FAQ Certification

  1. What obligations does an operator/owner have regarding certification?
  2. What is a certification body and what does it do?
  3. As of what date will application for certification be mandatory?
  4. What can I do in the interim as an operator?
  5. What will the certification entail?
  6. What information will be divulged on the label? Will I receive a label for each room?
  7. How do I find an accredited certification body? Are there any accredited certification bodies already in place?
  8. Can I voluntarily apply for certification?
  9. Which places will be certified first?
  10. Who can I go to with questions about my certification?
  11. When must I display the label?
  12. What information about the label do I provide to the public?
  13. As an operator, can I be inspected by the FPS Public Health under this law?

 

1. What obligations does an operator/owner have regarding certification?

 

Operators and owners of publicly accessible closed spaces have different responsibilities:

 

An operator of a publicly accessible closed space has three prior obligations, namely: 

  1. the use of an air quality meter, 
  2. developing a risk analysis and keeping it available, 
  3. developing an action plan and keeping it available.

Once certification becomes mandatory and the operator meets the above obligations, they must fulfil the following obligations:

  1. they must apply for certification if certification has not yet taken place or no label is available or applied for,
  2. after certification is completed, they must make the label available and visible by affixing it or through any other possible means,
  3. after certification is completed, the operator must carry out operations in the closed space using the same or at least equivalent devices and use them in a similar manner as at the time of obtaining the label, taking into account the nature of the activity in the space in question.

An owner is hereby responsible for making available all relevant documentation on the ventilation and air purification systems in place and for granting the certification body access to the facilities (as necessary). 

 

2. What is a certification body and what does it do?

A certification body is a natural person or a legal entity, accredited by the FPS Public Health, which verifies whether an operator fulfils the obligations set out in Article 4 of the Law of 6 November 2022 for each of its publicly accessible closed spaces. 

The certification body specifically checks whether:

- an air quality meter is used

- a risk analysis was developed and kept available and 

- an action plan was developed and kept available. 

The certification body also determines the efficacy of any existing ventilation and/or air purification systems. 

After a label has been obtained for the closed space, the certification body will also conduct an on-site visit to verify that this label is available and visible to the public. 

 

3. As of what date will application for certification be mandatory?

At the earliest from 1 January 2038 when all publicly accessible closed spaces apply the first three obligations of Article 4 of the Law of 6 November 2022, namely (1) installing an air quality meter, (2) developing a risk analysis and making it available and, (3) if necessary, developing an action plan and keeping it available. 

 

4. What can I do in the interim as an operator?

Since 1 October 2024, all operators of publicly accessible closed spaces may voluntarily apply the Law of 6 November 2022.

  • Specifically, you can use or purchase an air quality meter (CO2meter) in your space. This allows you to check whether there is enough fresh air in your space, taking into account the number of people present at your location. This is because CO2 is exhaled by the people present in the space. 

For tips on selecting and using a CO2meter, please consult our practical guide containing CO2sensor recommendations. 

 

From 1 January 2027, the first locations, as determined by Royal Decree, will be required to:

  1. use an air quality meter,
  2. develop a risk analysis and keep it available, 
  3. develop an action plan, if needed, and keep it available. 

 

5. What will the certification entail?

 

See question 2. What is a certification body and what does it do?

The methodology and modalities of certification will be determined by Royal Decree, as well as the minimum content and frequency of inspections by a certification body. 

You can apply for certification with an accredited certification body after you have applied the first three obligations of Article 4 of the law and the certification procedure is finalised. This body will carry out an on-site check to verify that you have an air quality meter installed in your spaces and that you have a detailed risk assessment available and, if you deem it necessary, an action plan.

If you choose to sensitise the public through the performance of your ventilation and/or air purification system, the certification body will determine the efficacy thereof.

Once certification of the space has taken place and a label has been created based on the certification body's analysis, they will also subsequently check that you have effectively made this label visible and available to the public.

 

6. What information will be divulged on the label? Will I receive a label for each room?

The content, placement and design of the label will be determined by Royal Decree. The label is intended to provide information about the space in a structured manner that is relevant to the assessment/monitoring of indoor air quality within the framework of the law. 

 

7. How do I find an accredited certification body? Are there any accredited certification bodies already in place?

The FPS Public Health will publish on its website a list of accredited certification bodies from which you can choose.

The certification procedure is currently being developed. No certification bodies have yet been accredited specifically for the application of the Law of 6 November 2022.

 

8. Can I voluntarily apply for certification?

The date has yet to be determined for a voluntary application for certification after you have applied the first three obligations of the law. The certification process is not currently operational.

 

9. Which places will be certified first?

This has not yet been legally determined. Certification will be mandatory from 1 January 2038 at the earliest for all publicly accessible spaces and not merely limited to the private or work sphere. 

 

10. Who can I go to with questions about my certification?

You can contact us at indoor-air-quality@health.fgov.be. You can also join the Indoor Air Quality Platform to stay abreast of developments in this law. 

 

11. When must I display the label?

You hang the label after you have successfully completed the certification process and the label has been awarded. The certification body will then verify that the label is visibly affixed on site.


12. What information about the label do I provide to the public?

The label must be made available and visible.

This label will inform the general public that the indoor air quality in the building is measured and monitored to minimise any negative health effects.

 

13. As an operator, can I be inspected by the FPS Public Health under this law? 

Yes, you can be checked by the inspectors and controllers of the inspection service (of the Directorate General of Animals, Plants and Food) of the FPS Public Health regarding application of the Law of 6 November 2022.