CERTALARM: one-stop European testing moving from concept to reality

CERTALARM will be at the core of supporting new legislative initiatives

The availability of a pan-European one-stop testing and certification scheme for the fire and security industries has taken a significant step forward with the announcement that CERTALARM has been successfully registered as a business.

CERTALARM was registered in Brussels as a not-for-profit Association (Association international sans but lucratif, AISBL) to operate a pan-European certification scheme overseen by an open and independent all-stakeholder body.

It will offer a unique European quality mark based on 3rd party one-stop test and certification, preferably to EN54 fire standards and EN5013X security standards.  This has long been a goal of manufacturers of fire protection and security systems who have been faced with bureaucratic, costly and time consuming procedures, often involving multiple testing for products and services to be accepted in EU member states.

Following its registration as a business, CERTALARM is currently recruiting the professional team who will run it, with the business expected to commence operations in October, 2008.  CERTALARM has successfully applied for membership into the European co-operation for Accreditation as a sector scheme.

The timing of CERTALARM is particularly apt given that this vision of one-stop certification is very much at the heart of the new Construction Product Regulations, and with cross-border service trading being the aim of the Services Directive, the inclusion of a Services Certification Scheme is a significant element.  CERTALARM will be at the core of supporting such new legislative initiatives by providing a simple and practical process to ensure that products and services are certificated correctly to comply with legislation across Europe.  

The timing of CERTALARM is particularly apt given that this vision of one-stop certification is very much at the heart of the new Construction Product Regulations, and with cross-border service trading being the aim of the Services Directive, the inclusion of a Services Certification Scheme is a significant element. CERTALARM will be at the core of supporting such new legislative initiatives by providing a simple and practical process to ensure that products and services are certificated correctly to comply with legislation across Europe.

Clear, consistent and meaningful quality marking is central to the future success of products manufactured within Europe for the European market and beyond

Recognising that many products have already gone through various testing and certification processes, manufacturers who have existing products certified by other bodies in Europe will be able to adopt a simple verification process that will allow the CERTALARM mark to be applied to such products.  This will enable the rapid introduction of the mark, with the goal of it quickly being adopted and recognised as the mark of quality for fire and security throughout Europe.

The CE mark was never intended to operate as a quality mark and with no other European certification body or its mark being recognised in a pan-European context, CERTALARM intends to fulfil this vitally important role.  Clear, consistent and meaningful quality marking is central to the future success of products manufactured within Europe for the European market and beyond.  American manufacturing marks are currently more widely recognised by customers outside of Europe, a situation which CERTALARM will challenge with a mark that will reinforce the reputation of European manufactured products as being at the forefront of technological development in fire and security.