ZUMBau is a joint qualification initiative of the leading associations of the German construction industry – the Central Association of the German Construction Confederation (ZDB) and the Federation of the German Construction Industry (HDB) – in cooperation with the German Trade Association of the Construction Industry (BG BAU). A solution from the industry for the industry.
Since 2006, ZUMBau has been establishing nationwide uniform standards for the qualification of construction machinery operators and the accreditation of testing centres.
Anyone who passes an examination at a ZUMBau-approved examination centre receives a ZUMBau operator's license as a "Certified Construction Machinery Operator in the Construction Industry" in the form of a plastic card. This certificate, together with the certificate of competence, documents a high level of professional competence in accident prevention, safe and economical machine operation, and the practical application of legal regulations regarding maintenance, inspection, and work organization on the construction site. The certificate serves as proof of qualification for state and employers' liability insurance association supervisory authorities during construction site inspections and can be used as a quality indicator for clients.
The qualification is currently offered in 14 construction machinery categories, including tower cranes, excavators and loaders, telescopic handlers, large-diameter rotary drilling rigs and pile drivers, demolition excavators and long-front excavators (in cooperation with the German Demolition Association), compactions, road pavers, well-drilling equipment, crawler dozers, graders, rope shovels, truck loading cranes, and bottom-slewing cranes.
More than 20,000 "Certified Construction Machinery Operators" have already been qualified.
ZUMBau manages the qualification process through certification and regular external audits of the examination centres, establishes nationwide examination requirements and standards, and maintains the nationwide ZUMBau Central Register of Certified Construction Machinery Operators. The testing procedures include uniform theoretical and practical requirements, thus ensuring a high degree of legal certainty.
Organisation structure
ZUMBau is represented by an admissions board, consisting of two directors from the HDB and ZDB associations, as well as by two alternating chairs (HDB/ZDB), members from the examination centres, the BG BAU, and the German Demolition Association.
Working groups and coordinators ensure the continuous updating of the testing requirements through their expertise.
Admissions board
The admissions board certifies organisations and institutions as approved examination centres. Its members are drawn equally from the supporting organisations:
- Zentralverband des Deutschen Baugewerbes e.V. (German Construction Confederation)
- Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie e.V. (Federation of the German Construction Industry)
- Deutscher Abbruchverband e.V. (German Demolition Association; demolition excavator and long-front excavator categories only)
Collaboration of BG BAU
Representatives of the German Trade Association of the Construction Industry play an active role in the admissions board and the respective testing committees.
Auditors
ZUMBau commissions external auditors to conduct regular audits at the examination centres.
Examination centres
At the examination centres approved by ZUMBau, examination boards administer the examinations.
Examination participants
Participants are generally company employees or apprentices in the construction industry.
Occupation
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Admissions board members
Federation of the German Construction Industry
- Firas Ajouri (employer representative and alternating chair) – current chair
- Thomas Hackl (employer representative)
- Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Hanemann (representative of a training/examination centre)
- Dipl.-Ing. Dirk Siewert (managing director of HDB Construction machinery and construction logistics committee) and director of ZUMBau GbR
German Construction Confederation
- Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Adolf Kugelmann (employer representative and alternating chair)
- Gabriela Gottwald (employer representative)
- Florian Löffler (representative of a training/examination centre)
- Dipl.-Ing. Rudolf Domscheid (managing director of ZDB Construction Machinery and Equipment committee) and director of ZUMBau GbR
German Demolition Association
- RA Andreas Pocha (representative of the 3rd supporting organisation - demolition excavator and long-front excavator categories only)
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Auditors
- Klaus Winkler
- Ing. (FH) Klaus Blau
- Dr.rer.nat, Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Bässler
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Representatives of BG BAU
- Dipl.-Ing. Volker Münch
- Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Joachim Schulze
- Urte Hülshorst M.Sc.
