Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
The VMRG Quality Mark, which for years has stood for independent supervision of the production and assembly of metal facades, is being expanded with a new and important component: safety. With this, the trade association is taking the next step in its ambition to not only guarantee quality, but also to ensure that everyone can work safely every day and return home healthy. “In the future, sustainability and circularity will also have a permanent place within the hallmark,” Henk Zoontjens, director of the VMRG, reveals in an exclusive interview with Stedenbouw.
Safety is no longer an isolated issue in construction. “Despite existing regulations, many accidents still occur on construction sites and in factories,” notes Zoontjens. “A minimum step 3 on the Safety Ladder is therefore increasingly demanded in tenders and will even be mandatory from July 1, 2026. As VMRG, we are consciously joining this by encouraging our member companies to pay more attention to safety. After all, what good is high quality if unsafe situations and accidents are in return?”
Building safety, such as strength, fire safety, escape routes and burglar resistance, is guaranteed in the Building Works Decree for the Living Environment (Bbl). “That is only one aspect of the topic of safety,” Zoontjes states. The VMRG is going to require its members to also demonstrably work on a safe working environment. “We commit ourselves to the ViA requirement (Safety in Tendering) and are going to ask our large member companies to achieve at least step 3 on the Safety Ladder in the short term, which many large companies already have. For medium-sized and smaller companies there will be a phased introduction, with sufficient time and guidance to grow in this.”
That guidance is essential, Zoontjens emphasizes. “Introducing safety is not a matter of ticking a box; it requires a cultural change. Especially in smaller companies, where the director often has multiple roles, that takes time.” This is why these companies can conduct Self Assessments, using questionnaires for management and employees and guidance via the NEN web tool. This is where the VMRG can provide support. Eventually, certification by an independent, accredited body will follow.” A dot on the horizon, according to Zoontjens, includes sustainability and circularity as part of the hallmark. “That is currently being crystallized further through the Circular Facade Economy Foundation, in which the VMRG is represented, which is in the process of drafting an NTA. In the course of 2027, that too will be included in the VMRG Hallmark.”
An important part of the approach, according to Zoontjens, is learning from each other. “Within the VMRG safety community, fifteen companies now meet to share experiences, discuss (near) accidents and develop improvement measures together. By recording and analyzing accidents centrally, we can implement targeted policies as an industry, for example around common risks such as cuts in glass processing. This joint approach not only helps companies comply with tier 3, but also lays the foundation for advancement to tier 4: truly proactive safety management.”
By making safety part of the quality mark, the VMRG shows that the mark is more than just legislation. “Our requirements are often higher than the Building Code and are in line with current developments in the market. This is also the added value for clients, owners of association buildings and quality assurance companies: choosing a VMRG member means choosing quality as well as safety. And we can already hear you thinking, another extra certification, so another extra cost. But take it from me, you'll earn it back handsomely through less sick leave and fewer injuries. And a safe working environment is just a lot more pleasant for everyone.”
