Certification QUALIBAT represents a major challenge for your building company, especially when you consider that certified companies account for over 80% of the sector's sales. Created in 1949 on the initiative of the French Minister of Construction, this qualification enhances your technical and professional skills in the eyes of potential customers.
What exactly is QUALIBAT certification? It's a label of recognition that comes in three distinct qualifications: company professional qualification, trade certification, and the QUALIBAT RGE label. And did you know that 73,000 companies currently benefit from this label, of which 80% are very small businesses with fewer than 10 employees? Once obtained, your QUALIBAT certificate will be valid for 4 years, with annual monitoring to ensure that your quality standards are maintained.
In this article, you'll find out all you need to know about this essential certification: its precise definition, its concrete benefits for your business, the conditions required to obtain it, and the steps you need to take to put together your file. How can you obtain QUALIBAT certification for your company? What are the benefits? Follow the guide.
What is Qualibat certification?
Simple definition and role of the label
QUALIBAT was founded in 1949 as a qualification and certification system for construction companies. Its main objective? To attest to your company's technical competence and professionalism in the eyes of project owners and potential customers. As an independent organization, QUALIBAT assesses your know-how according to strict criteria recognized in the construction sector.
In practical terms, this certification acts as a veritable professional passport, validating your technical skills and your ability to carry out work to the highest professional standards. With over 60 years' experience, QUALIBAT is the undisputed benchmark for identifying reliable companies in the building sector.
The difference between qualification and certification
Although often used interchangeably, these two terms cover distinct realities that need to be clarified. Qualification is recognition of a company's technical ability to carry out work in a given field. It is based in particular on site references, your material resources and the experience of your personnel.
Certification goes a step further by integrating a global quality approach. Beyond technical skills, it also assesses your internal organization, your control processes and your commitment to continuous improvement. So, while qualification testifies to your technical know-how, certification attests to your ability to maintain a consistent level of quality in all your services.
Types of certification offered (RGE, trade, company)
QUALIBAT offers three main types of certification to meet the different needs of construction companies:
Company qualification: This is the first level, attesting to your technical skills in a specific field of activity. This qualification is based on a detailed nomenclature covering all building trades.
Trade certification: This is a more specific form of certification for certain activities requiring special skills and know-how. It provides an additional guarantee of your company's expertise in specific technical fields.
The RGE (Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement) label: Particularly important for energy efficiency work, this label enables your customers to benefit from financial aid for their energy renovation work. It confirms your ability to carry out work that contributes to improving the energy performance of buildings.
Each type of certification meets specific needs and can be combined to enhance the value of your skills in the marketplace.
Why get Qualibat certification?
Qualibat certification is a strategic choice for your construction company. There are many tangible advantages to this approach, which goes far beyond mere professional recognition.
A guarantee of quality and reliability
Qualibat certification enhances your know-how and expertise in the eyes of contractors. This certification attests to your company's technical, human and financial skills. What's more, all certified craftsmen and companies have been scrupulously assessed by a review board made up of volunteer, independent industry professionals. This rigorous process guarantees your credibility and strengthens the confidence of your potential customers.
Easier access to public contracts
An up-to-date Qualibat certificate gives you the opportunity to respond to public tenders. This is an invaluable asset when it comes to winning new business, particularly in the public sector, where certification is increasingly required. As a result, ministries, government departments and local authorities become potential customers capable of offering you large-scale projects.
Benefits for customers and insurance companies
For your customers, certification is a guarantee that your company has the resources needed to carry out the work to the highest professional standards. What's more, homeowners carrying out energy renovation work with an RGE company can benefit from financial aid. As far as insurance is concerned, being Qualibat-qualified is a sign of confidence that maximizes your chances of being well insured and benefiting from the best terms and conditions. Some companies even offer premium reductions of up to 30%.
Increased visibility through the Qualibat directory
As a certified professional, you are automatically listed in the Qualibat directory. This database lists some 55,000 building contractors, classified by name, trade, specialty, qualification and geographical area. As France's leading network of building professionals, Qualibat qualifies nearly 10% of contractors in France. This visibility multiplies your chances of finding new customers without even having to canvass.
What are the requirements for certification?
To qualify for Qualibat certification, your company must meet three main categories of requirements assessed by an independent review board.
Legal and administrative criteria
To be eligible, you must first provide proof of your company's legal existence. This means providing proof of registration in the Trade Register, as well as your SIRET number. You must also certify that your company is not in receivership, and that your directors have not been banned from managing your business. You must also prove that you are up to date with your social security contributions and tax payments.
Technical and human requirements
Qualibat carefully examines your human and material resources. You must demonstrate that you have qualified personnel, including a competent technical manager. Likewise, you must describe your premises and list the equipment assigned to the activity in question. In some cases, an on-site audit may be carried out to verify your working methods.
Financial capacity and experience
Your financial health is assessed to ensure that you can successfully complete your projects. Subcontracting is limited to 30% of your activity. What's more, you must be able to demonstrate solid experience through references for work carried out over the past four years.
Documents to be supplied
Thanks to your SIRET number, Qualibat directly retrieves 80% of the necessary administrative information. However, you'll need to complete your file with your tax details, your civil liability and ten-year insurance policies, and your detailed worksite references including nature, amount, location and date of completion.
How to obtain Qualibat certification
To obtain this valuable certification, you need to follow a structured process that guarantees recognition of your professional skills.
Choosing the right nomenclature
First of all, identify the qualification that corresponds precisely to your activity. The QUALIBAT nomenclature is structured around a four-digit code: the first indicates the functional family of work, the second corresponds to the trade, the third specifies the specialty or technique, and the fourth defines the degree of technicality. This organization helps you select the qualification best suited to your expertise.
Putting together a complete file
Next, prepare your file by following these steps:
- Select qualification and submit application form
- Pay the application fee after checking your eligibility
- Complete your dedicated company area with all required documents
- Provide references for projects carried out over the past four years
Presentation to the commission
Your application is then examined by a commission of industry professionals. These experts assess the accuracy of the information provided, as well as your technical and human capacities.
Period of validity and annual monitoring
Once obtained, QUALIBAT certification is valid for four years. However, annual monitoring is mandatory to ensure that you continue to meet the requirements of the standard. Eight months before expiry, you must submit a new application for renewal.
Cost of certification
Prices vary according to three factors: the instruction fee (€350 ex. VAT), the annual cost of the certificate (from €123.33 ex. VAT for companies with fewer than 5 employees to €1,865.83 ex. VAT for those with more than 1,000 employees), and audit fees (€950 ex. VAT per auditor day).
Conclusion
QUALIBAT certification represents a major strategic asset for your construction company. This label, recognized for over 70 years, enables you to stand out in a highly competitive sector. What's more, this official recognition testifies not only to your technical skills, but also to your professionalism and commitment to quality.
Admittedly, the certification process requires an investment in time and resources. However, the benefits obtained more than compensate for these initial efforts. On the one hand, you gain in visibility thanks to your listing in the QUALIBAT directory. Secondly, you gain easier access to public procurement contracts, while reassuring your private customers.
Beyond the immediate commercial benefits, this certification also pushes you towards operational excellence. Indeed, the assessment process and annual follow-up encourage you to maintain high standards and continually improve your practices.
Whether you're a very small business or a larger enterprise, QUALIBAT certification can be adapted to your reality, while enhancing the value of your specific expertise. Finally, in a world where trust is paramount, this precious credential is a guarantee of reliability that opens many doors and secures your development over the long term.
FAQs
What is QUALIBAT certification and what does it do? QUALIBAT certification is a mark of recognition for building companies, attesting to their technical skills and professionalism. It assesses a company's ability to carry out work in accordance with the rules of the trade, and to maintain a constant level of quality.
What are the main advantages of QUALIBAT certification? QUALIBAT certification offers a number of advantages: it enhances a company's credibility, facilitates access to public procurement contracts, improves visibility thanks to the QUALIBAT directory, and can lead to better insurance terms. It also reassures customers of the quality of the services offered.
Is QUALIBAT certification compulsory for building companies? No, QUALIBAT certification is not legally required to operate in the building sector. However, it is highly recommended, as it provides official recognition of a company's skills, and may be required for certain contracts, particularly public ones.
How long is QUALIBAT certification valid? QUALIBAT certification is valid for 4 years. However, annual monitoring is carried out to ensure that the company continues to meet the requirements of the standard. A complete renewal of the file is required eight months before the certification expires.
How does a company obtain QUALIBAT certification? To obtain QUALIBAT certification, a company must select the appropriate qualification, compile a complete file including site references, appear before an examination commission, and pay the associated fees. The process assesses the company's legal, administrative, technical, human and financial aspects.
