About DIBt

Do "wide-ranging" and "expertise" really go together? Yes, if, like DIBt, you can draw on an extensive network of specialists in all areas of construction, both in-house and out-of-house.

As of 31 December 2024, DIBt counted

70% of the staff worked in technical services. If this figure is marginally lower than in previous years, this is mainly due to the fact that DIBt is continuing to expand its expertise in the area of digitalisation and IT services (see below). DIBt is particularly proud of its high female representation in management positions of 64%

Managers at DIBt

DIBt has a long tradition of cooperation and consultation with renowned experts from industry, research & development and administration. In some respects, this tradition is even older than the Institute itself, since DIBt 'inherited' the first expert committees along with the approval activities from the authorities of the federal states, which had previously been responsible for these matters. DIBt's wide-ranging expertise is a unique selling point and creates added value for all parties involved.

To date, DIBt is supported by

The revenues generated by DIBt make up more than half of its funding. The other half mainly comes from the federal states with specific tasks, particularly those relating to the EU, being financed by the federal level.

The Institute's budget was

DIBt is organised into five departments.

The three technical departments with their extensive practical and scientific expertise focus respectively on structural engineering, health & environmental protection as well as building physics & technical building equipment. Their main responsibilities include the approval and assessment of construction products and design solutions (construction techniques), the development of, and follow-up on, technical rules as well as further technical tasks.

The Presidential Department pools DIBt's expertise in the areas of building and construction product law. It also performs horizontal coordination tasks.

As an internal service provider, the Administration and Services department sees to areas, such as budget & procurement, human resources, IT, digitalisation, in-house services, and public & international relations. 

DIBt is headed by President Gerhard Breitschaft, assisted by Head of Administration Patricia Döring and Vice-President Karsten Kathage. General policy matters of DIBt are decided by the Supervisory Board, which is composed of representatives of the federal states and the federal administration. 

DIBt launched its digitalisation strategy in spring 2021 with the aim of providing its services digitally by 2030. 

The following milestones were reached in 2023 and 2024:

• Electronic seal for key DIBt decisions and thus greater IT security for users
• Modernisation of the file management system (ebb) for DIBt's national technical approvals/general construction technique permits, European Assessment Documents/European Technical Assessments and project-related approvals/project-related construction technique permits
• Implementation of an eFile system in the ebb as of 1 May 2024
• Moving the DIBt webserver to the cloud

The 'Digital MVV TB processes' project also made good progress. The internal webservice for managing updates to the Model Administration Provisions – Technical Building Rules (MVV TB) is expected to be online by mid-2025. Users will profit from a digitally enhanced MVV TB in the form of a user-friendly webservice no later than 2026.

DIBt is closely networked with construction experts, both at a national and international level.

DIBt participates in multilateral exchanges on horizontal issues related to technical assessment and regulation, for example as a member of the World Federation of Technical Assessment Organisations – WFTAO and the Inter-jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee – IRCC. The exchange with colleagues from all over the world helps develop a common understanding of key challenges and provides insights into possible solutions.

At European level, DIBt assumes a leading role in the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) and in the CPR Acquis process. DIBt representatives have also travelled to Brussels on several occasions in connection with the revision of the Construction Products Regulation, which was on the agenda of the responsible Council Working Group 'Technical Harmonisation – Construction Products' from summer 2023.

Throughout 2023/2024, DIBt also welcomed 7 delegations online or in person, particularly from Eastern Europe and Africa. Standardisation, especially the potential benefits of implementing the Eurocodes in non-European countries, stood out as a special area of focus. Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan have shown interest in this regard. DIBt was also a sought-after partner for exchanges on various other construction-related and regulatory issues.

You can find a detailed account of the developments in DIBt's individual areas of activity throughout 2023 and 2024 in the Our tasks section of this Annual Report. Globally speaking, the number of tasks delegated to DIBt is increasing constantly. The federal states and the federal government like to draw on DIBt's expertise. In addition to the technical and regulatory responsibilities the Institute holds, DIBt is in demand as a central coordination hub and for the continuous follow-up of wider regulatory issues. One example from the reporting period includes the implementation of the revised contract between the federal states and the German standards organisation DIN. The EU Policy Officers of the Conference of Construction Ministers of the Federal State have also – organisationally and administratively – been placed under the umbrella of DIBt, while remaining an independent and autonomous unit of said Conference. DIBt is committed to being a modern and reliable partner for the federal states and the construction industry. And we look forward to addressing the challenges ahead, such as sustainability, climate adaptation or digitalisation, together, as we shape the future of construction.