NACE 43.2 – Electrical, Plumbing and Other Installation Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 43.2 covers the economic activity of installing technical building systems — including electrical and lightning protection installations, plumbing and pipework, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) as well as lifts and escalators. This group is one of the most in-demand service areas in public building construction and in the refurbishment of public buildings.

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

What does NACE 43.2 cover?

NACE 43.2 (Electrical, plumbing and other installation activities) classifies companies that install technical building services — a core service in the construction, refurbishment and operation of public properties, schools, hospitals, administrative buildings and infrastructure buildings.

Group 43.2 within Section F (Construction) and Division 43 (Specialised construction activities) is divided into three classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 43.2 include federal authorities, federal states, municipalities, municipal building offices, the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG), the Federal Institute for Real Estate (BImA), school operators, hospital operators and housing companies.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 43.2

Building installation services are required in almost every public building construction project and are regularly tendered as independent trade lots — both in new construction and in energy refurbishments and ongoing building operation.

Typical contract types

• Electrical installation: High- and low-voltage installation in administrative buildings, schools and hospitals; photovoltaic systems on public roofs; charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on municipal properties
• Heating systems: Renewal of heating systems (boilers, heat pumps, district heating connections) as part of energy refurbishments of public buildings
• Plumbing installation: Renewal of drinking water and wastewater installations in schools, kindergartens, administrative buildings and sports halls
• Ventilation and air-conditioning systems: Installation of ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) in office buildings and educational facilities; server room and data centre climate control for authorities
• Building automation: Measurement, control and regulation technology (MCR) for heating, ventilation and lighting in public buildings; smart-building solutions within digitalisation programmes
• Lifts and conveyor systems: Installation and maintenance of passenger lifts for barrier-free access in public buildings; renewal of lift systems in schools, town halls and libraries
• Sprinkler and fire-protection systems: Installation of automatic extinguishing systems in public buildings under fire-protection requirements

Thresholds and procedure types

Installation lots within larger construction projects are frequently tendered EU-wide where the total contract value exceeds the threshold for works contracts (EUR 5,538,000, as of 2024/2025). Standalone installation contracts (e.g. heating replacement in a school) are often in the national sphere. Common procedure types are the open procedure and the restricted tender following a prior call for participation.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 43.2

The link between NACE classification and tender search is provided by CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be stated in every TED notice.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 43.2 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Public authorities are among the largest customers for building installation services — driven by refurbishment obligations, energy efficiency requirements and the decarbonisation of the building stock. In Austria, the main contracting authorities are the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG), municipalities, school operators and hospital associations (KAV). In Germany, municipalities, the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), the Federal Institute for Real Estate (BImA) and public hospital operators and higher education construction offices are the central contracting authorities. The Federal Climate Action Programme and the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency have recently sharply increased the contract volume for heat pump, ventilation and photovoltaic installations in public buildings.

Companies and bidders

Companies under NACE 43.2 typically must provide the following suitability evidence for EU-wide tenders:

• Trade authorisation: Master craftsman's certificate or comparable trade licence in the relevant installation trade (electrician, gas-water installer, heating and ventilation contractor)
• Technical capacity: Reference lists of comparable projects by type, scope and contracting authority; details of qualified personnel deployed
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover in the relevant trade, liability insurance evidence
• Certifications: VDE certifications (electrical), DVGW certifications (gas/water), F-gas certificate (refrigeration under EU Regulation 517/2014), ISO 9001

For projects involving several installation trades (e.g. heating + plumbing + ventilation as a building services lot), joint bidders between specialist contractors are common practice. Capacity reliance allows smaller specialist contractors to supplement missing references through subcontractors.

NACE 43.2 in context: Section F and Division 43

NACE 43.2 is part of Division 43 (Specialised construction activities) within the construction Section F.

• NACE F – Construction: Parent section covering all construction activities
• NACE 43 – Specialised construction activities: Division covering demolition, installation and finishing
• NACE 43.1 – Demolition and site preparation: Demolition, earthworks, unexploded ordnance clearance
• NACE 43.3 – Building completion and finishing: Plastering, screed, flooring, painting, carpentry

Frequently asked questions on NACE 43.2 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 43.2?
Electrical installation companies, heating contractors, plumbers, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers, lift installers and building automation companies, provided that the relevant activity represents the company's economic focus. Classification is based on the predominant activity.

How do I find current tenders for building installations?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED by CPV search — e.g. 45310000 (electrical), 45330000 (plumbing), 45331000 (HVAC). National tenders below the thresholds can be found on state platforms, municipal procurement portals and in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the EU.

Is building installation tendered as a separate lot or together with other trades?
Both are common. Larger building services measures are often divided into trade lots by service (electrical, heating/ventilation/plumbing, lifts). Smaller refurbishment measures may be awarded as a combined lot. Lot division is generally required under § 97 (4) GWB or § 76 (2) BVergG 2018 to involve SMEs.

What is the significance of the energy transition for public contracts under NACE 43.2?
Public authorities in Germany and Austria have binding targets for reducing energy consumption in public buildings. This generates lasting high demand for heat pump installations, PV systems, energy-efficient ventilation technology and building automation. In addition, the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) progressively imposes minimum energy efficiency requirements on public buildings — supporting contract volumes for NACE 43.2 in the long term.

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