Building Standards in Germany and China: Comparative Observations and Implications for the Global and German Construction Markets

The sustainability of built infrastructure is playing an increasingly important role around the world. Regulations and standards are designed to ensure this. This article examines one part of the construction industry, concrete production, and makes a comparison between Germany and China. The definition of stress classes is comparable, whereas the descriptions of the conditions for exposure classes differ significantly. Parallels can be found in the formulation of concrete mix designs based on exposure classes, as well as in modern regulations that give the designer greater leeway in execution planning. Overall, the size and financial strength of China’s construction conglomerates puts it in a structurally better position than the German construction industry, which tends to be made up of many smaller companies. The latter would need to significantly increase their efforts in technology development and transfer in order to take a robust position as an innovator in the national and international construction market, while at the same time the establishment and interpretation of technical guidelines and standards would need to be made more flexible.