facilitate the introduction of new technologies in a constantly evolving sector.