CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ and BREAKWATER SOLUTION™: a technical complementarity
The BREAKWATER SOLUTION™ concept, developed by CLAS, brings together all the elements required to deliver a high-performance and durable maritime breakwater based on single-layer interlocking concrete armor units, used for the protection of port and coastal structures.
It notably includes:
optimized placement drawings for breakwater armor layers,
technical guidelines for implementation,
quality control procedures during the construction phase,
technical documentation and traceability of operations,
safety training and placement method training.
This technical framework is adaptable to any type of highly interlocking single-layer armor unit, regardless of its origin, designer, or distribution model.
The CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ label is its natural extension: it validates the technical compliance of the implementation, based on a documentary and operational audit conducted in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020.
Together, BREAKWATER SOLUTION™ and CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ form a coherent system:
one defines a technical framework of good practices, the other certifies their effective application on site.
Applications to maritime breakwaters and wave-exposed structures
The BREAKWATER SOLUTION™ concept, developed by CLAS, brings together all the elements required to deliver a high-performance and durable maritime breakwater, based on highly interlocking single-layer concrete armor units used for the protection of port and coastal structures:
optimized placement drawings for breakwater armor layers,
technical implementation guidelines,
quality control procedures during the construction phase,
technical documentation and traceability of operations,
safety training and placement method training.
This global concept provides project owners and maritime construction companies with a comprehensive technical framework, adaptable to any type of highly interlocking single-layer armor unit, regardless of its origin or distribution model.
The CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ label is its natural extension: it officially validates the technical compliance of the implementation through a documentary and operational audit conducted in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020.
Together, BREAKWATER SOLUTION™ and CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ form a coherent system:
one structures the rules of good practice for the construction of breakwater armor layers, the other certifies their effective application on site.
This approach contributes to the delivery of safer, more durable maritime structures with fully controlled technical performance.
Drone inspection of the interlocking of ACCROPODE™ II units on the Kuantan breakwater, carried out as part of the CLASS A BREAKWATER certification issued by CLAS for this structure.
(ACCROPODE™ II is a registered trademark belonging to the ARTELIA Group, which is in no way affiliated with CLAS).
Compatibility with highly interlocking concrete armor units
The CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ label applies to all maritime protection structures requiring rigorous control of quality and structural compliance.
Its fields of application include:
port breakwaters and their single-layer armor units,
breakwaters intended for beach protection,
coastal protection structures for tourist and urban areas,
groynes and berthing jetties,
as well as combined structures integrating fishing, snorkeling, or biodiversity areas.
Each project benefits from an adapted methodology, based on CLAS feedback from more than one million blocks placed, inspected, or certified worldwide.
The application of the label ensures the technical consistency of the entire process—from design to final acceptance—and contributes to extending the service life of structures exposed to wave action.
The CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ system is compatible with all types of highly interlocking concrete armor units:
whether derived from historical patents that have entered the public domain, such as CORELOC or Xbloc®, or from royalty-free solutions resulting from them, such as BS1, BS2, and BS3 developed within the framework of BREAKWATER SOLUTION™.
**Compliance with ISO/IEC 17020**
Inspection and certification activities carried out under the CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ label strictly comply with the principles of ISO/IEC 17020, which defines the requirements for the competence, impartiality, and independence of inspection bodies.
This standard ensures that each certificate issued by CLAS is based on:
documented procedures,
verifiable technical measurements,
total independence from block designers and manufacturers,
full traceability of on-site operations.
Thanks to this methodological rigor, the CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ label constitutes a mark of reliability recognized internationally, both by project owners and maritime construction companies.
Inspection par drone de l’imbrication des blocs BS2 de la digue d’Argeles sur Mer dans le cadre de la certification CLASS A BREAKWATER délivrée par CLAS sur cet ouvrage.
Why choose CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ certification?
The CLAS TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANT™ certification is intended for project owners, maritime construction companies, and engineering firms seeking to guarantee execution quality and technical compliance of their structures.
It certifies that the key stages of the project—design, implementation, control, and acceptance—have been carried out in accordance with an independent, structured, and traceable inspection methodology.
Key benefits:
guaranteed independence and impartiality,
compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020,
full traceability of construction operations,
recognition of the expertise of placement teams,
issuance of the Class A Breakwater certificate attesting to the observed level of quality.
