BRV celebrates its Annual Conference 2026

On 4 November 2026, the Austrian Construction Materials Recycling Association (BRV) hosted its annual conference at the Roomz Hotel & Conference Centre in Vienna’s 2nd district. More than 170 participants attended the event, which addressed current developments in construction materials recycling, European legislation and the regulation of geogenic asbestos.

European context and asbestos regulation

In his opening address, BRV President Thomas Kasper emphasised the European dimension of the association’s work: “80 per cent of legal regulations are drawn up in Brussels.”

The BRV is active at national and European level, contributing to CEN standardisation work and helping shape European guidelines. Through EQAR, the European umbrella organisation for the recycling industry, it also maintains direct communication with the European Commission and coordinates with organisations such as FIEC, EDI and EDA.

European developments in decontamination

Martin Car (BRV Senior Expert and CEN delegate) outlined Austria’s role in European standardisation, particularly in relation to the Pre-Deconstruction Audit.

CEN TC 350 has been working for two years on this topic. The audit is carried out during the planning phase and is similar to the Austrian survey for hazardous and disruptive substances. Austria has taken a pioneering role through ÖNORM B 3151 and the Recycling Construction Materials Ordinance.

These developments have also influenced Technical Report 18436, which aims to establish a common European approach to describing demolition and the mandatory audit. The report is currently under review.

Car also referred to the European Commission’s Circular Economy Act, expected to be published in November, which is anticipated to address digital demolition permits and mandatory audits.

EDI presence

The European Decontamination Institute EDI was represented at the event. Participants had the opportunity to consult EDA and EDI publications and learn more about their work.

The discussions on hazardous substances, pre-deconstruction audits and European regulation are particularly relevant to the decontamination sector, where early identification and proper assessment of hazardous materials are essential.