Implementation of on-site inspections

Through its on-site inspections (VOK), dena makes an important contribution to quality assurance within the framework of the “Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings” (BEG) scheme. In doing so, dena supports the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), KfW and the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) across the country. 
The funding programme supports energy-efficient buildings, whether undergoing renovation or being newly constructed. To ensure that the funded measures meet the requirements, dena sends experts to the site.

dena has been tasked with the coordination, documentation, implementation and analysis of the on-site inspections. Once completed, the subsidised projects are randomly checked through on-site inspections. They are a component of the quality assurance of the funding programmes.

A typical on-site inspection is carried out in three steps: 

1. The funding recipients receive a letter from the KfW Group and the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control informing them of their inclusion in the spot-check with a request for further information.
2. In the second step, independent energy efficiency experts commissioned by dena review the implementation status of the subsidised project on-site.
3. Then dena processes these results and forwards them to the KfW Group and the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control. These organisations inform the building contractors of the results of the inspection.

• 2013–2026: Key findings from on-site inspections are incorporated into the further development of funding programmes and quality assurance measures. Information on common errors and difficulties is published.
• 2013–2024: The proportion of construction projects in which on-site inspections have identified deficiencies has declined over the years. This demonstrates the positive impact of the various quality assurance measures.