81 Energy performance, environmental footprint, quality of materials, ergonomics, comfort… Every little aspect of construction is now codified by a maze of standards with different geographical scopes. What is at stake in terms of this standardization on the chessboard of international exchanges? Howdoes it contribute to progress in construction and building renovation? Some answers. STANDARDS: speaking the same language A standard makes it possible to define and/or measure a set of performances regarding the design and development of products and services. The purpose of standardization is to encourage the actors in a profession to comply with set performance targets. In a sector like construction, which involves many different players, norms help move a whole profession forward fairly and coherently, establishing a common language and rules of the game. Whether it involves reducing greenhouse gases, using finite resources or managing waste, they help everyone reach the objectives set by regulations, often within tight timeframes. This is because standards often serve as a basis for drawing up regulations, whose role is to make them a legal obligation (see box). This applies, for instance, to European standards (EN), which take precedence over national norms and form the basis of statutory instruments. A POWERFUL LEVER OF INFLUENCE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Standards arise from a consensus between actors keen to harmonize the rules of the game in a given sector of activity. While these actors represent a minority of those involved in the sector, they are highly motivated to act as leaders in implementing best practice and to demonstrate that it is possible to do better and act differently. At the same time, they send a signal to politicians, encouraging them to raise the level of regulatory requirements. For instance, this was the case in France with the Effinergie label in the field of thermal performance, or in the United States with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) norms for eco‑friendly building design. Reflecting political will expressed at different levels (global, regional, national…), standards prove to be a powerful lever of influence in international balances of power. Complying with them is therefore a real competitiveness issue for companies. Moreover, by avoiding favoring the lowest bidder in international trade, a required performance level represents a guarantee of fairness and reliability for stakeholders (producer, distributor, user, public authorities…), whatever the sector of activity concerned. SPoTLIGHT
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