The word certification comes from joining together two Latin words, ?certe? (meaning certain) and ?facere? (to create). Certification describes the common practice with which the fulfilment and compliance with certain standards or requirements ought to be realised and verified.
As a rule, products, services, processes. persons and also systems could be certified. Usually, the certifications and the conformity assessments they’re based upon are completed by independent certification bodies. With the certification for fire-protection applications, the next three certification bodies and acceptance marks have been established.
Leading certification bodies for fire-protection application
VdS ? Schadenverh�tung GmbH
VdS, with its headquarters in Cologne, is today probably the most renowned institutions for corporate safety, with a focus on fire protection, security and natural hazard prevention. Among the services that the business offers, as well as the certification of products, may also be risk assessment, testing of equipment and an easy educational offering. Particularly in fire protection, the VdS press enjoys a fantastic reputation and is necessary on all equipment used within fire protection within German-speaking countries. As the basis for being marked with the VdS seal of approval, there is an acceptance procedure in line with the applicable DIN, EN and ISO standards in addition to VdS?s own guidelines.
LPCB ? Loss Prevention Certification Board
The Loss Prevention Certification Board is a the main BRE (Building Research Establishment) Group. The BRE Group targets research, consultancy and testing in the building industry. Amongst their services may also be certifications and acceptances, amongst others, in the field of fire protection and safety. These certifications beneath the marking and logo of the LPCB are mostly important in Great Britain, the center East and the Asia-Pacific region. Just like the VdS, the LPCB uses EN and ISO standards along with their very own guidelines as a basis for certification. Meanwhile, there is a cooperation between VdS and the LPCB with the aim of recognising the prevailing certifications and testing and thus to simplify and to increase the certification process.
UL ? Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories ? founded in 1894 ? is a US-American product certifier. Unlike the VdS or the LPCB, their certifications not only extend to the construction, fire protection and safety industries, but instead across a much wider spectrum. This spectrum covers, for example, standards for refrigeration plants, lithium batteries, ice machines, cabling, ? . Especially within the American market, where VdS and LPCB are not represented, UL approval is particularly important. However, also in the centre East and the Asia region, UL certification for fire-protection applications plays a major role.
The acceptance procedure
Typically, the acceptance procedure is triggered with the relevant certification body by the product manufacturer or the provider of the services. First, the applicant must submit the corresponding product or project documentation for testing by the certification body. The notified body then develops a test plan using the national or international standards to be used and the guidelines of the certification body itself. Regarding pressure measuring instruments and pressure switches for used in fire protection, DIN EN 12094 ? 10, for example, which controls the testing and requirements for components, can be used as a basis. The tests contained in this should ensure that certain requirements of the standards and guidelines are fulfilled. Thus, amongst others, functional testing, temperature testing and also even corrosion testing in an atmosphere of sulphur dioxide are completed.
A positive test report is imperative for gaining the certification. After that, confirmation of conformity follows with the issuance of the certificate. With the issuing of the certificate, the merchandise or service may carry the acceptance marking. Usually, the certificate will be given a validity duration of a few years. Even with the issuance of the certificate, through the complete validity duration, product monitoring measures, such as regular production audits and product inspections are needed. Both acceptance procedures and also the subsequent monitoring measures have become costly, however, the holder of the marking also has extensive marketing opportunities and competitive Advantages.
Conclusion
Certification for fire-protection applications is dominated by the three largest acceptance marks of VdS, LPCB and UL. Virtually no extinguishing system is supplied without certification. Accordingly, the utilization of certified components also simplifies the building and approval processes of the OEMs. Therefore, WIKA also offers pressure gauges and components which are already approved.
Note
WIKA offers both approved pressure gauges and approved components for fire-protection applications. For example, the model 111.12.040 pressure gauge plus the model PGS11.040 and model PGS21.050 pressure gauges with switch contacts are approved in accordance with VdS and in addition LPCB as instruments for used in fire-extinguishing systems. Thus, WIKA may be the only manufacturer worldwide which includes VdS and in addition LPCB approved pressure gauges and also pressure gauges with switch contacts in its product programme. Furthermore, the instruments may also be suitable for used in fire-extinguishing systems with UL marking. In Incapable have any further questions, your contact person will be at your disposal.