Between austerity and strict standards

Between austerity and strict standards

“Between austerity and strict standards”. This is the title of a high-profile event organized by Building Installation on the subject of drinking water on November 6, 2025. The name of the event was not chosen entirely by chance: The “Talk am See” takes place in a very special location - the Austrian headquarters of the system manufacturer Viega with a spectacular view of Lake Attersee.

Discussion by the water about water

Ensuring hygienic drinking water is one of the key challenges in building technology - especially when renovating old buildings. Rising costs, strict standards and tight budgets are increasingly pushing installers and planners to their economic limits. The “Talk am See” is therefore dedicated to burning questions surrounding the topic: Are current drinking water hygiene standards still financially realistic in practice? Which innovations enable hygiene safety at a reasonable cost? Are adjustments to standards necessary in order to renovate realistically and safely?

Four renowned experts will take part in the discussion, which will be moderated by Building Installation editor-in-chief Martin Hehemann: Jörg Wiesbauer, head of training at Viega Austria, is a recognized expert in drinking water hygiene. It provides installers and planners with practical knowledge about safe drinking water installations. His focus is on the hygienic requirements that modern building technology must meet - from correct planning to professional execution and maintenance in accordance with standards. Wiesbauer has also been imparting his knowledge as a WiFi speaker at the gas/water master course since 2008 and has been working on the ÖN B2531 and ÖN B1921 standards committee since 2020.

In-depth specialist knowledge

Thomas Luksch can also contribute in-depth practical expertise. The deputy state guild master of plumbing, heating and ventilation technicians in Upper Austria is a generally sworn and court-certified expert. With his engineering office LuTho, he accompanies projects from planning to damage analysis. As a drinking water hygiene technician, he knows the risks that can arise from improper installation or outdated systems and shows practical solutions. In addition to his work as an expert, Luksch is also active in adult education, where he passes on his knowledge to installers, planners and aspiring masters.

Helmut Richter is considered a proven expert in the field of drinking water and material testing. He works at the Higher Technical Federal Teaching and Research Institute (TGM) in Vienna. There he has been dealing with questions of drinking water hygiene, material quality and the effects of European guidelines on practice for many years. He is the chairman of the responsible committee K140 “Water Quality” at Austrian Standards and worked as the Austrian representative in the creation of the implemented and delegated legal acts for the implementation of the EU Drinking Water Directive.

Four experts

The round is completed by Arno Sorger. Sorger is managing director, technical manager and quality management representative at W.H.U. GmbH in Bischofshofen. He specializes in microbiological and chemical analyzes and regularly examines water samples to determine whether they are hygienic. Sorger contributes his expertise in questions of accreditation, quality assurance and standard development and supports utilities, municipalities and building operators in complying with hygiene standards. For him, the health of consumers is his focus. Sorger is also the chairman of AG 140.50 (creation of ÖNORM B 1921).

The event starts at 4:30 p.m. Those interested are warmly invited to take part in the discussion. A live stream is also offered.

You can register for the talk at the lake here.

The talk at the lake: 

• Talk am See: „Zwischen Sparzwang und strengen Normen“
• Wann: 6. November 2025, Eintreffen ab 16 Uhr, Beginn um 16.30 Uhr.
• Wo: Viega, Palmsdorf 102, 4864 Attersee am Attersee oder per Livestream