Frequently asked questions

Questions about RAL

What does RAL mean?

In 1925, German industry together with the government of the time decided to standardise and clarify technical delivery conditions. They defined the quality requirements for selected products and ensured that adherence to these requirements was monitored. And so the idea was born for quality assurance and RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks). The foundation of the “ReichsAusschuss für Lieferbedingungen” (National Board for Delivery Conditions) – since known as RAL – by business and politics established an independent institution that is to this day responsible for the approval of RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).

RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung has become a trusted trademark over the more than 90 years it has been in existence. As an instrument for the voluntary self-regulation of the economy, the association has - when viewed against its current functions – far exceeded the expectations of its original founders.

What are the functions of the RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung (German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification)?

• RAL is an umbrella organisation for all Quality Assurance Associations
• RAL is the independent institution responsible for the creation of quality assurance processes in Germany
• RAL protects the Quality Mark (Gütezeichen) system and the term “RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)” against misuse.
• By defending (in terms of clarity and truth) the quality assurance system in the competitive market, RAL ensures that RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) offer reliable and trustworthy orientation for consumers.
• The umbrella organisation RAL supports the Quality Assurance Associations and their members by providing a variety of services, in particular, through public relations work to strengthen and push the awareness of RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).

Where can I order the RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications?

RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications can be ordered with cost here.

Questions about RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)

What are RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)?

Consumers are increasingly faced with difficult decisions because the range of products and services on offer both domestically and abroad is constantly increasing. The RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) offer safe orientation and protection from making an expensive mistake.

RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)

• are a visible, independent and objective validation of the particular quality of a product or service. That means that they stand for particularly high quality and due to their independence they are particularly trustworthy.
• demonstrate that a product or service fulfils all of the important requirements of these extremely high quality assurance characteristics. Therefore, consumers can be secure in the knowledge that the strict regulations encompass the essential characteristics that are important for the utilisation of a product or service.
• stand for the reliable observance of these high quality standards through constant self-regulation and the neutral independent monitoring that manufacturers and service providers submit themselves to voluntarily. This ensures the reliability of RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).

How is a new RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) created?

Please look at the section “The Path to Creating a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark)”. Further questions about the approval process for a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) can be sent by e-mail to: RAL-Institut@RAL.de

What do RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) look like?

RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are easy to recognise: They included the RAL logo with the endorsement “Quality Mark (Gütezeichen)”, supplemented by an image/wording for the product or service category. Over 100 RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are maintained using this corporate design (CD). In addition, there are around more than 60 RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) issued in another design. All RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).

How many RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are there?

There are approx. 150 RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from all economic sectors:

• RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from the construction industry
• RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from the agricultural and food industries
• RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from the field of services
• Other RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)

How many companies use RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) and in how many countries?

Over 9,000 German and foreign companies from all areas of the economy use RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) in the German, European and worldwide markets.

Is there an overview of all RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)?

You can find a list of all of the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) in the overview of the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) on the RAL website.

What distinguishes RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from other labels?

1. RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) stand for unambiguous labelling. They provide transparency and security through objective and verifiable quality criteria – the adherence to which is constantly monitored.
2. RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) deliver what they promise. Because that’s what the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) system (Gütezeichensystem) stands for.
3. Under the auspices of RAL, the Quality Assurance and Text Specifications developed by the Quality Assurance Association are passed on to the relevant professional and trade groups for their comments. In general, this involves those associations for consumers and users affected by the quality assurance process, government authorities and associations representing those parties offering the products or services for sale, as well as testing bodies and if required other specialist institutions and organisations. The quality specifications for the approval of a product or service are always above and beyond the current legal regulations and standards. Adherence to these quality criteria is regularly monitored and documented by the companies themselves, as well as being continually monitored by independent bodies.

The Guidelines for RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)

The RAL quality assurance system ensures that the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) represent particularly high-quality products and services. The Quality Assurance and Test Specifications cover the characteristics that are important for the utilisation of a product or service carrying the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks). RAL defines these specifications by involving the institutions affected by the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks), such as business and consumer organisations, authorities and testing institutions. Manufacturers and service providers, as well as independent testers regularly monitor that the regulations are being observed. Infringements against the regulations are penalised, which can even lead to the withdrawal of the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark).

How do members benefit from RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)?

As a manufacturer or service provider, a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark)helps you stand out from your competitors because it indicates a special level of quality and customer-orientation. This provides you with a clear competitive advantage.

• RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) offer clear, transparent and unambiguous product and performance descriptions. Many public authorities thus recognise them as a sign of a bidder's eligibility for invitations to tender.
• The quality mark makes it possible to compare bids and provides public authorities with security when issuing invitations to tender.
• The quality mark demonstrates that companies have voluntarily committed themselves to observing individual and strict quality standards which are constantly monitored by independent parties.
• The company thus stands for fair, honest and exemplary behaviour.

Does a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) already exist for my product or service?

There are more than 150 RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) across all economic sectors. Please refer to the Overview of Quality Marks for a comprehensive summary.

If a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) does not yet exist for your group of products or category of services, you can apply for the creation of a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) (see below).

Are there multiple RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) for a product or service?

No, there can only ever be one RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for a particular product or service.

How can I apply for a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for my products and services?

RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are awarded to manufacturers and service providers by the RAL approved Quality Assurance Associations:

• Apply to the relevant Quality Assurance Association for the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for your product or service.
• If it is determined during an initial inspection that the Quality Assurance and Test Specifications are being adhered to then the Quality Assurance Association awards the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark).
• Adherence with the quality assurance specifications then needs to be constantly documented. In addition, neutral testing institutions or certified experts regularly carry out independent monitoring.

You can find the contact details for the Quality Assurance Associations in the Overview of Quality Marks or via the search function for quality marks.
You can find further information on the page „The path to creating a Quality Mark“.

There is no RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for my product/service. What can I do?

If there is not yet a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for your products or services, you can apply to RAL for the approval of a new quality mark:

• Submit an application to RAL for a quality mark for a product or service for which there is not yet any existing quality mark.
• RAL will then define the requirements for the new quality mark in an individual approval process.
• Found a Quality Assurance Association with at least seven members.

You can find further information in the document „The path to creating a Quality Mark“.

Questions about RAL Quality Assurance

What is RAL quality assurance?

RAL quality assurance is the system from which all RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are recognised and awarded. It distinguishes the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) from all other labelling. RAL quality assurance covers the specification of quality regulations, the organisation of activities for monitoring quality (self-monitoring and monitoring by independent bodies) and penalising infringements, as well as the labelling of quality and the establishment and regulated use of RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).

What advantages does RAL quality assurance offer?

1. RAL quality assurance also creates a voluntary regulatory culture where there are no legal regulations or standards. Consumers are also provided with orientation through RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) in those areas where no stipulated quality standards exist.
2. An advantage is the independent neutral approval procedure for fulfilling the quality requirements for each product or service. This is ensured by the fact that RAL integrates relevant institutions, such as associations, authorities and testing bodies, into the process for determining the Quality Assurance and Test Specifications.
3. Quality assurance is also becoming increasing important from an ecological standpoint, in order to provide consumers with orientation in this area and thus ensuring suppliers receive market acceptance and success in the marketplace.
4. The quality assurance systems are also checked to ensure that the requirements continue to conform to the latest technical developments and market changes. When this is not the case then they are amended (revised/expanded).
5. Conformity with the Quality Assurance and Test Specifications is continuously checked through self-monitoring and monitoring carried out by independent bodies.

What are the quality principles?

The principles for quality assurance are defined by the regulations recognised by RAL in the relevant Quality Assurance and Test Specifications. These are used by the Quality Assurance Association as the obligatory basis for the use of the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark).

Where do I find the quality principles for RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks)?

The Quality Assurance and Test Specifications approved by RAL for the individual products and services form the basic quality principles. These quality principles can be found in the RAL publication directory.

What is contained in the RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications?

The RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications set down the requirements (quality regulations) that products and services must adhere to in order to be able to hold the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark), for example:

• Particularly high and consistent quality of all materials, sizes and finished products, as well as services
• Long service life, meaning a durable construction delivering a long life cycle
• Reliable functions, meaning safe operation and reliable functionality in everyday usage

Who determines the RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications?

The RAL Quality Assurance and Test Specifications are defined under the auspices of RAL by incorporating those institutions affected, such as industry associations, consumer organisations and German Federal and State Ministries. In the process, all characteristics important for the creation or use of a product or service are taken into account. Therefore, consumers can assume that RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) are independent and reliable.

Questions about RAL Quality Assurance Associations

What is a RAL Quality Assurance Association?

RAL Quality Assurance Associations are an amalgamation of particularly quality-conscious manufacturers and service providers. They are the organisation recognised by the RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification (RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung) for the implementation and monitoring of the quality assurance process.

A Quality Assurance Association is the legally responsible association recognised by RAL for implementing the RAL quality assurance process for a particular product group or service category.

They issue companies with the right to carry RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks), who then voluntarily submit to adhering to the quality regulations and quality monitoring process. The members of the Quality Assurance Associations are manufacturers or suppliers whose products or services are authorised to hold the relevant RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark).

What advantages do members of the Quality Assurance Association enjoy?

A company holding a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) signals to their customers that their products or services fulfil particularly high quality standards. The company thus differentiates itself from its competitors and generates a competitive advantage.
A major advantage is the commitment and strict adherence to the quality assurance system because it ultimately leads to a reduction in costs and fewer complaints. The sophisticated quality assurance system ensures that any deficiencies are recognised and resolved in good time.

What tasks are carried out by the RAL Quality Assurance Associations?

Based on the quality assurance process, the RAL Quality Assurance Associations issue companies with the right to carry a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) for a particular product group or service category. They monitor adherence to the RAL Quality Assurance & Test Specifications, as well as the correct use of the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) and protect the RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) from misuse.

How many Quality Assurance Associations are there?

RAL currently combines 112 Quality Assurance Associations with around 9,000 member companies from all areas of the economy.

Why are member companies of a Quality Assurance Association often at an advantage when bidding for contracts?

Public authorities can be sure that products and services carrying a RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) fulfil the requirements defined in the Quality Assurance and Test Specifications. Holding a corresponding RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Mark) can thus provide proof that the requirements stipulated in the public invitation to tender have been met. In contrast, other companies need to provide separate evidence of their compliance. You can read about the clear advantages for invitations to tender in the leaflet Informationen for invitations to tender.

• RAL protects the quality mark system and the term “Quality Mark” against misuse.
• By defending (in terms of clarity and truth) the quality assurance system in the competitive market, RAL ensures that RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks) offer reliable and trustworthy guidance to consumers.

The umbrella organisation RAL supports the Quality Assurance Associations and their members by providing a variety of services, in particular, public relations work to strengthen and increase awareness for RAL Gütezeichen (Quality Marks).