The word certification is derived 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 should be realised and verified.
Generally, products, services, processes. persons and in addition systems can be certified. Usually, the certifications and the conformity assessments they are based upon are completed by independent certification bodies. With Spell-binding 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, using its headquarters in Cologne, is today one of the renowned institutions for corporate safety, with a concentrate on fire protection, security and natural hazard prevention. Among the services that the company offers, as well as the certification of products, are also risk assessment, testing of equipment and an easy educational offering. Particularly in fire protection, the VdS press enjoys an excellent reputation and is necessary on all equipment used within fire protection within German-speaking countries. Because the basis to be marked with the VdS press, there is an acceptance procedure in line with the applicable DIN, EN and ISO standards as well as VdS?s own guidelines.
LPCB ? Loss Prevention Certification Board
LOSING Prevention Certification Board is really a section of the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Group. The BRE Group focuses on research, consultancy and testing in the building industry. Among At Ease are also certifications and acceptances, amongst others, in neuro-scientific fire protection and safety. These certifications 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 their own guidelines as a basis for certification. Meanwhile, there exists a cooperation between VdS and the LPCB with the aim of recognising the prevailing certifications and testing and thus to simplify and to speed up 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 merely extend to the construction, fire protection and safety industries, but rather 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 significant role.
The acceptance procedure
Typically, the acceptance procedure is triggered with the relevant certification body by the 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 in line with the national or international standards to be utilized 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 instance, which controls the testing and requirements for components, can be used as a basis. The tests contained within this should ensure that the 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 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 product or service may carry the acceptance marking. Usually, the certificate will be given 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 acceptance procedures as well as the subsequent monitoring measures have become costly, however, the holder of the marking also offers 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 use 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 and also 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 has 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 use in fire-extinguishing systems with UL marking. Should you have any further questions, your contact person will undoubtedly be at your disposal.