Specialist in testing, inspection and certification

With the January 1, 2024 entry into force of the new Environment Act and the Living Environment Activities Decree (Bal), things have changed for business. For example, when it comes to soil protection facilities and their inspection. At Normec QS they know all about it. As an accredited, independent and accredited inspection body, the company has all the expertise to provide customers with a complete range of tailored services on soil-specific issues. OBAS specialist Richard Költgen, who takes care of clients from A to Z on behalf of Normec QS, is one of the signatories.

Richard Költgen is right at home at Normec QS. He joined the company last April. Especially his very extensive knowledge and expertise in OBAS-related matters were decisive for the appointment. "As an employee at a civil engineering company, I first came into contact with OBAS, which stands for Oil and Gasoline Separator in full, several years ago. It was an interesting subject and my interest only increased when I started working as a freelancer. At that time I started to delve further and further into this subject, especially when it comes to the deployment, application and regulations concerning this subject."

New commitments

The announcement that new regulations would also apply to soil-protecting facilities from January 1, 2024, stirred Richard's desire to apply his enormous expertise more broadly from now on. Preferably within a recognized and independent inspection body. So that became Normec QS, where the OBAS expert has been on the payroll since April 1. His input is more than welcome, especially given the recent changes in terms of regulations and activity decisions. "For the customer, the new regulations mean that all previous activity decrees have expired and there is now one decree: the Decree on activities in the living environment," Richard explains. "The Bal refers to accreditation scheme AS SIKB 6700. Under this are protocols on the basis of which the inspection of soil protection facilities is carried out. As of the beginning of this year, specific protocol AS SIKB 6703 has changed. This means that in addition to the visual inspection of the floor of a washing or tanking site, the liquid tightness of the sewer must now also be demonstrated on site by means of a hydrological measurement. For new sewer works this will be mandatory from the beginning of 2024, for existing sewers there is a transition period." 

All knowledge available

With the advent of the new rules, inspection services have gained the ability to inspect oil gasoline separators as well. Specifically for Normec QS, this means that it now has all the knowledge it needs to offer a total package as an independent inspection body under mandatory ministerial recognition. "The inspection is at least equivalent to the five-yearly inspection required under European legislation for oil and gasoline separators, the NEN-EN 858-2. We also perform inspections for that standard. In addition, we have the right professionals available for the six-monthly inspection of the OBAS," says Richard, who finally touches on another new rule regarding the interim BIC (Business Internal Control) inspection, which an entrepreneur has himself carried out in relation to soil protection facilities. "Previously, an entrepreneur was free to have any defects repaired or not. That is a thing of the past. From now on it is compulsory to have imperfections repaired and to have the final result assessed by an independent inspector. We from Normec QS are of course happy to play a role in this as well."     

Inspector and knowledge partner

Bennekom-based Normec QS provides independent testing, inspection and certification services. Since 2021, the company is part of Normec, a leading organization in the TICC industry (Testing, Inspection, Certification, Compliance). With this addition, Normec is even better able to provide customers with a full range of services, from (drinking) water quality, air quality and soil quality to fire safety, food safety and management systems. Added value that clients will also be able to reap after the new Environmental Act and the Decree on activities in the living environment (Bal) come into effect.