KS in construction – what does quality assurance mean in practice?
Quality assurance (QA) in construction is crucial to ensure that the work meets the requirements of the Planning and Building Act, regulations, contracts and design basis – and that this can be documented.
Yet many businesses find that QA procedures exist on paper but do not work systematically in practice. The result can be deviations, extra work and inadequate documentation.
But what does KS actually mean in practice? And how does it relate to HSE, SHA, checklists, deviations and FDV?
In this article, you will get a structured review of what a QA system should contain – and how quality assurance works in construction projects.
What is KS (quality assurance) in construction?
KS stands for quality assurance and is part of the company's systematic work to ensure the right quality in all project phases.
In construction projects, this means that the business must:
Plan the work in line with requirements and specifications
Conduct checks along the way
Document that the work has been carried out correctly
Register and follow up on deviations
Ensure traceability in decisions and execution
KS is not a single activity, but a system of routines, checklists, controls and documentation that work together.
Is KS required by law?
Yes. Quality assurance is closely linked to the requirements of the Planning and Building Act, the Building Regulations and requirements for central approval.
Businesses must be able to document that they:
Has routines for quality assurance
Conducts checks in practice
Follows up on deviations
Ensures traceable documentation
In the event of supervision or a requirement for independent control, documented quality assurance determines whether the project can demonstrate that the requirements have been met.
Quality assurance is normally part of the company's corporate system, where routines, documentation and responsibilities are combined in one structure.
What should a QA system contain?
A QA system in construction should at least include:
1. Routines and procedures
Descriptions of how the business works with quality in different phases of the project.
2. Checklists and self-control
Systematic checkpoints that ensure that critical work is carried out and documented.
👉 Read more about how to use customized checklists in construction projects.
3. Non-conformance handling
Routines for registering, assessing and closing deviations – as well as analyzing recurring errors.
👉 Read more about non-conformance management in construction.
4. Document management
Structured storage of drawings, descriptions, declarations of conformity and decisions.
5. FDV documentation
Systematic collection of documentation to be passed on to operation and maintenance.
👉 Read more about what FDV documentation should contain.
A good QA system ensures that quality is not accidental – but an integrated part of the project's workflow.
The difference between KS, HMS and SHA
The terms are often used together, but they have different roles:
KS (quality assurance) is about ensuring that the work maintains the correct professional quality and meets requirements.
HSE is about health, environment and safety in the business over time.
SHA is project-specific safety, health and working environment according to the construction regulations.
KS ensures that the work is carried out correctly.
HSE ensures that work is carried out safely.
SHA ensures coordination of safety in the specific project.
👉 Read more about the difference between HSE plans and SHA plans in construction.
How are KS and deviations related?
Non-conformities are a natural part of quality work. A non-conformity occurs when work does not comply with requirements, drawings, descriptions or internal routines.
A structured QA system should:
Make it easy to register deviations
Assign responsibility for follow-up
Documenting measures
Analyzing patterns over time
When deviations are actively used, they become an improvement tool – not just a problem.
KS in practice – from project start to handover
Quality assurance should start before construction begins and follow the project through all phases:
Startup:
Establishment of routines
Clear distribution of roles and responsibilities
Structure for documentation
Implementation:
Use of checklists and self-monitoring
Continuous registration of deviations
Documentation of changes
Closure:
Consolidated and structured FDV
Traceable history
Documented quality upon delivery
When KS is built along the way, time-consuming follow-up work and inadequate documentation at the end of the project are avoided.
Example: When installing a wet room, a checklist for the membrane must be completed, documented with photos and checked before further work begins.
Digital quality assurance in construction
Quality assurance can be handled manually on some projects using paper, email and spreadsheets. However, many find that even smaller projects face challenges when documentation, deviations and controls are not collected in one place.
Structure and traceability are therefore not primarily about size – but about control.
Digital project management solutions make it easier to:
• Using standardized checklists
• Register deviations directly from the construction site
• Link documentation to the correct project
• Follow up on actions in real time
• Gather KS, HMS and SHA in one structure
When quality assurance, progress and documentation are combined into one common structure, the QA work becomes an integrated part of project management – not a skipper's job at the end of the project.
👉 Read more in our complete guide to project management in construction.
Common challenges with KS in construction projects
Some of the most common challenges are:
KS routines exist – but are not used consistently
Documentation is stored scattered across different systems
Deviations are recorded but not analyzed
Self-check is carried out too late
Responsibility for KS is unclear
The common denominator is often a lack of structure – not a lack of will.
In summary: What is good quality assurance?
Good quality control in construction means that:
• Requirements are clearly defined
• Checks are carried out systematically
• Deviations are followed up
• Documentation is traceable
• Information is forwarded to FDV
Quality assurance is not extra administration – it is the foundation for profitable and predictable construction projects.
When control, deviations and documentation are linked together in one comprehensive structure, KS becomes an active part of project management – not an afterthought.
