The IBU is an initiative of building product manufacturers who operate as a registered association. The association is currently formed by around 330 member companies and associationsfrom the building materials industry inside and outside of Germany, who are involved in sustainable building.
The board of 15 people is elected at the general meeting, with the chair of the board as its head. In addition, an elected president represents the IBU in public and in strategic tasks.
The Advisory Board (SVR) represents the highest technical authority for the IBU’s work. Approx. ten experts from science and standardisation, building and environmental protection authorities, as well as nature conservation associations voluntarily participate in supervising conformity to norms and ensuring the quality of the verification procedures in the IBU EPD programme.
The IBU uses independent third parties to review the EPDs. These include verifiers from SVR-appointed experts from science and standardisation, and from testing and certification institutions who have comprehensive knowledge of products, methods and standardisation. Before they are certified by the SVR, they go through a supervision phase, in which they are guided by experienced verifiers during their practical training. In addition, they commit themselves to continuous further training within the context of the IBU programme.