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Construction stakeholders are liable for defects that compromise a building’s structural integrity and stability. This falls under the ten-year civil liability framework.
Given the significance of this liability, project owners frequently opt to secure decennial insurance. Insurers typically require independent verification, often in the form of a report issued by an accredited control body such as SECO.
SECO is recognized by all Belgian insurers as an independent inspection office for structural stability, strength, and durability, as well as for related domains including fire safety, air and water tightness, technical systems, and finishing works.
SECO’s engineers provide in-depth inspections and technical audits across all project phases—from initial design to construction, renovation, and the operational lifecycle. This enables early detection of structural risks, verification of load-bearing systems, and evaluation of changes over time, such as building modifications, increased loads, or degradation due to age or environmental conditions.
While initially motivated by legal obligations linked to decennial insurance, technical inspection also represents a long-term investment in the structural resilience of buildings and infrastructure. It helps avoid costly retrofits, ensures compliance with evolving standards, and extends the useful life of the structure.
Technical inspections for structural stability and strength are essential not only during construction, but also during demolition and renovation. At each of these stages, SECO’s engineers standardize risk and support the implementation of innovative technical solutions.
SECO employs several hundred experienced engineers who have developed advanced expertise in various construction materials through the unique projects they have overseen in recent years.
For example, SECO carried out the technical inspection of the largest timber bridge in Europe—the Tervuren wooden bridge in Brussels—and provided material expertise for the reuse of concrete in the Zin in No(o)rd project, also in Brussels.
You can find here a full overview of the material expertise services offered by SECO.
Over time, civil engineering structures are subject to changes in load, usage, and environmental conditions, as well as the natural limits of material durability. SECO’s audits provide an independent assessment of the current condition of the structure.
