NACE 43.3 – Building Completion and Finishing | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 43.3 covers other building finishing activities, in particular plastering, floor laying and coating, tiling, painting, glazing as well as joinery and timber fit-out. This group is a central component of public building construction and is represented in almost every refurbishment or new-build award.

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

What does NACE 43.3 cover?

NACE 43.3 (Building completion and finishing) classifies companies providing interior fit-out and finishing services in new construction and in refurbishments and renovations — a specialist area regularly in demand in public tenders.

Group 43.3 is part of Section F (Construction) and Division 43 (Specialised construction activities). It is divided into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 43.3 are federal authorities, federal states, municipalities, housing companies, schools, hospitals, universities and municipal property administrations.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 43.3

Finishing trades under NACE 43.3 are typically tendered in public procurement as trade lots within larger building construction projects — from school refurbishment through hospital renovation to administrative building conversions.

Typical contract types

• Plastering and stucco works: Interior and exterior plastering in refurbishments of schools, kindergartens and administrative buildings, ETICS façade refurbishment of public buildings
• Floor-covering works: Laying of linoleum, vinyl, natural stone or ceramic tiles in government buildings, corridors, sanitary areas and barrier-free entrances
• Tiling works: Sanitary facilities in schools, sports halls, swimming pools and hospital wet rooms
• Painting works: Interior painting following refurbishments, façade painting, graffiti removal and protective coatings on public buildings
• Glazing and window works: Window replacement as part of energy refurbishments (under the German Buildings Energy Act), glass partitions in administrative buildings
• Carpentry and timber fit-out: Roof structures, fitted furniture in public facilities, staircase and railing construction in timber

Thresholds and procedure types

In public procurement, finishing works are usually tendered as trade lots of an overall construction project. If the total contract value exceeds the EU threshold for works contracts (EUR 5,538,000, as of 2024/2025), all trade lots must be published EU-wide on TED. Individual trade lots below the threshold may be tendered nationally, provided there is no deliberate splitting. Common procedure types are the open procedure and the restricted tender with public call for participation.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 43.3

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) are the key search and classification instrument for public tenders on TED and national procurement platforms.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the federal procurement portal (OZGG in Austria) or DTVP in Germany.

Who is NACE 43.3 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Public building owners and property administrations are the central contracting authorities in finishing trades. They include:

• Federal and state bodies: Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) in Austria, Federal Institute for Real Estate (BImA) in Germany
• Municipalities and cities: Municipal building offices, school and sports office administrations, housing companies
• Healthcare and educational institutions: Hospital operators, universities, school operators as public contracting authorities within the meaning of § 99 GWB or § 3 BVergG

Companies and bidders

Specialist companies active under NACE 43.3 typically must demonstrate the following in the suitability assessment:

• Trade authorisation: Trade licence in the relevant craft (plasterer, floor layer, painter, glazier, carpenter)
• Technical capacity: Reference evidence of comparable projects, qualification of qualified personnel deployed
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover, liability insurance evidence with sufficient cover
• Certifications: ISO 9001, RAL quality marks or craft-specific specialist company certificates (e.g. mould remediation, fire-protection coating)

Finishing trade lots are often sized for SMEs and are suitable for smaller craft businesses.

NACE 43.3 in context: Section F and Division 43

NACE 43.3 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: Parent division
• NACE 43.1 – Demolition and site preparation: Demolition, earthworks, unexploded ordnance clearance
• NACE 43.2 – Electrical, plumbing and other installation activities: Electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning
• NACE 43.9 – Other specialised construction activities: Scaffolding, roofing, sealing

Frequently asked questions on NACE 43.3 and public tenders

Which trades fall under NACE 43.3?
Plasterers, floor layers, tilers, painters and lacquerers, glaziers and carpenters and interior fitters are the typical trades of this group. Classification is based on the economic focus of the company.

Are finishing trades tendered jointly or separately?
Public contracting authorities are generally obliged to divide into lots under § 97 (4) GWB and § 76 (2) BVergG 2018. Individual specialist trades (painting, floor covering, tiling) are therefore often awarded as separate trade lots, making it easier for craft businesses to participate.

How do I find tenders for painting or tiling work?
Search on TED or national procurement platforms by the relevant CPV codes (e.g. 45440000 for painting, 45431000 for tiling). Many platforms also allow free-text searches by trade or project name.

As a craft business, do I need a special certification?
For most finishing trades, trade authorisation and reference evidence are sufficient. For specialised services such as fire-protection coatings, mould remediation or conservation works on listed buildings, specific evidence or certifications may be required.

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