The word certification comes from joining together two Latin words, ?certe? (meaning certain) and ?facere? (to make). Certification describes the common practice with which the fulfilment and compliance with certain standards or requirements ought to be realised and verified.
Generally, products, services, processes. persons and also systems can be certified. Usually, the certifications and the conformity assessments they’re based upon are carried out by independent certification bodies. With the certification for fire-protection applications, the following 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 one of the renowned institutions for corporate safety, with a focus on fire protection, security and natural hazard prevention. On the list of services that the company offers, as well as the certification of products, may also be 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 required on all equipment used within fire protection within German-speaking countries. As the basis to be marked with the VdS seal of approval, there is an acceptance procedure in line with the applicable DIN, EN and ISO standards and also VdS?s own guidelines.
LPCB ? Loss Prevention Certification Board
The Loss Prevention Certification Board is a part of the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Group. The BRE Group targets research, consultancy and testing in the building industry. Among their services are also 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 Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Just like the VdS, the LPCB uses EN and ISO standards and 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 therefore to simplify also 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 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 specially 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 based on the national or international standards to be utilized and the guidelines of the certification body itself. In the case of 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, may be used as a basis. The tests contained within 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 within an atmosphere of sulphur dioxide are carried out.
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 couple of 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 needed. Both the acceptance procedures plus 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 offers pressure gauges and components that are already approved.
Note
WIKA offers both approved pressure gauges and approved components for fire-protection applications. For instance, the model 111.12.040 pressure gauge as well as the model PGS11.040 and model PGS21.050 pressure gauges with switch contacts are approved relative to 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 in addition pressure gauges with switch contacts in its product programme. Furthermore, Remarkable may also be suitable for used in fire-extinguishing systems with UL marking. In case you have any further questions, your contact person will be at your disposal.