Table of Contents
List of Recognised Control Bodies
All recognised control bodies can be found in the List of recognised control bodies for electrical installations (PDF, 199.06 KB).
Procedure for New Recognition or Extension of an Existing Recognition
The minister in charge of energy may recognise the control bodies in charge of monitoring electrical installations in accordance with the three books of the General Regulations on Electrical Installations (French version), approved by the Royal Decree of 8 September 2019:
- Book 1 - Low voltage and very low voltage installations;
- Book 2 - High voltage installations;
- Book 3 - Installations for transmission and distribution of electrical energy.
This recognition also applies to the monitoring of electrical installations as described in Chapter V of Book III, Title 2 (French version) of the Codex on Well-being at Work with regard to electrical installations at workplaces.
The recognition procedure is described in Chapter 6.3. of the three books of the General Regulations on Electrical Installations.
What Are the Areas of Activity of Recognised Control Bodies?
The areas of activity are:
- control of the low voltage and very low voltage domestic installations referred to in Book 1;
- control of the installations referred to in Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3 in areas with a risk of explosion;
- control of the low voltage and very low voltage installations referred to in Book 1 and Book 3 that fall outside the previous areas of activity;
- control of the high voltage installations referred to in Book 2 and Book 3 (excluding high voltage overhead lines);
- control of the high voltage overhead lines referred to in Book 3 (excluding control by thermography as described in Book 3);
- control by thermography of the high voltage overhead lines referred to in Book 3.
What Conditions Must a Control Body Meet to Be Recognised?
To be recognised, a control body must:
- have legal personality in the form of a non-profit association or an equivalent legal form under the law of the Member State of establishment within the European Economic Area;
- be accredited in accordance with the criteria of standard NBN 17020 by the Belgian accreditation system Belac or by an equivalent accreditation body within the European Economic Area for the requested area(s) of activity;
- have civil liability insurance;
- the technical manager must hold:
- either a degree in civil or industrial engineering
- or a master's degree in engineering or industrial sciences, awarded by a Belgian institution of higher education,
- or a master's degree in engineering or industrial sciences, awarded by a foreign institution of higher education;
- as well as appropriate professional and scientific experience to competently lead the recognised control body.
- the technical manager and the visiting representatives must be associated with the recognised control body through an employment contract for an indefinite period of time.
What Documents Must Applicants for Recognition Submit?
For the requested areas of activity, the following documents must be attached to the application:
- the requested areas of activity;
- a copy of the technical manager's diploma;
- the technical manager's curriculum vitae;
- a copy of the Articles of Association of the control body;
- a copy of the accreditation certificate and the corresponding area of accreditation;
- a statement that the civil liability of the control body is covered by an insurance contract. After obtaining the recognition and before starting the audit work, proof of such coverage must be submitted to the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy;
- the list of visiting representatives, indicating their areas of activity.
The application for recognition must be sent by registered delivery to the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy:
- Either by registered letter to:
FPS Economy
Directorate-General for Energy
High-level supervision of energy infrastructure and products
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 16
1000 Brussels - Or by registered electronic registered letter
via a qualified trust service provider to the following email address: gas.elec@economie.fgov.be
How Does the Recognition Process Work?
The approval procedure consists of several steps:
- The Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy evaluates the content of the application and the competence of the future control body.
- If the evaluation is favorable, the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy forwards the file to the Advisory and Monitoring Commission for recognised control bodies.
- If the Advisory and Monitoring Commission also issues a favorable evaluation, the file is transmitted to the Minister in charge of Energy, who holds the authority to grant approval.
- If the Minister in charge of Energy issues a favorable decision, the recognition is notified by ministerial decree.
If the application receives an unfavourable evaluation from either the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy or the Advisory and Monitoring Commission for recognised control bodies, the following procedure applies, in accordance with section 6.3.4 of the three books of the General Regulations on Electrical Installations:
- The applicant is informed by registered letter of the reasons for the unfavorable evaluation.
- The applicant has 30 days to submit written observations or to complete the application file by registered letter to the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy in order to request a re-evaluation.
- If a re-evaluation is requested in the correct form and within the required timeframe, the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy forwards the file to the Advisory and Monitoring Commission for recognised control bodies, which must issue its opinion within 60 days. If the Commission fails to issue its opinion within the allotted time, it will be deemed to support the opinion of the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy.
- If the unfavorable evaluation is confirmed, the decision is notified to the applicant by registered letter. The applicant then has 30 days to submit a request for a new review to the Minister in charge of Energy by registered letter. The Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy will then issue its opinion on the appeal and forward the file to the Minister in charge of Energy for a decision within 60 days.
- The applicant may subsequently lodge an appeal for annulment before the Council of State, in accordance with the rules of Belgian administrative litigation: Administrative Litigation – Procedure – Council of State.
Renewal of Recognition
The recognition is valid for five years and can be renewed. In case of renewal, the recognition procedure is identical to that of the initial application.
To renew your approval, please follow these steps:
- Complete the form outlined in the section “What Documents Must Applicants for Recognition Submit?”
- Attach the list of visiting representatives to your application.
- Send your renewal application by registered letter or electronic registered letter to the Directorate-General for Energy of the FPS Economy at least six months before the expiration date of the current recoginition.
Contact
FPS Economy
Directorate-General for Energy
High-level supervision of energy infrastructure and products
Tel.: +32 (0)800 120 33 (free number)
Email: gas.elec@economie.fgov.be
