FCBA celebrates 65 years of CTB-A+ certification

For 65 years, CTB-A+ certification has been an integral part of the landscape of wood treatment, the protection of new constructions against termites and the maintenance of outdoor wood. The oldest voluntary certification mark created by the FCBA Technological Institute, CTB-A+ has established itself over the years as a reference brand: nearly 130 companies now hold the certification.

CTB-A+ has always supported market and regulatory developments, systematically evolving its standards to enable wood treatment professionals to understand, or even effectively anticipate, these major changes for their activity. A driving and unifying dynamic which is still being verified today, in connection with the latest consequences of the Biocide Regulation (formerly called Biocide Directive 98), for which FCBA has reviewed some of its services.

CTB-A+: 65 years of work serving the protection of woods

Created in 1959, CTB-A+ is the oldest certification mark launched by the FCBA Technological Institute. Under COFRAC accreditation, it certifies the competence of companies to deliver quality services in the areas of:

Protection of new constructions against termites;
Preventive and curative treatment of wood and buildings against insect, fungus and termite pathologies;
Maintenance and beautification of outdoor woods.

Nearly 130 voluntary companies are now certified throughout France, in Corsica and in the overseas territories (2 of which have held certification for over 60 years). These companies are regularly subject to control audits to ensure that technical, safety, regulatory, environmental aspects, etc. are respected (more than 300 audits are carried out each year by the FCBA audit team).

FCBA has always regularly evolved its CTB-A+ brand in view of regulations. This is once again the case with the latest developments in European regulations dedicated to biocides.

Biocide Regulations in motion

For several years, the marketing and use of biocidal products have been governed by regulations. In this regard, the Biocide Directive 98, modified by the Biocide Regulation in 2012, is the one which ensures a “high level of protection of humans, animals and the environment with regard to these products” [1 ].

As part of this regulation, the public authorities have recently announced various developments, which aim in particular to reduce active ingredients in biocides placed on the market and therefore to reduce formulated products.

In the area of certification, CTB-A+ certified companies must comply with the requirement to use CTB-P+ certified products. With changes in regulations, certain CTB-P+ certified biocidal products are no longer or will soon no longer be part of the authorized devices. This is the case for products dedicated to the treatment of masonry against termites and preventive treatment before construction.

FCBA then adapted its certification standards, in consultation with its holders, in order to associate, for chemical barrier treatments, the establishment of a monitoring contract for the sites concerned, in order to ensure that the new devices are effective and efficient.

[1] Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion