Created at the initiative of the CSTB and stakeholders of the construction industry – including technical inspectors, the Technical Experimentation Assessment – referred to as the ATEx – is a quick technical assessment procedure carried out by a group of experts on any innovative product or system. This assessment provides preliminary feedback on the implementation of products or systems prior to a Technical Appraisal. In addition, it makes it possible to validate innovative design approaches. Examples of ATEx: lightweight façades, skylights, underfloor heating and cooling systems, roofing membranes, reinforcement of structures, and more.
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Because project managers and insurance companies may lack some of the information they need to appreciate the risks incurred, and technical inspectors may hesitate to support clients in the adventure of experimenting with or developing an innovation, the ATEx is available for innovators to help them promote new systems or outstanding architectural design approaches.
Developers, clients or project managers may thus start an ATEx procedure at the design stage in order to safely display innovation as part of a project. The ATEx thus:
- provides an answer to the feasibility of a given innovative project as well as to the technical choices made at the design stage
- specifies the justifications to be brought early in the site process by optimising their achievement
- secures the options and intervention of construction companies
Clients, builders and manufacturers, needing an informed opinion on the techniques they create, are increasingly relying on this procedure which facilitates the execution of first projects under optimal conditions, using innovative systems. The ATEx is thus a sort of a “gateway” to the Technical Appraisal.
Over a hundred ATEx are issued every year; most often they are requested by a company working on a specific construction project. Since 1982, 2,800 ATEx have been issued.
For each ATEx, a special Committee of Experts is gathered according to the needs of each system.
By assessing the first uses of an innovative system, the ATEx:
- facilitates the integration of experimentation into construction;
- helps identify risks and their prevention, while enabling insurance companies to make informed and appropriate decisions about coverage;
- encourages clients to opt for experimentation;
- helps manufacturers take advantage of simplified regulations.
ATEx on the web
See all Type “a” ATEx here: “Find an ATEx”.
Type “a” ATEx are issued on the basis of information provided by the applicant, concerning:
- the characteristics of the innovation to be tested and its area of application;
- the type and scope of the experimentation considered necessary, either for its development or to compile enough references prior to filing a Technical Appraisal application.
At the request of the ATEx holder, Type “b” ATEx are also posted on the website: “Find an ATEx”.
Contact the expert by product family
| 3-dimensional structures, foundation structures and infrastructure |
PAYET Loïc loic.payet@cstb.fr |
| Built-up cladding, cladding products and veture (insulating wall panel) |
WIATT Lucie bardage.rapporte@cstb.fr |
| Combustion, ventilation and air systems using air as an energy carrier |
NORMAND Cédric nantes_clients@cstb.fr |
| External thermal insulation composite system with rendering and related products |
MARTIN Adrien etics@cstb.fr |
| Floor coverings and related products |
FAU Gilbert gilbert.fau@cstb.fr |
| Flooring and flooring accessories |
PRAT Etienne etienne.prat@cstb.fr |
| Glazing |
LEROUX Stéphanie stephanie.leroux@cstb.fr |
| Lightweight facades |
MOKRANI Youcef facade.legere@cstb.fr |
| Masonry |
AKKAOUI Abdessamad abdessamad.akkaoui@cstb.fr |
| Partition walls, liners and ceilings |
PRAT Etienne etienne.prat@cstb.fr |
| Photovoltaics |
NGUYEN Coralie cstb-photovoltaique@cstb.fr |
| Piping for plumbing and air conditioning |
JAAFAR Walid walid.jaafar@cstb.fr |
| Procédés pour la mise en œuvre des revêtements |
GILLIOT Christine virginie.cordier@cstb.fr |
| Roofing |
AUGEAI Marc couverture@cstb.fr |
| Sandwich panels |
MOKRANI Youcef panneau.sandwich@cstb.fr |
| Solar thermal energy and energy recovery using water as an energy carrier |
NGUYEN Coralie cstb-solaire-thermique@cstb.fr |
| Special insulation products and systems |
CHERKAOUI Hafiane evaluation.isolation@cstb.fr |
| Systems and purification |
LAKEL Abdel nantes_clients@cstb.fr |
| Walls |
JUNES Angel angel.junes@cstb.fr |
| Water treatment |
CORREC Olivier nantes_clients@cstb.fr |
| Waterproofing system for flat roofs, underground walls and casing |
MINON Anouk etancheite@cstb.fr |
| Windows |
LAGIER Hubert yann.faisant@cstb.fr |
