The OPQIBI

Presentation

The OPQIBI is the Engineering Qualification Body.

The OPQIBI was formed on 3^rd January 1969, on the initiative of 3 Engineering trade associations: the CINOV, French Chamber of Engineering and Consulting, SYNTEC-INGÉNIERIE, the Engineering Trades

Federation and the SNITA, the National Development Engineers and Technicians Association.

The OPQIBI issues qualification certificates to companies providing primary or secondary engineering services in the following sectors :

Building
Infrastructures
Energy
Environment
Industry
Leisure - Culture – Tourism

An independent body accredited by COFRAC

a non-profit making association (law of 1901),
with protocols signed with the Ministries of Sustainable Development and Industry,
in which everyone concerned by the qualification granted is represented (operates on the "peer" principle) and divided into 3 colleges : A (customers), B (engineering services companies) and C (institutional and general interest bodies) all of whom have the same number of votes.

The requirements that the OPQIBI has to meet to manage its qualification system consistently and reliably are defined in AFNOR standard NF X50-091, relating to the functioning of qualification bodies.

Based on this standard, the OPQIBI has been accredited by COFRAC (French Accreditation Authority), under number 4-0526, since 1^st January 2009.

This accreditation certifies the transparency, independence and impartiality of its operation.

QUALIFICATION D’ENTREPRISES

ACCREDITATION N° 4-0526 COVERAGE CONSULTABLE ON http://www.cofrac.fr/

Governing bodies

OPQIBI operation is governed by the following bodies :

A general meeting,
A board of directors and a committee,
A higher commission that examines appeals lodged by applicants or qualified structures, or complaints lodged by third parties,
7 qualification committees that issue the qualification certificates. These committees comprise investigators and members who are professionals acknowledged for both their ethics and their skills in the field of activity being qualified,
An Application and Development Group that manages changes in the list of qualifications.

Finally, a general secretariat handles the continuity, the day-to-day management and the promotion of the association.

A stringent qualification process

In accordance with standard NF X50-091, the OPQIBI bases its granting of qualifications on :

a qualifications list that is regularly updated and that defines the technical content of the work or services corresponding to the various qualifications.
a reference system defining the requirements that have to be met by applicants, and detailing all the substantiations that have to be submitted, to support applications.
objective and stringent procedures for the granting, follow-up and renewal of qualifications.

Download the English version of the OPQIBI information brochure