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VOB 2019 and Supplement 2023

The German Construction Contract Procedures (VOB) are the basis for public construction contracting and procurement in Germany and most major private projects. It combines legal provisions and technical rules.

The 2019 VOB complete edition replaced the 2016 edition as of 1 October 2019.

A supplement with the revised VOB/C General technical specifications in construction contracts (ATV) will be published in the second half of 2023.

The VOB is compiled, maintained and updated by the German Contract Awards and Contract Committee for Construction Services (DVA). It is published as a complete edition in Part A (DIN 1960), Part B (DIN 1961) and Part C (the “ATV” standards).

Beuth Verlag offers the following:

  • the 2019 VOB complete edition
  • the VOB Supplement, which will be published in 2023
  • comments on all VOB parts
  • specialist literature regarding its application
  • sample letters for legally compliant implementation
  • VOB online: the complete VOB as a digital subscription, including updates
  • training on VOB offered by the DIN Academy

VOB Supplement 2023

In November, the DVA (German Contract Awards and Contract Committee for Construction Services) decided to publish a supplement to the 2019 VOB complete edition. It is expected that this will be published in the second half of 2023. Accordingly, it can be understood that a new VOB complete edition will not be published next year.

The new supplement will contain the revised VOB/C “General technical specifications in construction contracts (ATV)”. Further details are expected to be clarified in the first half of 2023. It is already confirmed that the completely newly prepared DIN 18448 “Work on contaminated buildings and technical installations” will be published with the new supplement.

In general, the supplement is published when new versions of various Part C standards have been finalized, but Parts A and/or B cannot (yet) be adopted in new versions, or are subject only to marginal changes. The supplement is then valid in conjunction with the corresponding previous complete edition.

In concrete terms, this means the new Part C standards from the 2023 Supplement will replace the previous ones from the 2019 VOB complete edition. Those standards which have not been revised in VOB/C of the 2019 VOB complete edition will remain valid.


VOB 2019: What has changed compared to the 2016 edition?

The 2019 edition of the VOB brings with it a number of changes.

  • The VOB/A (DIN 1960) has been comprehensively modified.
  • Several amendments have been made to the VOB/C standards: of the total of 67 standards, 14 have been technically revised, 40 have been editorially revised, and 12 remain unchanged.


Would you like to know what has changed in the areas of the VOB that are relevant to you?

We provide an overview of such changes. Below you will find:

  • a list of all VOB standards and their status (changed or unchanged)
  • information on the content of all changes in the technically revised VOB/C standards


  • F = technically revised
    R = editorially revised
    U = unchanged
    XXX XXX = Title change


    Technical revisions were necessary to reflect developments in the construction sector.

    Editorial revisions include updated normative references, grammatical or spelling changes and updated references to sources.

    F

    DIN 1960

    VOB/A – General provisions relating to the award of construction contracts (VOB/A)

    U

    DIN 1961

    VOB/B – General conditions of contract relating to the execution of construction work (VOB/B)

    F

    18299

    VOB/C – General technical specifications in construction contracts (VOB/C)

    R

    18300

    Earthworks

    R

    18301

    Drilling works

    R

    18302

    Borehole sinking operations

    U

    18303

    Timbering to trenchwork

    R

    18304

    Piling

    F

    18305

    Groundwater lowering

    U

    18306

    Underground drainage

    U

    18307

    Laying of pressure pipework outside buildings

    R

    18308

    Land drainage and infiltration management works

    R

    18309

    Ground treatment by grouting

    R

    18311

    Dredging work

    R

    18312

    Underground construction work

    R

    18313

    Diaphragm walling

    U

    18314

    Sprayed concrete works

    R

    18315

    Road construction — Surfacings without binder

    R

    18316

    Road construction — Surfacings with hydraulic binders

    R

    18317

    Road construction — Asphalt surfacings

    F

    18318

    Sett and slab pavements, and surrounds

    R

    18319

    Trenchless pipelaying

    R

    18320

    Landscape works

    R

    18321

    Jet grouting work

    F

    18322

    Underground cable laying work

    U

    18323

    Clearing of unexploded ordnance

    R

    18324

    Horizontal directional drilling works

    F

    18325

    Track works

    R

    18326

    Renovation works on drainage channels

    R

    18329

    Management of road safety measures at road works

    R

    18330

    Masonry work

    R

    18331

    Concrete works

    F

    18332

    Natural stone work

    R

    18333

    Cast stone works

    U

    18334

    Carpentry and timber construction works

    U

    18335

    Steel construction works

    F

    18336

    Waterproofing

    F

    18338

    Roofing works

    R

    18339

    Sheet metal roofing and wall covering work

    R

    18340

    Dry lining and partitioning work

    R

    18345

    Thermal insulation composite systems

    R

    18349

    Repair work on concrete structures

    R

    18350

    Plastering and rendering

    R

    18351

    Work on back-ventilated curtain walling

    F

    18352

    Wall and floor tiling works

    R

    18353

    Laying of floor screed

    F

    18354

    Mastic asphalt works

    R

    18355

    Joinery

    R

    18356

    Parkett- und Holzpflasterarbeiten

    R

    18357

    Mounting of door and window hardware

    F

    18358

    Rolling shutters works

    F

    18360

    Metal construction works

    R

    18361

    Glazing works

    R

    18363

    Painting and coating work — Coatings

    R

    18364

    Corrosion protection of steel structures

    R

    18365

    Flooring works

    R

    18366

    Application of decorative coverings on walls and ceilings

    R

    18379

    Installation of air conditioning systems

    R

    18380

    Installation of central heating systems and hot water supply systems

    R

    18381

    Installation of gas, water and drainage pipework inside buildings

    F

    18382

    Electrical installations, safety systems and information technology systems

    F

    18384

    Installation of lightning protection, surge protection and earthing systems

    U

    18385

    Installation of lifts, escalators, passenger conveyors and materials handling equipment

    R

    18386

    Building automation and control systems

    U

    18421

    Insulation of service installations

    U

    18451

    Scaffolding works

    U

    18459

    Demolition and dismantling works

  • DIN 18299 “General rules applying to all types of construction work”
    In Clause 0 information on the safety and health plan, the Baustellenverordung and work relating to accident prevention has been included. in Clause 4, the subclause 4.2.10 on traffic safety measures outside the building site has been deleted.

    DIN 18305 “Groundwater lowering”
    The Normative references have been updated. A combined accounting of works (e.g. items x hours, items x days, items x weeks) and a differentiation between sump pumping and groundwater lowering by wells have been included in Clause 0. In Clause 1 the “Scope” has been revised. In Clause 4 additional associated tasks have been included.
    In Clause 5 rules for deductions for pipe joints, fittings and valves have been revised in subclause 5.3.

    DIN 18318 “Sett and slab pavements, and surrounds”
    The Normative references have been updated. Clause 0 has been extensively revised. In Clause 1 the “Scope” has been revised. In Clause 3, reservations according to VOB/B (DIN 1961), § 4, Clause 3 are now dealt with, and new subclauses have been added. In Clause 4 additional associated tasks have been included. In subclause 5.3 the rules for deductions have been structurally revised.

    DIN 18322 “Underground cable laying work”
    The Normative references have been updated, a combined accounting of works (e.g. m/day, m/week, m/month etc) has been added to the revised Clause 0, and the Scope has been redefined (it now also applies to the laying of conduits, microtubes and microtube bundles). Clause 3 now takes into account conduits and ducts, and rules for the blowing in of cables, microtubes and microtube bundles are now included. In subclause 4.2 the list of special tasks has been extended.

    DIN 18325 “Track works”
    The Normative references have been updated. Clause 0 has been revised. In Clause 2 the rule that materials or components set aside shall not pass into the ownership of the contractor has been added. Changes have been made to the content of Clause 3 (e.g. the rule that welding and safeguarding work are not to be carried out without monitoring by the client). Acceptance measurements after mounting switches and the provision of a construction supervisor for equipotential bonding are now associated tasks.

    DIN 18332 “Natural stone work”
    In DIN 18332 “Natural stone work”, the Scope has been made more precise.

    DIN 18336 “Waterproofing”
    DIN 18336 “Waterproofing” has been extensively revised. It has been brought in line with the new standards series DIN 18531 to DIN 18535. For this reason, the rules included in DIN 18338 “Roofing works” and DIN 18354 “Mastic asphalt works” on waterproofing have been deleted. DIN 18338 “Roofing works” thus has a different German title.
    Normative references have been updated, and Clause 0 has been extensively revised, including the inclusion of combined accounting of works (e.g. m²/day, m²/week, m²/month). The “Scope” has been revised both in form and content. The sealing of carriageway deck slabs of bridges that form part of public highways is still not covered. Clause 3 has been restructured, and in Clause 4 additional associated tasks (e.g. the protection of components and equipment from soiling, and the levelling of height differences in scaffolding bases up to a levelling difference of 40 cm). In subclause 4.2 the list of special tasks, and in subclause 5.4 the list of individual provisions for the settlement of accounts have been extended.
    Among other changes, information on post-construction waterproofing is now included in DIN 18336.

    DIN 18338 “Roofing works”
    see DIN 18336

    DIN 18352 “Wall and floor tiling works”
    In DIN 18352 “Wall and floor tiling works” the technically required width of joints has been limited. New standards on waterproofing require new references to standards. Rules on the cleaning of wall and floor tiling are now included. Clause 5 has been revised to reflect the new structure for deductions.

    DIN 18354 “Mastic asphalt works”
    see DIN 18336

    DIN 18358 “Rolling shutters works”
    DIN 18358 “Rolling shutters works” has been extensively revised. The Scope has been made more precise. Clause 3 now contains rules on the adjustment, instructions and acceptance of the system. The rules for scaffolding as an associated task or special task have been included in the new structure. Clause 5 has been completely revised.

    DIN 18360 “Metal construction works”
    In DIN 18360 “Metal  construction works”, Clause 0, which includes details required for drafting the specification of works, has been extensively expanded. Clause 3 has been extensively revised. Associated tasks and special tasks in Clause 4 have been modified and made more precise.

    DIN 18382 “Electrical installations, safety systems and information technology systems”
    DIN 18382 “Electrical installations, safety systems and information technology systems” has a new name. Like DIN 18384 “Installation of lightning protection, surge protection and earthing systems”, it now includes precise details on which planning documents are to be handed over to the client and which documents are to be provided to the contractor for acceptance. Material and design standards have been updated.

    DIN 18384 “Installation of lightning protection, surge protection and earthing systems”
    DIN 18384 “Installation of lightning protection, surge protection and earthing systems” has a new name. See DIN 18382 regarding revisions made to content.


    Source: Introductory decree to the complete edition of the German Construction Contract Procedures 2019 (VOB 2019) of 23.09.2019, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, reference number: BWI7-70421/2#3

Publications

Publication Beuth Kommentar 2020-10

Stahlbauarbeiten und Metallbauarbeiten
Kommentar zu VOB/C: ATV DIN 18335 und ATV DIN 18360

from 58.00 EUR VAT included

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Publication 2019-10

VOB Gesamtausgabe 2019
Vergabe- und Vertragsordnung für Bauleistungen - Teil A (DIN 1960), Teil B (DIN 1961), Teil C (ATV)

from 54.00 EUR VAT included

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Publication [WITHDRAWN] Beuth Praxis 2020-03 Article is not orderable

Rechtssichere Musterbriefe zur VOB/B
für Auftraggeber und Auftragnehmer vor, während und nach der Bauzeit
VOB commentaries

Publication Beuth Recht 2019-10

VOB/A 2019
Kommentar für die Bau- und Vergabepraxis

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Publication Beuth Recht 2019-11

VOB/B 2019
Kommentar für die Baupraxis

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Publication Beuth Recht 2019-11

VOB/A + VOB/B 2019
Kommentare für die Bau- und Vergabepraxis - Paket

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Zimmer- und Holzbauarbeiten VOB/STLB-Bau
VOB Teil C: ATV DIN 18299, ATV DIN 18334

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