VOB Gesamtausgabe 2019

The German Construction Contract Procedures (VOB) is the authoritative handbook and reference work for awarding building contracts in Germany. It is the traditional benchmark for good construction contracts and solid construction contract agreements. The 2019 VOB complete edition was published on the 4th of October. It replaced the 2016 edition as of 1 October 2019 and its application is mandatory in Germany. 

Amendments in Part A

In Part A, focus is placed on sub-threshold tenders. During the 2016 reform of procurement law, some significant changes were made in order to establish or maintain the desired consistency in content between the various clauses of VOB/A.

Amendments in Part C

In VOB Part C, a total of 14 standards are being revised technically, and the titles of three standards are being amended. Numerous standards are being editorially revised and adapted to reflect the latest state of the art and standardization.

VOB Supplement 2023 to the 2019 VOB complete edition

In November, the DVA (German Contract Awards and Contract Committee for Construction Services) decided to publish a supplement to the 2019 VOB complete edition. It is expected that this will be published in the second half of 2023. Accordingly, it can be understood that a new VOB complete edition will not be published next year.

The new supplement will contain the revised VOB/C “General technical specifications in construction contracts (ATV)”. Further details are expected to be clarified in the first half of 2023. It is already confirmed that the completely newly prepared DIN 18448 “Work on contaminated buildings and technical installations” will be published with the new supplement.

In general, the supplement is published when new versions of various Part C standards have been finalized, but Parts A and/or B cannot (yet) be adopted in new versions, or are subject only to marginal changes. The supplement is then valid in conjunction with the corresponding previous complete edition.

In concrete terms, this means the new Part C standards from the 2023 Supplement will replace the previous ones from the 2019 VOB complete edition. Those standards which have not been revised in VOB/C of the 2019 VOB complete edition will remain valid.