The construction and demolition industries have always operated in highly regulated environments, balancing safety, compliance, and innovation. In Italy, one certification is making headlines for how it reshapes not only compliance in demolition projects but also digital transformation within construction: SOA OS23. This certification is becoming increasingly important in public tenders, particularly for projects involving complex demolition work.
While many certifications exist within Italy’s structured framework for public works, SOA OS23 is unique because it bridges traditional demolition practices with sustainability requirements and modern digital architecture. Understanding what SOA OS23 entails, who needs it, and how it fits into Italy’s regulatory framework can help businesses prepare for the future of construction and demolition. This detailed exploration will explain the origins and importance of SOA OS23, its role in public tenders, the opportunities and challenges it presents, and why digital transformation makes it so much more than a regulatory requirement.
What is SOA OS23?
SOA OS23 refers to the qualification for demolition of works (demolizione di opere). It is part of the SOA certification system in Italy, governed by Annex A of the Italian Presidential Decree 207/2010. The certification validates that a company has the technical, organizational, and financial capability to execute demolition works in public contracts.
Essentially, OS23 is a stamp of competence. Companies holding this certification can demonstrate not only that they are skilled in handling demolition projects, but also that they are capable of operating under the strict safety, environmental, and regulatory conditions that public projects demand.
Why SOA OS23 Matters in Public Tenders
In Italy, public contracts often require companies to hold specific SOA certifications before they can participate in tenders. While some certifications are mandatory for certain types of work, OS23 is often optional but increasingly valued by contracting authorities.
Possession of SOA OS23 shows that a company can safely and professionally carry out demolitions, whether that involves dismantling large industrial plants, controlled demolition of civil buildings, or specialized methods like diamond sawing or explosive techniques. Public authorities are increasingly requesting this certification because it ensures credibility, sustainability, and professionalism.
A simple look at SOA certification categories shows where OS23 stands:
| SOA Certification Categories | Coverage | Mandatory for Public Works |
| OG1 | Civil and Industrial Buildings | Yes |
| OG3 | Road and Bridge Construction | Yes |
| OS23 | Demolition of Works | No (Optional but Valuable) |
| OS21 | Special Structural Works | Yes |
While OS23 is not legally mandatory for every public tender, companies without it risk being overlooked. Many government contracts now prefer and sometimes demand bidders with OS23 to minimize risks and ensure that demolition is handled by certified professionals.
Who Needs SOA OS23?
SOA OS23 applies to a wide range of companies, particularly those whose activities involve demolition at scale. This includes:
- Firms specializing in demolition of industrial plants and civil structures, often using explosives or high-pressure systems.
- Contractors handling controlled demolition, which involves precision cutting techniques like diamond drilling, abrasive cutting, or robotic demolition.
- Companies focused on sustainable demolition practices, where materials are carefully separated, sorted, and recycled to align with circular economy goals.
In short, OS23 certification provides a significant competitive advantage in public tenders. It reassures contracting authorities that the company is prepared to meet technical challenges, safety requirements, and environmental responsibilities.
The Broader Role of SOA Certifications in Italy
Italy’s public works sector operates within one of the most comprehensive certification frameworks in Europe. SOA certifications are designed to guarantee that companies are financially stable, technically competent, and qualified to perform specific tasks.
The framework is split into OG categories (general construction sectors such as roads or buildings) and OS categories (specialized works like structural reinforcements or demolitions). Each certification ensures that companies bring specialized expertise to the table. SOA OS23, in particular, acts as a bridge between traditional demolition and the digitally driven, sustainability-focused future of construction.
Features of SOA OS23 That Set It Apart
Unlike older certification systems, SOA OS23 integrates modern approaches that reflect how construction and demolition are evolving. Key features include:
- Unified Service Registry: This keeps a centralized record of service endpoints, versions, dependencies, and security protocols, ensuring transparency and reducing manual errors.
- Intelligent API Gateway: For businesses using digital tools in demolition planning, this manages communication between systems, offering robust authentication and better security.
- Workflow Orchestration: Enables the creation of automated workflows across demolition projects, ensuring efficiency even in complex, multi-service environments.
- Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics: Dashboards provide live data on project performance, from equipment efficiency to error rates, supporting quick intervention when issues arise.
- Policy-Driven Security: Centralized control of security protocols ensures that sensitive data, such as architectural blueprints or tender documents, are protected.
- Developer-Friendly Tools: Templates, SDKs, and contract-first approaches make it easier for firms to integrate digital tools into their demolition planning.
- Scalable Architecture: With cloud-native principles, SOA OS23 allows firms to scale operations up or down depending on project demand.
How SOA OS23 Differs from Legacy Systems
Compared to earlier SOA frameworks, OS23 brings significant improvements. For example:
- Legacy models relied on monolithic deployment; OS23 supports containerized, serverless approaches for flexibility.
- Service discovery was once manual; OS23 introduces dynamic, automated discovery.
- Security, previously ad hoc, is now centralized and policy-driven.
- Monitoring has advanced from basic logging to real-time analytics.
- Scalability has shifted from manual to elastic, orchestrator-integrated scaling.
Benefits for Developers, Businesses, and the Public Sector
Adopting SOA OS23 brings wide-ranging benefits:
- Agility and Productivity: Developers can focus on creating solutions for demolition management without worrying about infrastructure complexities.
- Scalability: Services scale automatically depending on workload, saving resources and reducing costs.
- Resilience: Built-in safeguards such as circuit breakers and health checks increase system reliability.
- Simplified Integration: Legacy systems can be modernized gradually through adapters, avoiding costly overhauls.
- Faster Time-to-Market: Automated workflows and continuous delivery pipelines speed up implementation.
- Enhanced Governance: Centralized policies ensure compliance with regulations and sustainability requirements.
Use Cases of SOA OS23 in Modern Construction
SOA OS23 can be applied across diverse scenarios:
- Enterprise Modernization: Updating legacy construction systems to modular, service-oriented frameworks.
- Digital Platforms: Creating secure APIs that link contractors, clients, and government bodies.
- Cloud-Native Microservices: Managing demolition and construction workflows across hybrid cloud environments.
- Business Process Automation: Automating multi-step demolition projects to reduce manual errors.
- IoT Systems: Connecting real-time sensors on demolition sites with centralized monitoring systems.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its advantages, SOA OS23 is not without challenges:
- Complexity: Implementation requires significant planning, especially for large organizations.
- Performance Overhead: Coordinating multiple services can introduce latency if not optimized.
- Governance Overhead: Strong management is necessary to avoid service sprawl.
- Upfront Investment: Training, tooling, and infrastructure investments are required.
- Testing Challenges: Distributed systems are harder to test compared to centralized setups.
- Vendor Lock-in Risks: Companies should adopt open standards to avoid dependency on single vendors.
- Cultural Change: Shifting from traditional approaches to service-oriented, cloud-based models requires organizational adaptation.
Community Response and Industry Adoption
Early adopters of SOA OS23 highlight several positives:
- Developer Experience: Onboarding new services is easier thanks to SDKs and standardized templates.
- Operational Insights: Real-time dashboards transform incident response.
- Legacy Integration: Businesses can modernize without discarding existing systems.
Getting Started with SOA OS23
For businesses interested in adopting OS23, the journey involves several key steps:
- Assess Current Architecture – Identify which services can be migrated or improved under OS23.
- Create an Adoption Strategy – Prioritize business-critical workflows to secure early wins.
- Establish Governance – Define standards for naming, versioning, and security.
- Invest in Automation – CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code tools are essential.
- Train Teams – Upskill staff on microservices design, containerization, and digital security.
- Leverage Community Resources – Tutorials, official documentation, and forums provide practical guidance.
Conclusion
SOA OS23 is more than just a demolition certification. It represents a strategic alignment of regulation, sustainability, and digital transformation within the Italian construction sector. By requiring companies to demonstrate both technical capability and modern digital readiness, it ensures that public works projects are safe, efficient, and future-proof.
For businesses, adopting SOA OS23 means gaining a competitive edge in tenders, building resilience through modern digital practices, and positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable construction. As the industry heads toward 2025 and beyond, SOA OS23 will not only shape how demolitions are performed but also redefine how the construction sector embraces innovation in a rapidly changing world.