The quality control procedures are governed by DIN 18200 ‘Assessment of conformity for construction products - Factory production control, third-party monitoring and certification’, which stipulates the following.

Factory production control:

As the term suggests, the manufacturer itself is responsible for monitoring and controlling the production process. This means that a designated individual is assigned to oversee this monitoring and controlling process at each production plant. This encompasses the testing and quality control of production materials, regular checks throughout the production process and on the finished product as well as the safeguarding of the production process as a whole. It is necessary to verify whether the technical requirements, for instance those stipulated in standards and quality control regulations, have been met. Of course, the execution of the controls must be thoroughly documented.

Testing:

The objective of the tests is to ensure that the finished product complies with the technical requirements stipulated in the relevant standards and regulations. The initial test, in which a new product is tested for compliance for the first time, is of paramount importance. In the event of changes to the production process, this test must be repeated. A sampling test can be undertaken at any given time and is mandatorily carried out by a monitoring body. The standard also explicitly delineates the sampling procedure. Each test must be recorded accordingly.

DIN-CERTCO was established in 1972 by DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (German Institute for Standardisation) with the purpose of certifying compliance with DIN standards. The institution, which is now part of the TÜV Rheinland Group, is independent and neutral and also has the technical expertise to verify and monitor compliance with the requirements of the standards. DIN CERTCO has been certifying products in the field of sports facility construction since 1997. Certification for sports hall flooring is based on the DIN 18032-2 standard and certification for impact protection surface systems for walls is based on DIN 18032-3 und -7.

In addition to compliance with the requirements for the products delineated in the standards, DIN CERTCO also establishes requirements for manufacturers, including proof of experience, professionally trained personnel and adequate construction machinery and storage facilities. In the case of impact protection surface systems for walls, the ‘artificial athlete wall’ even introduces another additional type of test, which primarily serves to protect children´s health in sports halls. Upon demonstrating compliance with all requirements, the manufacturer is issued with a DIN CERTCO certificate for their product. However, certification must be periodically validated through regular tests and inspections.

The RAL Quality Assurance Associations (RAL originally from ‘Reichsauschuss für Lieferbedingungen’) were established almost 100 years ago. Today, RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.V. is responsible for ensuring that products meet high quality standards. The RAL Gütegemeinschaft Sporthallenböden e. V. is responsible for drawing up criteria and certifying products in the field of sports hall flooring. This association is comprised of representatives from the public sector, consumers, scientists, manufacturers and other interested institutions. The provisions and requirements for obtaining the RAL 942 Quality Mark for construction of sports hall flooring go far beyond compliance with the DIN 18032-2. For instance, the quality standards required by the market are also taken into account. Self-commitment on the part of manufacturers, coupled with the maintenance of high standards, is intended to guarantee end consumers high quality, despite the presence of competitive pressure. Again, any certificates awarded must be validated periodically in order to maintain their validity.