NACE 23.2 – Manufacture of Refractory Ceramic Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 23.2 covers the manufacture of refractory ceramic materials — i.e. materials that withstand temperatures above 1,500 °C on a sustained basis. These specialty materials are used to line melting furnaces, incineration plants, boilers and high-temperature industrial processes, which are also operated in the public sector (municipal waste incineration, power stations, waste-treatment plants).

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 23.2 cover?

NACE 23.2 (Manufacture of refractory ceramic materials and products) classifies companies that produce high-temperature materials for use in thermal processes — a niche industry with a clearly defined relevance profile for municipal and state thermal plants.

Group 23.2 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 23 covers:

Refractory materials differ in their thermal, chemical and mechanical properties: basic refractories (magnesia, dolomite) for metallurgical processes, acidic refractories (silica, fireclay) for glass furnaces and waste-incineration plants, and neutral refractories (corundum, chromite) for general-purpose applications.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 23.2

Refractory ceramic materials are procured by the public sector primarily for lining, maintenance and refurbishment of municipal thermal plants — particularly waste incineration plants (WIPs), biogas plants and municipal power stations.

Typical contract types

• Waste incineration plants (WIPs): procurement of refractory linings and brickwork for incineration grates, combustion chambers and flue-gas ducts — regular maintenance and overhaul tenders
• Sewage-sludge incineration plants: refractory linings for fluidised-bed furnaces for the thermal treatment of sewage sludge under municipal ownership
• District-heating combined heat-and-power plants: maintenance tenders for refractory linings in boiler plants run by municipal energy utilities
• Crematoria: procurement of refractory linings for municipal crematoria (cemetery offices)
• Industrial high-temperature facilities operated by public bodies: furnaces at state research institutions, university material laboratories

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Framework agreements for refractory maintenance services at municipal WIPs frequently exceed the supply threshold. Owing to the high specificity of the products and the limited number of bidders, the negotiated procedure with prior call for competition is occasionally used. Major overhauls are tendered as combined supply and service contracts.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 23.2

Refractory materials are identified in tenders by means of specialised CPV codes that can be found on TED and in national notices.

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on the procurement platforms of municipal waste-management associations.

For whom is NACE 23.2 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

The main contracting authorities are municipal waste-management companies and WIP operators (e.g. EEW Energy from Waste with municipal participation, AVG Köln, MVK München), district-heating and energy-supply companies under municipal ownership (Stadtwerke), municipal cemetery offices as operators of crematoria, and public research institutions with high-temperature laboratories.

Companies and bidders

Manufacturers and installation contractors for refractory materials acting as bidders typically need to demonstrate in tenders:

• Specialised references: evidence of comparable projects (similar furnace/plant types, comparable temperature classes) — reference lists with contract values and contact persons
• Material qualifications: ISO test certificates for refractory products (e.g. under EN 993 for properties of dense and refractory products)
• Plant-specific know-how: for installation/maintenance services, specific expertise on the plant type is required
• Occupational safety: working procedures compliant with DGUV rules for high-temperature working environments (heat protection, asbestos-free certificates for old plants)
• Disposal arrangements: proper disposal of removed refractory material (declared as waste or construction debris depending on composition)

NACE 23.2 in context: Section C and Division 23

NACE 23.2 is a highly specialised niche within Division 23, closely linked to municipal thermal technology and waste management.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 23 – Manufacture of glass, ceramics and other non-metallic mineral products: parent division
• NACE 23.4 – Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products: related ceramic products
• NACE 38 – Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities: context: municipal waste management

Frequently asked questions on NACE 23.2 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 23.2? Specialised manufacturers of refractory bricks, castables, refractory mortars and high-temperature ceramic fibres. The industry is highly specialised and concentrated — a small number of large manufacturers (e.g. RHI Magnesita, Vesuvius, Refratechnik) face a number of smaller providers.

How often are refractory tenders carried out in municipal waste management? Refractory linings typically last 3–7 years, depending on operating conditions and plant type. Accordingly, maintenance and overhaul tenders for municipal WIPs are issued on a multi-year cycle, often as framework agreements.

Are refractory works supply or works contracts? Where material supply and installation (lining, bricking) are combined, they constitute mixed contracts. The main subject matter determines the applicable procedure (VgV or VOB/A). In practice, refurbishment and installation works are often dominated by the service component.

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.