Granting of European technical approvals (ETA) for construction products and systems (kits) by virtue of the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) of 21 December 1988 transposed in Germany by the Bauproduktengesetz ('Construction Products Law') on 10 August 1992.
If harmonized European standards do not exist the European technical approval is another means for proving the "fitness" of a construction product for its intended use and as a basis for the CE marking according to the Construction Products Directive. Based on the German Bauproduktengesetz ('Construction Products Law') Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik is the German body nominated for the granting of European technical approvals (ETA). European technical approvals are valid in all Member States of the European Union as well as in other States of the European Economic Area (EEA). The institute cooperates with the approval bodies from the other Member States of the European Union (EU) in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA). Within the scope of EOTA the institute also works on approval guidelines and evaluation criteria for approvals without guidelines according to article 9.2. of the Construction Products Directive.

Granting of allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassungen ('national technical approvals') for construction products and types of construction on the basis of the building laws of the Laender of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassungen ('national technical approvals') are granted as a verification of "applicability" of construction products if they do not yet bear the CE marking according to the Construction Products Directive and which are not regulated by German standards or regulations either (non-regulated products and types of construction). Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassungen ('national technical approvals') granted by Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik are valid in all the Laender of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Preparation of technical decisions such as the list of Technische Baubestimmungen ('Technical construction regulations') for the Laender and the drafting and publication of the Bauregellisten ('Construction products lists') A and B as well as List C in accordance with the Bauordnungen ('building laws') of the Laender. The list of the technical construction regulations contains technical rules for the planning, design and execution of construction works.

Recognition of testing laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies according to the Bauproduktengesetz ('Construction Products Law') (European relevance) or according to the Landesbauordnungen ('Building regulations of the Land') (national relevance).
The recognition of the bodies is prepared centrally by the institute for all the Federal Laender, whereas the recognition itself may be granted either by the Laender or the institute, depending on the Land law concerned.

Participation in the drafting of technical rules (standards in particular) at national, European, and international level.
Staff members of the institute participate on many committees of Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) ('German Organization for Standardization').

To suggest, place, report on, and attend to technical studies including building research contracts as well as to evaluate building research reports.

To deliver expert reports on technical matters for the parties to the agreement (Federal Government and Laender).

To carry out type tests.

Market surveillance of harmonized construction products.