Regulatory control for safety and fair competition
In Austria, construction products may only be made available on the market if they do not endanger health and safety and comply with the applicable legal requirements.
To ensure this, the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) acts as the market surveillance authority for construction products on behalf of the Federal States. It carries out inspections throughout Austria, forwards any administrative offences to the responsible administrative penal authorities and, if necessary, requires corrective actions from the economic operators concerned. In addition, the market surveillance authority is authorized to take appropriate restrictive measures for construction products presenting a serious risk.
Tasks of the market surveillance authority for construction products
The main areas of responsibility are “active market surveillance” and “reactive market surveillance”. In addition, the Market Surveillance Authority works closely with the Austrian customs authorities, supports the Federal States in drafting national legislation on construction products and market surveillance in international bodies.
Active
Market surveillance
As part of annual market surveillance programs, the market surveillance authority systematically inspects certain product groups in coordination with the federal states.
The active market surveillance program 2025 includes
Ceramic tiles
acc. to EN 14411:2012
Thermal insulation products for builings
(continued)
Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS)
acc. to EN 13164:2012+A1:2015
Cellular glass (CG)
acc. to EN 13167:2012+A1:2015
Wood wool (WW)
acc. to EN 13168:2012+A1:2015
Solid fuel single-room heaters
(continued)
Glued laminated timber and glued solid timber
acc. to EN 14080:2013
Manholes and inspection chambers
made of concrete (unreinforced, steel fibre and reinforced) acc. to
EN 1917:2002+AC:2008
Reactive market surveillance
The market surveillance authority follows up on information, complaints and reports regarding incorrectly labeled, non-compliant or dangerous construction products. The Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering is the market surveillance authority for all construction products within the jurisdiction of the Federal States.
