The Construction Quality Association

The Construction Quality Association (Rakentamisen Laatu RALA ry) is an independent and impartial association established by core organisations within the Finnish construction business. Its purpose is to promote the prerequisites for fair competition and high quality construction.

The RALA Certification of Competence constitutes proof of an enterprise’s competence and transparency, and is issued by RALA’s Certification Board. The qualification criteria are as follows:

• Technical competence and resources: A certain number of completed projects in each technical business field, evidence of sufficient resources, information on quality management, environmental management, and occupational safety management systems.
• Legal obligations and information: The enterprise must be entered in the Trade Register, the tax Prepayment Register and the VAT register. The enterprise must have met its tax obligations and have paid its employees’ pension contributions. Information must have been entered into the employer register, alongside an account of the collective agreement in question, as required.
• Financial state: Accredited information on the closing of the accounts.

The aim of RALA Certification of Competence is to assist in the evaluation of enterprises and the surveillance of legal obligations. RALA compiles information on qualified enterprises and makes such information available to the market via an internet-based register. Updated information on competent enterprises, in particular the updated status disclosing whether or not the enterprise meets the related legal obligations, can be checked, via the internet-based register.

RALA monitors the legal obligations of qualified enterprises on a monthly basis, but does not monitor enterprises’ credit information. Enterprises are responsible for any evidence they provide to RALA.

A certificate will be renewed based on an annual reapplication to, and subsequent approval by, the Certification Board. In the event of any failure to meet the requirements in question, an entry stating that the requirement has been neglected will be entered in the register for a fixed period. This will be removed if corrective action is taken to ensure the fulfilment of said requirements. If the enterprise does not take such corrective action, the certificate of competence may be cancelled.

Additional information:
Rakentamisen Laatu RALA ry
Tapiontori 1, 02100 Espoo, Finland
Tel. +358 20 595 5110

Lastest update: 23.09.2011 11:46