The Qualitel Association celebrates its 50th anniversary

Broadening its scope of action to all facets of housing, whether social, private, collective, individual, under construction, renovation, or operation, QUALITEL has continued to pursue its primary commitment: working for the overall quality of housing. housing (energy performance, acoustic comfort, quality of equipment and materials, etc.) alongside and at the service of all stakeholders, professionals and residents, in line with the major changes in the sector. Focus on 50 years of history of housing quality.

1974 – 2024: developments in housing & the role of QUALITEL, two linked stories

From 1974 to the 80s: housing in need of quality

1974 marked a turning point in housing: a year earlier, the first oil shock generated a major energy crisis and with it, the beginning of awareness of the importance of the energy performance of buildings. From then on, the regulations developed and in April 1, the 1974st Thermal Regulation was born.

It is in this context that the QUALITEL Association (“Association for Housing Quality”) was created, under the impetus of the State. Its first mission is to implement, for social housing, the method of evaluating overall quality, defined by the Ministry in charge of housing. From 1975, this method, which became the “Qualitel Method”, included 18 sections, already making it possible to assess quality on several criteria.

Then, the Association intensified its work: after developing the Method, it launched, in 1984, the “Qualitel Label”. This will be issued for construction projects whose leaders, social landlords or real estate developers wish to have the superior quality recognized and provide a benchmark of confidence to residents. This label, which will become certification under the consumer code, is the precursor to the NF Habitat certification that the QUALITEL Association has carried since 2015.

90s: emergence of the concept of “sustainable building”

The 90s marked the emergence of awareness of the environmental impact of buildings, although this still remained limited to institutional, political spheres and research bodies.

In this context, in 1995, QUALITEL launched its first work to integrate environmental criteria into its standards, in order to help professionals improve the performance of their constructions in this area.

In 2003, based on the work of the HQE Association, it will launch the first environmental certification for housing. The professionals thus engaged will be pioneers of a more virtuous approach for the environment, benefiting from a head start in taking into account future regulations.

From the 2000s to today: the housing sector and its changes

Local authorities: new players in housing quality

The Decentralization law, passed a few years earlier, marked a turning point in housing policy from 2003: the management of public funding shifted from the State to local authorities, which then defined their priorities in terms of housing. They will then take advantage of certification to meet their objectives in terms of the quality of their residential stock, including overseas.

The environmental performance of buildings: the common thread of the last 20 years, as well as the next 20

At the beginning of the 2000s, French commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulted, in the construction sector, in new thermal regulations. QUALITEL then enriches its certification standards to help professionals anticipate them even before they come into force.

More recently, QUALITEL has taken up the challenges of low-carbon construction by promoting the development of life cycle analyses, promoting the circular economy, then supporting the State in the preparation and implementation of RE 2020. Today, it is a driving force in the appropriation of the European Taxonomy regulation thanks to a dedicated certification profile.

A strong acceleration in the renovation of the existing stock

Gradually, the energy renovation of the housing stock, beyond its social issue, has also become an essential axis for improving the environmental performance of buildings. QUALITEL develops dedicated certifications allowing, beyond the energy aspect, to ensure the overall quality of renovated housing. It also deploys support tools for professionals and the general public (training, information materials for the general public, etc.).

Current and future challenges for the quality of housing, and therefore, for QUALITEL

The digital revolution:

Digitization, connected housing, Artificial Intelligence… these developments will inevitably influence the comfort, security and lifestyles of residents, but also on the practices of professionals.

The Association, with a view to supporting housing stakeholders, provides them with collaborative applications (BIM). She does not forget individuals, for whom she is developing CLEA, the QUALITEL housing information booklet, offered exclusively in digital format.

Resilience to climate change:

At a time of global warming, there is an urgent need to make built or renovated housing more resilient. The sustainability of buildings, the safety and comfort of residents are at stake. Technical solutions, optimized positioning of equipment, appropriate choice of materials... will make it possible to meet this major challenge. QUALITEL introduced resilience requirements into its NF Habitat-NF Habitat HQE certification framework in 2018. She is continuing her work on the subject, in particular by proposing innovative solutions such as the “resilience tool” to help professionals properly integrate these aspects.

Major demographic and societal developments:

If technical and environmental challenges continue to reshape the constituents of the quality of housing, changes in society must not be forgotten.

QUALITEL is particularly committed to supporting these developments. Among them :

• The aging of the population: a reality already taken into account in the work of the Association, to better measure and anticipate the impact on housing, thus promoting staying at home, also taking advantage of the opportunity of the massive renovation of the existing park.
• New uses: the French expect their housing to be adapted and more easily adaptable to their different lifestyles. The QUALITEL Barometer studies these uses and feelings each year to better take them into account and share them with the profession. The 2020 edition, for example, shed pragmatic light on new basic but essential expectations in terms of comfort: ceiling height, walk-through housing, storage spaces, outdoor spaces, etc.

QUALITEL today, a unique position in the housing sector

The QUALITEL Association is therefore 50 years of commitment and action in favor of housing, alongside professionals, communities and individuals, to make quality a fundamental component of this place of life. resource” that is housing. It has thus settled fully into the landscape, with:

• The NF Habitat-NF Habitat HQE certification, recognized by all stakeholders and residents, delivered by its subsidiary CERQUAL Qualitel Certification, the leading housing certification body in France, with more than 1 million homes certified since origin, in France and internationally, under construction, renovation and operation.
• A training activity which allows professionals to acquire skills on subjects specifically linked to the quality of housing, and which draws on the expertise of the Association.
• Evaluation and operational expertise missions on key subjects for housing, such as the environment, acoustics, digital, etc.
• Research programs which make it possible to enrich and share knowledge of the determinants of housing quality and to develop innovative tools to facilitate the handling of complex subjects by the stakeholders concerned.
• Tools to inform and raise awareness among the general public about issues related to the quality of their housing, including a website consulted by more than 2 million French people each year.
• An endowment fund to support solidarity actions for housing projects for the most disadvantaged.

QUALITEL benefits from the status of an independent association which allows it to act with complete impartiality, with a board of directors representing all stakeholders in the sector (public authorities, professionals and consumers). A fundamental organization, which has given it a unique position in the housing ecosystem for 50 years.