NACE 23.4 – Manufacture of Other Porcelain and Ceramic Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 23.4 covers the manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products not classified under building or refractory ceramics — in particular sanitary ware (WC pans, washbasins, urinals), household and ornamental ceramics, technical porcelain and laboratory porcelain and ceramics. These products play a key role in public procurement for hospitals, schools, administrative buildings and research institutions.

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

What does NACE 23.4 cover?

NACE 23.4 (Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products) classifies companies that produce ceramic products outside the building and refractory segments — with sanitary ware and technical porcelain as the most procurement-relevant segments.

Group 23.4 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 23 is broken down into several classes:

In public procurement, sanitary ware (in building refurbishments and new builds) and laboratory porcelain (for research and educational institutions) are the largest segments of this group by volume.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 23.4

Ceramic sanitary fittings are procured in virtually every public new build and major refurbishment — as part of sanitary specialist lots under VOB/A or as standalone supply tenders for standard products.

Typical contract types

• Sanitary fittings for public buildings: WC installations, washbasins and urinals for schools, town halls, libraries, sports halls and administrative buildings — frequently combined with accessibility requirements (DIN 18040)
• Hospitals and care facilities: special sanitary ware for medical settings (wet rooms, bathrooms, nursing bathing facilities) with enhanced hygiene requirements
• Stations and public transport: WC fittings for public toilets at railway stations, bus stations and service areas
• Laboratory porcelain for research and education: procurement of crucibles, dishes, mortars, porcelain plates and laboratory vessels for universities, state testing institutes and schools with science teaching
• Canteens and refectories: porcelain tableware for armed-forces canteens, school canteens, university refectories and civil-service canteens
• Accessibility fittings: wall-mounted WC pans and washbasins with under-basin clearance in accordance with DIN 18040-1 and -2

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Sanitary ware is generally tendered as part of the sanitary specialist lot (gas, water, wastewater) within building projects under VOB/A. Pure supply contracts for sanitary fittings (e.g. for municipal building-services operators) are handled under UVgO or VgV, depending on contract value.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 23.4

The following CPV codes are relevant for searching tenders in the field of sanitary ware, laboratory porcelain and technical ceramic products.

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), on the German Procurement Portal (DTVP) and on municipal procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 23.4 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

The main contracting authorities for other porcelain and ceramic products are municipal building departments and building-services operators for sanitary fittings, clinic operators in public ownership for medical sanitary rooms, school and education authorities for laboratory porcelain and school sanitary facilities, armed-forces administration (BAAINBw/BAPersBw) for canteen and sanitary fittings of barracks, and DB AG and municipal transport operators for station WC installations.

Companies and bidders

Sanitary-ware manufacturers and specialist sanitary wholesalers acting as bidders should consider:

• Standards compliance: EN 997 for WC pans, EN 31 for washbasins, EN 232 for bathtubs — CE marking under the Construction Products Regulation
• Accessibility requirements: DIN 18040-1 (publicly accessible buildings) and DIN 18040-2 (housing) as standard in public tenders; under-basin clearance washbasins (knee clearance ≥ 67 cm), wall-mounted WC pans
• Hygiene requirements: antibacterial glazed surfaces for hospitals and care facilities; requirements under hygiene guidelines (e.g. RKI recommendations)
• Water consumption and sustainability: EU water-consumption labels and flush-volume requirements (release volume ≤ 6 l) in accordance with EU GPP criteria for public buildings
• Spare-parts supply: supply commitments for spare parts (flush mechanisms, seat lids) for at least 10 years as a frequent tender criterion

NACE 23.4 in context: Section C and Division 23

NACE 23.4 complements the building and refractory ceramics of Division 23 with application-oriented products that are indispensable in the day-to-day operation of public institutions.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 23 – Manufacture of glass, ceramics and other non-metallic mineral products: parent division
• NACE 23.3 – Manufacture of clay building materials: roof tiles, bricks, tiles
• NACE 23.2 – Manufacture of refractory ceramic products: high-temperature ceramics

Frequently asked questions on NACE 23.4 and public tenders

What requirements apply to barrier-free sanitary fittings in public buildings? DIN 18040-1 prescribes that WC areas in publicly accessible buildings must be accessible for wheelchair users (minimum dimensions, fold-up support handrails, reachability). Wall-mounted WC pans with step-free access and washbasins with under-basin clearance are standard in public sanitary tenders.

How is laboratory porcelain procured for schools and universities? Laboratory porcelain is frequently procured as part of broader laboratory-equipment tenders (including chemicals, glassware, ceramic apparatus) via framework agreements. Individual orders below the thresholds are placed by direct award or via simplified request procedures.

Are canteen and refectory tableware items procured publicly? For larger canteens (e.g. armed forces, university refectories) and for the initial fitting of new buildings, the procurement volumes frequently exceed the direct-purchase threshold. Such procurements are then placed as supply contracts under UVgO (below the EU threshold) or VgV (above).

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