Pre-mixed mortar product certification

Core Purpose of Certification

The core purpose of ready-mixed mortar product certification is to ensure that ready-mixed mortar products consistently and stably meet specific standards and requirements through independent third-party verification. Its specific objectives include:

Ensuring Engineering Quality and Construction Safety: Ensuring that key indicators of ready-mixed mortar such as bond strength, compressive and flexural strength, and durability genuinely meet standards, guaranteeing the quality of construction applications like tile adhesion, wall plastering, and floor leveling, and preventing quality hazards such as hollowing, cracking, and detachment.

Verifying Product Compliance with Regulations and Standards: Meeting national or regional mandatory standards and construction engineering specifications is a legal prerequisite for products to enter the market and be used in construction projects.

Meeting Green Building and Environmental Protection Requirements: As an important material for decoration, the environmental attributes of ready-mixed mortar, such as the release of hazardous substances and soluble heavy metal content, directly affect indoor air quality and occupant health. Certification is key evidence proving a product meets green and environmental requirements.

Promoting Technological Innovation and Quality Stability: Encouraging ready-mixed mortar manufacturers to research, develop, and stably produce new products like high-performance mortar and green mortar; through the certification process, prompting enterprises to establish and improve internal quality management systems to ensure consistency and traceability of product quality across different batches.

Addressing Scrutiny from Purchasers and Regulators: Owners of large-scale construction projects, general contractors, and government quality supervision stations often require third-party certification as a necessary condition for procurement or acceptance to mitigate their own risks.

Core Content of Certification

According to the CTS CRCB030-2025 technical specification and the general requirements for graded green building material product certification, ready-mixed mortar product certification focuses on product quality performance, green environmental performance, and production management level. It primarily examines the following five attribute dimensions:

Resource Attribute: Includes indicators such as the comprehensive utilization rate of solid waste during production and the degree of raw material localization. It encourages enterprises to utilize industrial solid waste like fly ash and desulfurized gypsum as admixtures to promote comprehensive resource utilization; simultaneously, it aims to reduce the environmental impact of transportation through localized procurement. The resource attribute also requires enterprises to establish wastewater recycling systems to achieve zero discharge or recycling of production wastewater.

Energy Attribute: Focuses on the energy consumption per unit of product. For dry-mix mortar products, the advanced value in the current Beijing local standard "Limit of Comprehensive Energy Consumption per Unit Product of Ready-Mixed Mortar" is selected as the benchmark. It's important to note that processes like sand drying and crushing/sand making are not within the boundary of ready-mixed mortar production; the calculation scope for energy consumption indicators should exclude these two processes. Wet-mix mortar products refer to the Grade 1 requirements of the "Limit of Energy Consumption per Unit Product of Ready-Mixed Concrete" standard.

Environmental Attribute: The environmental attributes of decorative mortar are the indicators of greatest concern to consumers, especially those related to human health and indoor environment like the release of hazardous substances, which are important characteristics of green mortar products. Indicators such as specific radioactivity, total lead, and soluble heavy metal content are introduced into the green indicators for decorative mortar products, representing a further tightening of limits on harmful substances in mortar products for home decoration. The standard specifies, for the first time, the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde release limits for mortar products. These two indicators are the most important green characteristic indicators for ready-mixed mortar used in indoor decoration, closely related to consumer health and safety. The testing method refers to "Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Release from Coatings", with sample preparation referring to paste-like putty products, and environmental chamber testing conducted over 72 hours.

Quality Attribute: The quality attribute is also a core indicator of concern for consumers when purchasing decorative mortar products. Beyond the product's inherent quality performance meeting usage requirements, consumers are more concerned about whether the product can deliver superior performance and contain more environmentally friendly components in terms of its functional use. The quality attribute sets two physical performance indicators: tensile bond strength and compressive/flexural strength, aligning with the current Three-Star indicator requirements for green building material products.

Low-Carbon Attribute: The carbon footprint of ready-mixed mortar products is not strongly correlated with the production process, which accounts for less than one percent of its life-cycle carbon emissions. The baseline value for the carbon footprint in the raw material production stage should be determined through carbon footprint analysis of products like cement and gypsum. As there is currently no carbon emission accounting standard for the mortar production process, and mortar production primarily consumes electricity (with the electricity emission factor currently adjusted according to the grid), the low-carbon attribute indicator is required by providing a product carbon footprint report.

Encouraging Requirements: Indicators newly added in the revision of the general rules for green product evaluation, including three encouraging indicators: encouraging enterprises to actively consider the environmental impact across the entire life cycle and conduct environmental declarations using scientific methods like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); encouraging enterprises to use clean energy such as green electricity to achieve energy structure adjustment and transformation; for packaging materials, encouraging enterprises to prioritize sustainable packaging bags made from renewable materials to reduce the environmental pollution risk of packaging materials. Green benchmark products should meet at least two encouraging requirements, while green products need to meet at least one.

Certification Levels and Evaluation System

Based on the CTS CRCB030-2025 technical specification and the graded certification system for green building materials, ready-mixed mortar product certification is divided into three levels from low to high according to the level of evaluation indicators achieved by the product:

One-Star: Meets basic green evaluation requirements and complies with national basic standards for green building materials. Enterprises must satisfy all control requirements, and each evaluation indicator must reach the One-Star benchmark value.

Two-Star: Demonstrates good performance in resource conservation, energy consumption, and environmental protection, reaching the industry's advanced level. The requirements for each evaluation indicator are stricter than for One-Star. Enterprises applying for Two-Star must comply with at least one item among the following: work safety standardization, energy management system, environmental product declaration and carbon footprint report, green production management, and cleaner production audit.

Three-Star: Exhibits excellent green performance, having the minimal ecological impact throughout its life cycle, representing the highest grade of green building material product. The Three-Star level has the most stringent requirements for each evaluation indicator. Enterprises applying for Three-Star must comply with at least two items among the following: work safety standardization, energy management system, environmental product declaration and carbon footprint report, green production management, and cleaner production audit.

In the evaluation method, the production enterprise of the product under application should first meet the requirements for enterprise production operation stipulated in the basic requirements. Secondly, the resource, energy, environmental, and quality attributes of the product under application should meet the required green product value or green benchmark value of the evaluation indicators.

Certification Conditions and Evaluation Indicators

Enterprises and products applying for ready-mixed mortar product certification must meet the following basic conditions:

Compliance Requirements for Production and Operation: The enterprise's production conditions and its products should meet national standard requirements, and there should have been no product quality liability incidents, major environmental pollution events, or production safety accidents within the past three years.

Pollutant Emission Control: The enterprise should ensure pollutant emission indicators meet the total pollutant emission and intensity requirements stipulated by relevant standards, environmental impact assessment approvals, etc. The collection, storage, and disposal of general solid waste should comply with the relevant provisions of GB 18599; hazardous waste storage must meet national standard requirements, and the disposal of hazardous waste must be entrusted to designated units.

Compliance of Production Equipment and Technology: Production enterprises should adopt technologies and equipment recommended by relevant national departments and should not use eliminated or prohibited technologies, processes, equipment, or related substances.

Compliance of Packaging Materials: For enterprises producing ready-mixed mortar for decoration, which typically requires paper or woven packaging bags, the production enterprise should procure packaging bags that meet standard requirements. Enterprises are encouraged to prioritize sustainable packaging bags made from renewable materials to reduce the environmental pollution risk of packaging materials.

Management System Requirements: Enterprises should establish and operate Quality Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems, and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems according to GB/T 19001, GB/T 24001, and GB/T 45001, respectively. An Energy Management System is an effective tool for production enterprises to ensure energy conservation and an effective pathway for green development.

Product Qualification Requirements: Products should meet the requirements of the standards they implement; this is the premise for enterprises pursuing the production of green products. Products must provide a valid type test report issued within one year.

The specific benchmark values of the evaluation indicators vary according to different levels. Under the resource attribute, an indicator for the comprehensive utilization rate of solid waste in the production process is set, along with provisions for the degree of raw material localization. The energy attribute is assessed through the unit product energy consumption indicator. Environmental attribute indicators include specific radioactivity, total lead, soluble heavy metals, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) release, formaldehyde release, etc. Quality attribute indicators include tensile bond strength, compressive and flexural strength, etc.

Certification Unit Classification

Ready-mixed mortar product certification classifies certification units according to product type and function, primarily covering various products of ready-mixed mortar for decoration:

Ordinary Mortar Category: Masonry mortar, plastering mortar, floor/screed mortar, ordinary waterproof mortar, interface/bonding mortar.

Special Mortar Category: Polymer-modified cement waterproof mortar, polymer-modified cement waterproof slurry, cement-based self-leveling mortar for floors, cement-based wear-resistant material for concrete floors, ceramic tile adhesive, ceramic tile grout, wall finishing/rendering mortar, repair mortar, special mortar for autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) walls, bonding mortar for external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), rendering/base coat mortar for ETICS, building thermal insulation mortar, machine-applied/sprayed mortar, cement-based grouting material, building leveling/finishing mortar.

Gypsum-Based Mortar Category: Gypsum plaster, gypsum-based self-leveling mortar, joint/crack filler gypsum, machine-applied/sprayed gypsum plaster, bonding gypsum.

Classified by main raw material composition, they can be divided into cement-based and gypsum-based categories, covering application scenarios for floors, walls, or ceilings in all functional zones of home decoration such as living rooms, kitchens/bathrooms, basements, and balconies.

Certification Process

Ready-mixed mortar product certification implements a model of initial inspection plus product sampling inspection plus post-certification surveillance:

Certification Application: Submit application documents including the application form (specifying the applied green building material grade), business license, product process flow chart, factory organizational chart, key raw material filing list, valid product type test report within one year, management system-related document directory, etc. The certification body reviews the completeness, suitability, and validity of the application materials.

Document Technical Review: The certification body reviews the completeness, suitability, and validity of the application documents. Review conclusions are categorized as: meets requirements and can proceed to on-site inspection; basically meets requirements but needs supplementation/completion; does not meet requirements and cannot proceed to on-site inspection.

Product Sampling Inspection: Sampling and inspection are completed by a laboratory with CMA (China Metrology Accreditation)资质 determined by the certification body. Test items include specific radioactivity, total lead, soluble heavy metal content, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) release, formaldehyde release, tensile bond strength, compressive and flexural strength, etc. TVOC and formaldehyde release are tested in an environmental chamber over 72 hours. Qualified test reports issued by a CMA-accredited laboratory within the past 12 months may be accepted.

Initial Factory Inspection: Conducts on-site audit of the production enterprise, including factory assurance capability check, product consistency check, and verification of compliance with green evaluation requirements. The on-site inspection focuses on the operation of the enterprise's energy management system, production energy consumption control measures, operation status of the wastewater recycling system, pollutant emission control measures, solid waste disposal situation, etc.

Correction and Re-evaluation: For non-conformities identified during the audit, the enterprise completes corrections within the specified timeframe and submits evidence, which is then re-evaluated by the audit team.

Certification Decision and Certification Granting: After the document technical review, on-site inspection, and product sampling inspection are all passed, the certification body conducts a comprehensive evaluation, approves the certification decision, and issues the certificate. The certification certificate is valid for five years.

Post-Certification Surveillance: Surveillance is arranged after the enterprise obtains certification, with each surveillance interval not exceeding one year. Surveillance content includes factory assurance capability supervision inspection, product consistency supervision inspection, verification of continuous compliance with green evaluation requirements, and product supervision inspection. For non-conformities found during surveillance audits, the enterprise needs to complete corrections within the specified timeframe.

Re-certification Audit: A re-certification audit is conducted before the certificate expires to renew the certification qualification, typically with a cycle of five years.

Certification Value

Ensuring Engineering Quality and Construction Safety: Ensures key indicators of ready-mixed mortar such as bond strength and compressive strength genuinely meet standards, guaranteeing construction quality in applications like tile adhesion and wall plastering, and preventing quality hazards like hollowing and cracking.

Meeting Green Building Development Needs: With the implementation of the "Assessment Standard for Green Building" GB/T 50378 and the advancement of green building initiatives, the required application proportion of green building materials in new urban construction is continuously increasing. As ready-mixed mortar is a product category prioritized for registration as a green building material, certified products gain easier access to the green building market.

Safeguarding Consumer Health and Safety: Through strict control of hazardous substance release, ensures that ready-mixed mortar products do not pollute indoor air quality during use, reducing potential health risks from substances like TVOC and formaldehyde. The environmental attributes of decorative mortar are the indicators of greatest concern to consumers, especially those closely related to consumer health and indoor environment, which are important characteristics of green mortar products.

Enhancing Product Market Competitiveness: Green building material product certification is a nationally promoted voluntary product certification. Certified products can obtain priority procurement and application in projects such as government procurement, key projects, and municipal public utility projects. The green building material procurement support policy jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology explicitly requires government procurement projects to prioritize the procurement of green building materials.

Enjoying Policy Support and Financial Subsidies: Many provinces and cities provide financial rewards or fiscal support to enterprises passing green building material product certification. For example, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other places subsidize certification costs by 200,000 to 500,000 RMB. Certified enterprises can also enjoy preferential tax policies like corporate income tax reduction. The government procurement support policy for green building materials has been implemented in 101 cities (municipal districts), including Beijing's Chaoyang District.

Strengthening Competitiveness in Bidding: The green building material certification certificate can serve as a scoring factor in engineering bidding and procurement, helping to enhance an enterprise's differentiated bidding capability and establish its technology and quality brand. Obtaining the green building material label is a necessary condition and a scoring factor for enterprises to participate in major project and government-invested project bidding, as well as to enter the qualified supplier list of large clients.

Addressing Dual Carbon Strategy Requirements: In the context of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, green building material product certification requires enterprises to conduct carbon footprint accounting and environmental product declarations, helping them address carbon emission control requirements and plan for low-carbon development in advance. Through the establishment of an energy management system, enterprises can identify key factors for energy improvement and continuously reduce carbon emissions.

Establishing Corporate Social Responsibility Image: Certification can prove an enterprise's commitment and actions in resource conservation and environmental protection, enhancing customer trust, elevating brand reputation, and meeting consumers' demand for upgraded consumption of green building materials.

Standardizing Production and Improving Quality: The certification process forces enterprises to establish standardized quality control systems covering raw material procurement, production processes, finished product inspection, etc., ensuring lasting stability of product quality. Enterprises can leverage certification to improve internal management levels and employee quality awareness.

Applicable Product Scope

Ready-mixed mortar product certification is applicable to various types of ready-mixed mortar products for decoration. Classified by main raw material composition, they can be divided into cement-based and gypsum-based categories, covering application scenarios for floors, walls, or ceilings in all functional zones of home decoration such as living rooms, kitchens/bathrooms, basements, and balconies. Specific product types include:

Ordinary Mortar Category: Masonry mortar, plastering mortar, floor/screed mortar, ordinary waterproof mortar, interface/bonding mortar.

Special Mortar Category: Polymer-modified cement waterproof mortar, polymer-modified cement waterproof slurry, cement-based self-leveling mortar for floors, cement-based wear-resistant material for concrete floors, ceramic tile adhesive, ceramic tile grout, wall finishing/rendering mortar, repair mortar, special mortar for autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) walls, bonding mortar for external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), rendering/base coat mortar for ETICS, building thermal insulation mortar, machine-applied/sprayed mortar, cement-based grouting material, building leveling/finishing mortar.

Gypsum-Based Mortar Category: Gypsum plaster, gypsum-based self-leveling mortar, joint/crack filler gypsum, machine-applied/sprayed gypsum plaster, bonding gypsum.