This translation is provided for information only. The Dutch version is legally binding.

General terms and conditions valid from 1 January 2026

Certilux Certification Group operates within Casa Sinove BV, company number 0809.948.515, with its registered office at Molenstraat 51 9340 Impe. Certilux® is a registered and protected trademark. All assignments of Certilux Certification Group are carried out in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions, regulatory provisions and technical regulations, and in accordance with the general terms and conditions below:

1. General

1.1 These terms and conditions apply to every offer, quote and agreement between Certilux Certification Group (hereinafter 'Certilux') and a client.
1.2 These terms and conditions also apply to agreements with the client for the performance of which Certilux needs to involve third parties.
1.3 If Certilux does not always require strict compliance with these terms and conditions, this does not mean that their provisions do not apply, or that Certilux would in any way lose the right to require strict compliance with the provisions of these terms and conditions in existing or other cases.
1.4 Any deviation from these general terms and conditions is only valid if expressly agreed in writing.

2. Quotes and offers

2.1 All quotes and offers from Certilux are without obligation, unless a period for acceptance is stated in the quote. If no acceptance period is stated, the quote or offer remains valid for 30 days from the date stated on the quote or offer.
2.2 As long as the quote or offer has not been accepted, Certilux reserves the right to revise or withdraw it.
2.3 If the acceptance deviates from the offer contained in the quote or offer, Certilux is not bound by it. The agreement is then not concluded in accordance with this deviating acceptance, unless Certilux indicates otherwise.
2.4 Unless expressly stated otherwise in the relevant offer or quote, all offers and quotes are based on the work being carried out during normal working hours (between 8 am and 4 pm) on working days (Monday to Friday).
2.5 A combined price quotation does not oblige Certilux to perform part of the assignment for a corresponding part of the quoted price.
2.6 Offers or quotes do not automatically apply to future orders.
2.7 Certilux cannot be held to its quotes or offers if they contain an evident mistake or clerical error.

3. Performance of the agreement

3.1 Certilux is entitled to use third parties in the performance of the agreement.
3.2 The client is obliged to give Certilux's inspector access to the buildings, sites and installations to be examined and to the spaces in which these installations are located.
3.3 The client shall make all necessary resources, documents and information available to the inspector, so that the examination can take place in the best working conditions and in full compliance with the laws and/or regulations relating to working conditions.
3.4. Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, the inspector may gain access to the buildings, sites and installations to be examined and to the spaces in which these installations are located, and carry out the examination without the presence of the client or the client's appointed or authorised representative.
3.5. If the inspector is asked by the client, or the client's appointed or authorised representative, to collect the key or find it at an agreed location, and is also asked to carry out the site visit without the presence of the client or the client's appointed or authorised representative, Certilux has the right to carry out the site visit at a time or on a date other than that originally agreed and/or communicated.
3.6 If the inspector is not given the opportunity to carry out the examination, the associated costs will be charged.
3.7 If the client cancels the accepted assignment in whole or in part, or unilaterally terminates the agreement in whole or in part, the client owes Certilux fixed compensation in accordance with the applicable rates.

4. Rates

4.1 The rates for the services to be provided by Certilux are exclusive of VAT or other government levies, unless stated otherwise, and are always payable by the client. Additional services and expenses attributable to the client for whatever reason are calculated on the terms in force at the time of performance and invoiced as such.
4.2 Any delay in the performance of the agreement caused by circumstances for which Certilux is not responsible and/or which Certilux could not reasonably have foreseen is at the client's expense.

5. Payment

5.1 Payment must be made within 10 days of the invoice date, in the manner indicated by Certilux and in the currency of the invoice, unless otherwise stated in writing.
5.2 Invoices are payable at Impe (Lede) no later than their due date. Non-payment by the due date gives rise to contractual interest of 17% per year on the sums due, without notice of default, from the invoice date until the day of full payment, where applicable after legal recovery. In addition, the principal amount will be increased, without prior notice of default, by 10% of the principal amounts, with a minimum of 125 euros and a maximum of 1,875 euros, by way of a contractual penalty clause, without any prior notice of default being required. All costs associated with debt collection, preparation of legal proceedings, bailiffs' fees, lawyers' fees and court costs are always borne in full by the client and are not included in the aforementioned penalty clauses.
5.3 Certilux reserves the right to apply a lower reminder fee for a first or second reminder, without prejudice to the provisions of article 5.2.
5.4 Certilux expressly and indisputably retains ownership of all goods and services delivered or partly delivered, in the event of non-payment or incomplete payment for these goods and services. This retention of title remains valid in the event of the bankruptcy or judicial composition of the co-contracting parties.
5.5 (Energy performance) certificates, electrical inspection reports (AREI), gas, water and sewer inspection reports, etc., valuation reports and valuations, property condition reports (inventories) and all similar documents only become legally valid and enforceable against third parties once they have been both delivered and paid in full. This also applies to goods and services carried out by third parties on behalf of Certilux.
5.6 A client, owner or third party is expressly prohibited from using the certificates, attestations, reports or documents referred to in point 5.5 for any publication or (legal) act whatsoever, as long as ownership has not been transferred. To obtain ownership, the documents must be delivered and paid in full.
5.7 As long as ownership of certificates, attestations, reports or documents has not been transferred, Certilux may revoke, amend or annul them. In the event of annulment, the documents are deemed never to have existed. The nullity of all (legal) acts and agreements arising from them may also be invoked by Certilux or by any interested party. Annulment does not release the client from settling their debts.
5.8 Any cancellation or change to a site visit appointment can be requested free of charge by the client by telephone at least 48 hours before the scheduled date. For any change or cancellation within 48 hours of the scheduled inspection time, or if no access is given to the installation to be inspected at the time of the inspection appointment, an administrative fee of 60 euros excl. VAT will be charged.
5.9 In the event of disputes, only the Justice of the Peace Court in Aalst, the Court of First Instance in Dendermonde or the Commercial Court of Ghent, Dendermonde division, has jurisdiction.

6. Term of the agreement

6.1 The agreement between Certilux and the client is concluded for an indefinite period, unless the nature of the agreement dictates otherwise or both parties expressly agree otherwise in writing.
6.2 If the agreement is concluded for an indefinite period, the client may terminate it by registered letter, subject to a notice period of at least six months.
6.3 If a deadline has been agreed or stated for the performance of certain work or the delivery of certain items, this is never a strict deadline. If a deadline is exceeded, the client must therefore give Certilux formal notice of default in writing. Certilux must be given a reasonable period in which to still perform the agreement. If this extended period is exceeded, the client may terminate the agreement insofar as no work has yet been carried out.
6.4 Certilux is entitled to suspend the performance of its obligations or to terminate the agreement if the client fails to fulfil its obligations under the agreement, or fails to do so in full or on time; if, after the agreement has been concluded, circumstances come to Certilux's attention that give good reason to fear that the client will not fulfil its obligations; if the client was asked, when concluding the agreement, to provide security for the fulfilment of its obligations under the agreement and this security is not provided or is insufficient; or if, as a result of delay on the part of the client, Certilux can no longer be expected to perform the agreement on the originally agreed terms. If Certilux proceeds to suspension or termination, Certilux is in no way liable to compensate any damage or costs arising from it in any way.
6.5 If the client cancels an order in whole or in part, the work carried out and the items ordered or prepared for it, plus any associated delivery, transport and handling costs and the working time reserved for the performance of the agreement, will be charged to the client in full.

7. Force majeure

7.1 Certilux is not obliged to fulfil any obligation towards the client if it is prevented from doing so as a result of a circumstance that is not due to its fault and for which it is not responsible by law, by a legal act or according to generally accepted practice.
7.2 In these general terms and conditions, force majeure means, in addition to what is understood by it in law and case law, all external causes, foreseen or unforeseen, over which Certilux has no control but which prevent Certilux from fulfilling its obligations. This includes strikes at Certilux or at third parties. Certilux is also entitled to invoke force majeure if the circumstance preventing (further) performance of the agreement occurs after Certilux should have fulfilled its commitment.
7.3 Insofar as Certilux, at the time the force majeure occurs, has already partly fulfilled or will be able to fulfil its obligations under the agreement, and the part fulfilled or to be fulfilled has independent value, Certilux is entitled to invoice the part already fulfilled or to be fulfilled separately. The client is obliged to pay this invoice as if it were a separate agreement.

8. Confidentiality

8.1 The parties are obliged to keep confidential any information, technical data and/or documentation, as well as all other data that can be designated as confidential, originating from the other party. Information about the file obtained from third parties is also treated as confidential. The client is moreover obliged to keep confidential all information relating to the performance of the agreement by Certilux, unless Certilux has given permission otherwise.
8.2 Documents made available by the client and needed to carry out the assignment may be copied and kept by Certilux. Certilux undertakes not to hand them over or disclose them to unauthorised third parties.
8.3 The confidentiality obligations cannot be invoked when statutory provisions or regulations require information to be sent or passed on to the government, BELAC or a judicial authority. Certilux decides whether the customer or their representative is informed of this, unless this is prohibited by law.
8.4 The confidentiality obligations lapse in the event of recovery of unpaid invoices and any legal actions that Certilux may take in this context.

9. Complaints and appeals

9.1 Complaints can be submitted to Certilux by telephone, by e-mail or by (registered) letter. Appeals can only be submitted by registered letter. Appeals are defined as all notifications that contest the decision underlying the certificate or attestation. Complaints are, by definition, all other notifications.
9.2 In the case of complaints and appeals concerning work by Certilux, the complainant must respond within three working days of discovering, or of when they could have discovered, irregularities in the performance of the work to which the complaint relates and/or the damage concerned. After this period, any right to compensation and/or correction of irregularities lapses.
9.3 Even if the complainant objects in time, this does not suspend their payment obligation. In that case, the client also remains obliged to accept and pay for the other items ordered and for whatever they instructed Certilux to do.
9.4 If it is established that an item is defective and a complaint about it was made in time, Certilux will, within a reasonable period after written notification of the defect by the complainant, replace the defective item, arrange for its repair or pay the complainant compensation in lieu.
9.5 If it is established that a complaint is unfounded, the costs incurred by Certilux as a result, including investigation costs, will be borne in full by the complainant. Since these files are handled by a senior consultant/expert, internal costs amount to at least €350/hour excl. VAT. External costs for legal assistance and external experts are also charged.
9.6 If it is established that a complaint is unfounded or largely unfounded and this complaint has led to an investigation by a supervisory, competent or other authority, the costs arising from this are also borne by the complainant. Since these files are handled by an advanced senior consultant/expert, internal costs amount to at least €450/hour excl. VAT. External costs for legal assistance and external experts are also charged.
9.7 The results and decisions regarding complaints or appeals submitted will not be based on discriminatory, subjective or biased actions.

10. Liability

10.1 By entering into any agreement, Certilux undertakes an obligation of means, and in no case an obligation of result.
10.2 Certilux is not liable for damage of any kind arising because Certilux relied on incorrect and/or incomplete data provided by or on behalf of the client.
10.3 Certilux is liable only for direct damage.
10.4 Direct damage means exclusively the reasonable costs of establishing the cause and extent of the damage, insofar as this relates to damage within the meaning of these terms and conditions; any reasonable costs incurred to make Certilux's defective performance conform to the agreement, insofar as these can be attributed to Certilux; and reasonable costs incurred to prevent or limit damage, insofar as the client demonstrates that these costs have led to a limitation of direct damage as referred to in these general terms and conditions. Certilux is never liable for indirect damage, including consequential damage, loss of profit, lost savings, asbestos removal costs and damage due to business interruption.

11. Intellectual property

11.1 Certilux reserves the rights and powers to which it is entitled under the Copyright Act and other intellectual property laws and regulations. Certilux is entitled to use the knowledge it has gained through the performance of an agreement for other purposes as well, insofar as no strictly confidential information of the client is disclosed to third parties.