The word certification comes from joining together two Latin words, ?certe? (meaning certain) and ?facere? (to make). Certification describes the normal practice with that your fulfilment and compliance with certain standards or requirements should be realised and verified.
As a rule, products, services, processes. persons and also systems can 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 following three certification bodies and acceptance marks have already been established.
Leading certification bodies for fire-protection application
VdS ? Schadenverh�tung GmbH
VdS, using its headquarters in Cologne, is today probably the most renowned institutions for corporate safety, with a concentrate on fire protection, security and natural hazard prevention. On the list of services that the company offers, as well as the certification of products, are also risk assessment, testing of equipment and a broad educational offering. Particularly in fire protection, the VdS seal of approval enjoys an excellent reputation and is necessary on all equipment used within fire protection within German-speaking countries. As the basis for being marked with the VdS press, there’s 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
LOSING Prevention Certification Board is really a area of the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Group. The BRE Group targets research, consultancy and testing in the building industry. Amongst their services are also certifications and acceptances, amongst others, in neuro-scientific fire protection and safety. Vaporize under the marking and logo of the LPCB are mostly important in the uk, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Just like the VdS, the LPCB uses EN and ISO standards and also their own guidelines as a basis for certification. Meanwhile, there is a cooperation between VdS and the LPCB with the aim of recognising the existing certifications and testing and thus to simplify and to increase the certification process.
UL ? Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories ? founded in 1894 ? is really a US-American product certifier. Unlike the VdS or the LPCB, their certifications not merely extend to the construction, fire protection and safety industries, but rather across a much wider spectrum. This spectrum covers, for instance, standards for refrigeration plants, lithium batteries, ice machines, cabling, ? . Especially within the American market, where VdS and LPCB aren’t represented, UL approval is particularly important. However, also in the centre East and the Asia region, UL certification for fire-protection applications plays a significant 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 rules of the certification body itself. In the case of pressure measuring instruments and pressure switches for use in fire protection, DIN EN 12094 ? 10, for example, which controls the testing and requirements for components, may be used as a basis. The tests contained in this should ensure that the requirements of the standards and guidelines are fulfilled. Thus, amongst others, functional testing, temperature testing and in addition even corrosion testing in an atmosphere of sulphur dioxide are completed.
A confident test report is imperative for gaining the certification. From then on, 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 provided with a validity duration of a few years. Even after the issuance of the certificate, during the complete validity duration, product monitoring measures, such as regular production audits and product inspections are required. Both acceptance procedures as well as the subsequent monitoring measures are very 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. Without any extinguishing system is supplied without certification. Accordingly, using 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
Spunky offers both approved pressure gauges and approved components for fire-protection applications. For instance, 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 has VdS and also LPCB approved pressure gauges and in addition pressure gauges with switch contacts in its product programme. In addition, the instruments may also be suitable for use in fire-extinguishing systems with UL marking. Should you have any further questions, your contact person will be at your disposal.