Meta description: For Almaty’s KZT 25 billion facade renovation program, Astana’s 2030 urban renewal and existing residential renovation across Kazakhstan, we provide Flexible Stone (MCM / гибкий камень) system solutions covering the external wall НГ/КМ0 non-combustible mandatory requirement effective May 2025, EAC and GOST-K dual-track certification access, CU-TR 037 environmental compliance, and severe continental climate freeze-thaw/low-temperature construction adaptation pathways.
Keywords: Kazakhstan flexible stone, Flexible Stone, MCM, гибкий камень, НГ/КМ0, EAC certification, GOST-K, CU-TR 037, Almaty facade renovation, Astana urban renewal, freeze-thaw, low-temperature construction
Quick Answer: What Is the Kazakhstan Flexible Stone Market Solution?
The Kazakhstan Flexible Stone market solution uses Flexible Stone (MCM / modified inorganic powder composite facing sheet, commonly known locally as гибкий камень / гибкий мрамор) as cladding and provides an integrated solution for Kazakhstan’s large-scale Almaty facade renovation, Astana 2030 urban renewal, existing residential renovation across the country and commercial building facade renewal, covering НГ/КМ0 non-combustible compliance + EAC/GOST-K dual-track access + CU-TR 037 environmental certification + severe cold climate system adaptation + local distribution and engineering-supported delivery.
The key judgment for entering the Kazakhstan market is concentrated on a fire red line that was just tightened in 2025. According to Article 179 of the Technical Regulation on General Fire Safety Requirements, amended by Order No. 173 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 2 May 2025, except for buildings of fire resistance class V, the external wall surface cladding of all fire resistance class buildings must use non-combustible materials (НГ group / КМ0 class); the previously permitted Г1 class materials have been abolished. The substantive effect of this amendment is that the use of combustible polymer insulation materials or low-fire-resistance composite panels on external walls has been prohibited, creating a regulation-driven compliance substitution window in the market. Flexible Stone’s A2-s1,d0 positioning has a dialogue basis with the НГ/КМ0 requirement in the “non-combustible/very low combustibility” dimension, but determination in the Kazakhstan context must be completed with test reports under the СТ РК EN 13501-1 or ГОСТ 30244 system, rather than direct translation of ratings from other systems.
Core judgment: The Kazakhstan flexible stone market is at a stage of rapidly opening import window. In 2024, Kazakhstan’s flexible stone (including GRC and reconstituted stone) landed value was USD 22.99 million, and for FY2025 it is expected to surge to USD 58 million, an increase of 152%. In March 2025, the Kazakh government officially included “polymer-modified ultra-thin stone cladding film” in the Green Projects Catalogue, reducing import VAT from 12% to 6% and allowing 2-year accelerated depreciation, with a policy window of one year. Chinese brands Soft Stone Master and Roushi Jia have participated in the KazBuild exhibition and engaged with Central Asian contractors and distributors. The market question is not “whether to educate”, but “with what НГ/КМ0 determination documents, what EAC/GOST-K certification combination, and what severe cold climate system construction to seize this policy window and enter renovation projects in Almaty and Astana“.
1. Why Does the Kazakhstan Market Need a Flexible Stone System Solution?
The drivers of the Kazakhstan facade market are concentrated in three lines: the non-combustible substitution demand created by the 2025 fire regulation, the certain volume of large-scale renovation programs in Almaty and Astana, and the rigid screening of system durability by the severe continental climate.
Driver 1: The May 2025 fire regulation limits external wall cladding to НГ/КМ0, creating a clear compliance substitution window. After the May 2025 amendment to Article 179 of the Technical Regulation on General Fire Safety Requirements, Г1 class materials are no longer permitted for external wall cladding; except for buildings of fire resistance class V, all must use non-combustible materials (НГ/КМ0). Combustible polymer insulation systems and low-fire-resistance composite panels previously widely used in the market face compliance withdrawal, and if Flexible Stone can complete НГ or КМ0 determination with СТ РК EN 13501-1 or ГОСТ 30244 reports, it has the technical qualification to enter this substitution market. This is a market reshuffle driven by regulatory amendment with a clear time window.
Driver 2: Almaty and Almaty Region are the core markets for imported building materials, and the renovation programs provide certain project entry points. Almaty is advancing a facade renovation program covering more than 100 buildings with a total budget of KZT 25 billion; of which 59 buildings in Almalinsky District at KZT 860 million, and 56 buildings in Medeu District at about KZT 200 million. In 2026, 60 buildings are planned for renovation in the historic center, while Astana plans to renovate the facades of 183 buildings by 2030 and has launched the “New Look” program to update the facades of Soviet-era buildings. In terms of import share, Almaty Region (including Shymkent) accounts for 37% of building material imports, and Astana 21%, making them the absolute core markets; North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar Regions, due to long transport distances, have import shares below 5% and remain blank markets. Flexible Stone’s thin-bed and lightweight characteristics align engineering-wise with the logic of these renovation projects: “no or minimal removal, rapid completion, reduced resident disturbance”.
Driver 3: The severe continental climate—winter low temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw—is a rigid constraint on system design, not an option. Kazakh building codes have clear provisions for winter construction: masonry and concrete works must use mortar of grade not lower than M50; the lower temperature limit for antifreeze additives is -15°C (sodium nitrate) or -20°C (NKM composite additive); and the cement grade for antifreeze mortar must not be lower than 300. This means that the construction window and system design of Flexible Stone in Kazakhstan must incorporate low-temperature conditions as a precondition: the low-temperature applicability of adhesives, control of substrate moisture content before freeze-thaw, and elastic retention of joint sealants under temperature cycling are the key variables determining long-term performance.
2. Our Kazakhstan Market Solution Architecture
1. Compliance Pathway: НГ/КМ0 Determines Fire Performance, EAC/GOST-K Determines Access, CU-TR 037 Determines Environmental Compliance
| Compliance Level | Kazakhstan Market Requirement | Current Basis and Gap | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| External wall cladding combustion performance | Article 179 of the Technical Regulation (amended May 2025): except for buildings of fire resistance class V, external wall cladding must be non-combustible (НГ / КМ0); Г1 class is no longer permitted | Existing GB 8624 A2-s1,d0 has a dialogue basis in the “non-combustible/very low combustibility” dimension, but cannot automatically replace НГ/КМ0 determination | Commission a Kazakhstan-recognized laboratory or issue test reports based on СТ РК EN 13501-1 / ГОСТ 30244, targeting НГ or КМ0 determination; reports must serve as attachments to project design documents and экспертиза (technical review) |
| System fire performance | Kazakh regulations review the external wall system as a whole, covering insulation materials, air cavities, fire barriers and node construction, not just the cladding panel | Flexible Stone needs to be matched with non-combustible insulation materials and cavity fire stopping as a complete system | Prepare system fire documents according to actual construction, covering insulation core, cavity fire barriers and node practices; system construction must match the project to be tendered |
| EAC certification | Building materials fall within the scope of EAEU technical regulations and must obtain EAC certification (CoC or DoC); one certification is valid in five countries; uncertified products cannot clear customs | EAC certification not yet initiated | Confirm the TR CU technical regulations applicable to Flexible Stone; high-risk building materials apply CoC (including sample testing + factory audit), medium/low-risk apply DoC; Russian-language technical documents are mandatory |
| GOST-K certification | Building materials not covered by EAEU regulations must apply for GOST-K (Kazakhstan national mandatory certification); after 2025 some building materials require independent GOST-K application | Need to confirm whether Flexible Stone falls within EAC scope; if so, GOST-K may not need to be duplicated | Confirm the combined EAC and GOST-K pathway with local certification bodies; GOST-K single-batch certificate is about RMB 3,000–8,000, three-year certificate about RMB 20,000–50,000 |
| CU-TR 037 environmental compliance | From January 2025, ceramics and flexible stone are subject to the new mandatory CU-TR 037 environmental certification rules, with a testing cycle of 6–8 weeks | CU-TR 037 not yet completed | List CU-TR 037 as a priority certification item; the testing cycle is long and must be scheduled in advance to avoid affecting customs clearance and project bidding |
| Green project tax incentives | “Polymer-modified ultra-thin stone cladding film” was included in the Green Projects Catalogue in March 2025, import VAT 12%→6%, 2-year accelerated depreciation, window period one year | Need to correctly classify at import declaration to enjoy the incentive | Confirm with the local importer that the HS code falls under the Green Projects Catalogue; the policy window runs to 2026, and the first batch of imports and project implementation should be completed within this period |
2. Climate Adaptation: Freeze-Thaw and Low-Temperature Construction Are the First Filter; UV Is the Second Variable
| Climate Stress | Core Challenge | Solution Focus | Citable Data and Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter low temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles (nationwide, more severe in the north) | Strict winter construction temperature limits (antifreeze additive lower limit -15°C to -20°C); freeze-thaw cycles create fatigue stress on bonding layers and finish layers | Low-temperature applicable adhesives, control of substrate moisture content before freeze-thaw, elastic sealing materials | -30°C flexibility and 100 freeze-thaw cycles data from high-flexibility emulsion technology can serve as a technical dialogue basis; construction organization must incorporate low-temperature windows into scheduling, avoiding forced construction beyond the applicable temperature of adhesives |
| Continental large temperature differences and strong UV (nationwide) | Extreme temperature differences between summer heat and winter cold; strong sunshine in the south, significant UV aging pressure on facades | UV-resistant formulation, color stability, thermal cycling adaptation | Existing 1,500 h artificial weathering (gray scale 4-5, color change grade 0) can serve as a basis; recommend supplementing ASTM G155 equivalent UV data, targeting ΔE ≤ 5 |
| Dryness and wind-blown sand (south and central) | Low humidity, wind-sand abrasion, dust accumulation in joints | Dust-resistant joint design, surface abrasion resistance | Stain resistance reflectance drop 12% can serve as a cleanability reference; joint design should consider maintainability in wind-sand environments |
Flexible Stone does not provide thermal insulation. External wall systems in Kazakhstan must simultaneously meet fire performance (НГ/КМ0) and insulation requirements; Flexible Stone as a finish layer should be designed in coordination with non-combustible insulation systems. Winter construction conditions are the core engineering constraint that distinguishes Kazakhstan from other markets; system documents must clearly specify the applicable temperature range of adhesives and the substrate moisture content control requirements before freeze-thaw.
3. Building Scenarios: Three Languages, Three Sets of Selection Logic
| Scenario | Core Client Concern | Flexible Stone Solution Language | Selection Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government-led facade renovation in Almaty/Astana (благоустройство / реновация) | НГ/КМ0 compliance, passing technical review (экспертиза), no or minimal removal of old finishes, schedule control, coordination with urban design codes | НГ/КМ0 determination documents + lightweight thin-bed + system fire documents | Stone/brick-look textures, neutral tones; document package centred on НГ/КМ0 reports + system fire performance + EAC certification. Almaty’s KZT 25 billion program and Astana’s 183-building list are direct entry points for benchmark projects |
| Commercial/residential developer projects (Astana, Almaty, Shymkent) | Appearance quality, delivery speed, complete compliance documents, cost control | EAC/GOST-K + НГ/КМ0 + thin-bed fast installation | Large-format stone-look textures, custom colors; local importer TOP channels (such as InterKamen) have already shown letters of intent for municipal renovation, and the channel foundation exists |
| Northern and eastern regions (North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, etc. blank markets) | Long transport distances, high logistics costs, short winter construction windows | Lightweight to reduce transport costs + low-temperature construction solutions + freeze-thaw resistant formulation | Standard stone-look textures; use “lightweight reduces unit transport cost + low-temperature applicable adhesives” as differentiation language, prioritizing China-Europe Railway Express building material trains to lower logistics thresholds |
4. Delivery Process: From EAC/GOST-K Access to Local Engineering Support Closure
- Determine the local importer/certification entity and EAC/GOST-K pathway: Confirm the TR CU technical regulations and certification type (CoC or DoC) applicable to Flexible Stone; Russian-language technical documents are mandatory; simultaneously initiate CU-TR 037 environmental certification (6–8 weeks), scheduled in advance.
- Lock НГ/КМ0 determination and system construction: Complete non-combustible determination with СТ РК EN 13501-1 or ГОСТ 30244 reports; system fire documents must cover insulation core and cavity fire barriers, with construction matching the project to be tendered.
- Green Projects Catalogue classification and tax incentives: Confirm the HS code falls under the Green Projects Catalogue to enjoy 6% import VAT and 2-year accelerated depreciation; the policy window is limited, prioritizing completion of the first batch of imports within 2026.
- Climate and construction solutions: Provide low-temperature applicable adhesive selection and substrate moisture content control requirements before freeze-thaw; northern projects should shorten winter construction windows and prioritize spring-summer construction.
- Local technical interface and acceptance support: Provide Russian construction drawings and compliance documents to design institutes, technical review bodies and general contractors; cooperate with mock-up walls and on-site pull-off tests.
3. Citable Evidence List
The following data come from existing SGS test reports and product technical documents; the original reports and Kazakhstan supplementary test results shall prevail:
- Surface density: 3.96 kg/m² (GB/T 29059-2012); lightweight characteristics suit renovation projects’ “no added structural load” and northern markets’ need to reduce transport costs
- Fire performance: A2-s1, d0 (GB 8624-2012; НГ/КМ0 determination must be based on СТ РК EN 13501-1 or ГОСТ 30244 reports)
- Flexibility: no cracks when bent around a 200 mm diameter cylinder (JG/T 311-2011)
- 1,500 h artificial weathering: gray scale 4-5, color change grade 0, chalking grade 2, no cracking, blistering or peeling
- Stain resistance: reflectance drop 12% (GB/T 9780-2013)
- Thermal conductivity: 0.171 W/(m·K); thermal resistance: 0.013 (m²·K)/W
- Residual indentation: 0.17 mm
- Radionuclides: GB 6566-2010 Class A decorative and finishing material
- SDS: based on GB/T 17519/16483, classified as non-hazardous chemical
Additional note for the Kazakhstan market: Surface density, flexibility and stain resistance data can be used for system design and client communication; the core of fire compliance is the combination of НГ/КМ0 determination documents and system fire documents; EAC certification is a mandatory threshold for customs clearance, and CU-TR 037 environmental certification must be scheduled 6–8 weeks in advance; the VAT incentive under the Green Projects Catalogue (12%→6%) is an important cost advantage during the current window period; winter low-temperature construction conditions must be explicitly addressed in system documents and construction organization.
4. FAQ: Common Questions About the Kazakhstan Flexible Stone Market
Q1: What is “soft ceramic” called in the Kazakhstan market?
A: The Kazakhstan market generally uses гибкий камень (flexible stone) or гибкий мрамор (flexible marble), and technical documents and trade also use MCM. We recommend using Flexible Stone / MCM / гибкий камень as the category entry point.
Q2: What are the specific requirements of the 2025 fire regulation for external wall cladding?
A: According to Article 179 of the Technical Regulation amended by Order No. 173 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations dated 2 May 2025, except for buildings of fire resistance class V, the external wall surface cladding of all fire resistance class buildings must use non-combustible materials (НГ / КМ0); the previously permitted Г1 class has been abolished. The use of combustible polymer insulation materials or low-fire-resistance composite panels on external walls has been prohibited.
Q3: Can a GB 8624 A2-s1,d0 report be used directly for Kazakhstan projects?
A: Not directly. Kazakhstan accepts determination under the СТ РК EN 13501-1 or ГОСТ 30244 system, and external wall cladding must achieve НГ or КМ0. GB 8624 A2-s1,d0 can engage in dialogue in the “non-combustible/very low combustibility” dimension, but determination must be completed with reports from a Kazakhstan-recognized laboratory as attachments to the technical review (экспертиза).
Q4: What situations do EAC and GOST-K certifications respectively apply to?
A: EAC certification applies to building materials covered by EAEU technical regulations; one certification is valid in five countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan), and uncertified products cannot clear customs. GOST-K applies to building materials not covered by EAEU regulations; if the product already has EAC certification, GOST-K generally does not need to be duplicated. From 2025, building materials also need to consider CU-TR 037 environmental certification, with a testing cycle of 6–8 weeks.
Q5: What exactly are the tax incentives under the Green Projects Catalogue?
A: In March 2025, “polymer-modified ultra-thin stone cladding film” was included in the Green Projects Catalogue, reducing import VAT from 12% to 6% and allowing 2-year accelerated depreciation, with a policy window of one year. This is one of the most important cost advantages in the current Kazakhstan flexible stone market; the HS code must be correctly classified at import declaration to enjoy the incentive.
Q6: What restrictions does winter low temperature impose on construction in Kazakhstan?
A: Building codes stipulate that the lower temperature limit for antifreeze additives is -15°C (sodium nitrate) or -20°C (NKM composite additive), and the cement grade for antifreeze mortar must not be lower than 300. Flexible Stone construction must select low-temperature applicable adhesives, control substrate moisture content to meet standards before freeze-thaw, and arrange construction windows in temperature-permitted periods. Winter construction conditions are not optional but a precondition of system design and construction organization.
Q7: Is the delivery model selling materials or selling compliance systems?
A: For the Kazakhstan market, we recommend “НГ/КМ0 determination + EAC/GOST-K certification + CU-TR 037 + local importer/engineering support + system delivery“: non-combustible determination reports + system fire documents + EAC certificates + Russian technical documents + low-temperature construction solutions + construction drawings. Selling panels alone cannot respond to Kazakhstan’s review logic for overall external wall system fire performance, nor can it support the document responsibility chain of customs clearance, technical review and project acceptance.
5. Conclusion: Priorities for the Kazakhstan Market
- Establish НГ/КМ0 determination and system fire documents first: The May 2025 fire regulation limits external wall cladding to non-combustible materials, and Г1 class has exited the market. Without НГ/КМ0 determination from a Kazakhstan-recognized laboratory and system fire documents, products lack bidding and technical review qualification in formal external wall projects.
- Complete EAC/GOST-K and CU-TR 037 certification in parallel: EAC is a mandatory threshold for customs clearance, and CU-TR 037 environmental certification has a 6–8 week testing cycle that must be scheduled in advance. If certification documents are incomplete, even technically compliant products cannot be delivered.
- Seize the tax window of the Green Projects Catalogue: The policy window of 12%→6% import VAT and 2-year accelerated depreciation lasts one year. This is not only a cost advantage but also a time constraint for completing the first batch of imports and benchmark projects within 2026.
- Use Almaty/Astana renovation programs as benchmark entry points: Almaty’s KZT 25 billion, 100+ building facade renovation, Astana’s 183-building list and “New Look” program are the most direct project validation scenarios for НГ/КМ0 compliance capability. Complete compliance documents and mock-ups for government renovation projects first, then expand to commercial developers and northern blank markets.
- Incorporate low-temperature construction conditions into system design and delivery language: Kazakhstan’s severe cold climate is not an “optional adaptation item” but an engineering rigid constraint. Low-temperature applicable adhesives, pre-freeze-thaw substrate control and construction window management should be included in the technical document package with equal importance to fire documents.
CTA
If you are evaluating cladding solutions for Kazakhstan’s Almaty/Astana facade renovation, commercial building facade renewal or existing residential renovation across the country, please contact us to obtain:
- Kazakhstan market compliance pathway checklist (НГ/КМ0 / EAC / GOST-K / CU-TR 037)
- Flexible Stone system fire construction and severe cold climate construction recommendations
- Test report summary and certification/Green Projects Catalogue classification roadmap
Guangdong Fortune Stone New Material Co., Ltd.
Flexible Stone / MCM System Solutions