ZVSHK sees the planned reduction of bureaucracy as a start, not a breakthrough.

The plumbing, heating, and air conditioning (SHK) industry welcomes the measures to reduce bureaucracy agreed upon by the Conference of Minister-Presidents and the Federal Government. However, these measures must not remain mere announcements; they must be implemented quickly.

This article is part of the special topic Bureaucratic madness in the craft industry

The diagnosis by the federal and state governments regarding the excessively slow and complicated administration in Germany is, in the view of the German Association for Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning (ZVSHK), long overdue and, above all, accurate. The association welcomes the fact that they have now been able to jointly agree on a federal modernization agenda with concrete areas of action, timelines, and measurable goals.

"This decision strikes a chord with the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning (SHK) industry. Reducing bureaucracy, implementing digital processes, increasing approvals, streamlining funding procedures, and achieving a better balance between occupational safety, standards, and proportionality – these are not abstract reform ideas, but rather the daily reality in our businesses," says Daniel Föst, CEO of the German Association for Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning (ZVSHK).

Consider practical craftsmanship

Daniel Föst Photo: © ZVSHK

Anyone replacing a heating system, renovating a bathroom, or investing in new technology today faces lengthy procedures, conflicting regulations, and unnecessary documentation. The announced reduction of reporting requirements, the elimination of superfluous proof of work, deemed approvals, and the shift from permitting to notification procedures are therefore the right steps.

It is particularly important that digital processes are not only introduced as an addition, but also consistently standardized and used on a mandatory basis. "The 'once-only' principle must not remain a mere buzzword – data must be collected once and then used intelligently. The announcement that accident prevention regulations and technical standards will be more rigorously reviewed for proportionality is also a sensitive but necessary signal," emphasizes Föst. He calls for regulations for businesses that provide protection without ignoring practical experience. "Occupational safety must not become an end in itself, otherwise it will lose acceptance and effectiveness."

Implement measures consistently

The resolution paper from the federal and state governments can only be a start. It does not yet represent a breakthrough for the legislature. Föst: "Much of it is still a declaration of intent, a mandate for review, or a timetable. The crucial factor will be whether the announced measures are implemented quickly and uniformly – in laws, regulations, and above all, in local administrative enforcement."

Differing interpretations across states, municipalities, and authorities would immediately negate the effect. "Our benchmark is clear and pragmatic: Does the local business experience genuine relief – or does everything remain the same? This is the question by which public sector modernization will be measured. Now, the federal and state governments share the responsibility to translate announcements into concrete improvements."

Source: ZVSHK

DHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!