Since the first contacts between men, standardisation has developed gradually. The language can be regarded as one of the first vectors of standardisation; it gave a meaning to sounds, which were repeated in the same context. Today, standardisation still not remains confined to the consensus ratification concerning of the products specifications but is also interested in both new technologies and societal aspects.
Standardisation brings all the partners together (consumers, producers, public and private prescribers) in order to establish a consensus to solve repetitive problems rationally, which can lead to various advantages such as:
- a better safety of the products,
- economies of scale,
- the interworking of the products,
- more competition,
- exchanges made easier by removal of the technical barriers,
- less misunderstandings, disputes and litigations,
- ecological safety,
- contribution to sustainable development.
On 2007-03-20, the Direction Board of the new Belgian Standardisation Body (NBN) appointed CRIC-OCCn as “sectoral operator”.
On 27th September 2007, CRIC-OCCN and NBN (the Belgian Standardisation body) signed a contract about the management of the Belgian committees standardising concrete and its constituents.
The NBN mandate appoints CRIC-OCCN to manage the Belgian standardisation committees following the activities of technical committees:
- European: CEN/TC 51 (Cement and building lime), CEN/TC 104 (Concrete) and CEN/TC 154 (Aggregates);
- International: ISO/TC 71 (Concrete, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete), ISO/TC 74 (Cement and building lime) and ISO/TC 77 (Fiber-cement Products).
In 2009, the mission of CRIC-OCCN will be extended to the “Antennes-normes” that CRIC-OCCN will manage.