A general building authority test certificate (abP) is a national verification of usability under building regulations in Germany.
It is issued by a testing body officially recognised by the building authorities and serves as proof that a construction product or method may be used in the building sector under defined conditions when no generally accepted technical rule exists for it.
The abP is part of German building regulatory law and is primarily intended for building authorities, planners, and contractors.
Scope and Legal Classification
A general building authority test certificate (abP):
- applies exclusively in Germany
- is based on national regulations and DIN standards
- is not a European approval document
- has no automatic validity in other EU member states
At present, there is:
- no general building authority test certificate based on European standards (EN)
- no comparable instrument with EU-wide validity
Other member states of the European Union use their own national systems or rely on European product standards, but not on the German abP.
Relationship Between abP and Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are chemical auxiliaries used to treat materials and are not construction products in the sense of building regulations.
An abP therefore cannot apply generally to a flame retardant, but only to:
- specifically defined construction products or construction methods
- clearly described substrates
- fixed application quantities, methods, and conditions
- uses within the construction sector
The abP answers only the question of regulatory usability in construction, but not the question of a material’s fire behaviour.
Construction Products vs. Decorative and Temporary Materials
Typical materials from the following areas:
- Curtains and textiles
- Stage and decorative fabrics
- Scenery and stage sets
- Shaped materials
- Temporary decorative and event structures
are generally not considered construction products, because they:
- are not permanently installed in buildings
- are interchangeable and used temporarily
- are used in operational or event-related contexts
For such applications, no building authority approval (abP, abZ, aBG) is required.
Distinction from DIN 4102-B1 Classification
The classification “flame-retardant according to DIN 4102-B1”:
- Always refers to a specific, tested material
- Is determined exclusively through a fire test in accordance with DIN 4102-1
- Is not a property of a flame retardant itself
A general building authority test certificate (abP):
- Does not replace fire testing
- Does not confirm B1 classification
- Does not allow general claims that materials treated with a flame retardant automatically meet DIN 4102-B1
The DIN 4102-B1 classification is always dependent on the material, its composition, and its application.
Summary
- The general building authority test certificate (abP) is a German building regulation document.
- It applies only to construction products and construction methods in the building sector.
- It is not required for curtains, decorations, stage sets, or temporary installations.
- It is not a substitute for fire testing.
- The DIN 4102-B1 classification can only be determined by testing the specific material.
- An abP is valid exclusively in Germany and not across Europe.