DVGW e.V. |  |
Standardisation
The practical work in the gas and water branch is based on the technical rules of the DVGW. As a reliable instrument for rules and efficiency measures, regulation offers companies the necessary safety for planning and legal matters, even for the highest authorities. As acknowledged rules for technical matters the regulation of the DVGW is documented in the law for energy economy and the decree for drinking-water.
We closely co-operate with DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardisation) and we are able to influence the creation of European regulations. We support Eastern and Central European countries within the process of adjustment to the European regulation system.
Expanding the commitment in Europe
In the field of European standardisation work, the DVGW has further expanded its commitment in the CEN/TC 164. Of the currently eleven working groups in existence, four are under the management of the DVGW. Thus, the interests of the German drinking water supply can be introduced in Europe even more systematically. This applies both to product and functional standardszation.
European standardisation has been completed for many components, parts, devices and valves. The first step towards the free traffic of goods in the EU has thus been implemented. At the same time, the elementary basis for the national certification of products has come into being with that. Product standards have to describe requirements and test conditions in such a manner that the demands on safety, hygiene and serviceability can be met. The design principles for this are currently described in the European series of standards EN 806 that partly still needs to be completed. Taking into consideration the individual EU countries’ national peculiarities, national amendments are still necessary. Together with its partner organizations, the DVGW in this connection pursues the objective to combine the European standard EN 806 and the national amendments into a consistent paper, the TRWI.
DVGW standardisation and specialist activities: for safety, hygiene and efficiency in gas and water systems
DVGW technical standards provide the basis for the troublefree design, construction and operation of gas and water systems in Germany. These technical standards are produced
by a transparent process involving all the parties concerned. This is the strong point of the DVGW approach, giving technical standards the degree of legitimacy and the binding effect
required and providing a reliable basis for engineers in their day-to-day work. In more than 200 DVGW specialist committees, experts with practical experience discuss the topical
issues faced by the industry, updating existing standards and developing new standards as required.
Uniform standards benefit the industry
The process of reaching consensus on technical standards may not always be smooth but it brings perceptible benefits to the industry. Legislation can concentrate on setting safety objectives defined by the state and DVGW experts define the detailed requirements to be met in order to achieve these objectives. This system is highly efficient, allowing the German gas and water industry to maintain a leading international position in terms of performance, safety and reliability.
A proactive approach to new developments
Not only as a result of European developments but also in view of rising energy costs and new climate protection targets, the political environment of the German gas and water industry is continually changing. The industry has reacted to requirements connected with European harmonization and growing pressure on costs by developing new organizational forms and procedures, especially for maintenance and repair work, without sacrificing technical safety or security of supplies. Rising energy costs and increasingly stringent environmental requirements call for the development and use of new technologies. Technical standards also need to be adapted rapidly to reflect new requirements.
A comprehensive overview of new technical standards issued by the DVGW is available on the Internet at www.dvgw-regelwerk.de [1] (in German only).
New standards published in 2007
List of hyperlinks
[1]http://www.dvgw-regelwerk.de/Standardisation - Last Update 16.05.2012, 22:46 o'clock