Certification
According to the European Union’s Directive 89/106/EWG [german] as of 1 August 2008, only smoke alarms that are certified according to EN 14604 requirements may be introduced or produced and sold within the EU business circle. Fourteen institutions are qualified in Europe for the testing, monitoring and certification and for issuing a CE certificate for smoke alarms. CE certificates from the following “notified bodies” are juristically considered absolutely equal. This equal status is defined in Germany through § 11 (6) BauPG (Construction Materials Law) and protected through § 1 GWB (Law against Restraint of Competition) [german].
A smoke alarm’s quality cannot be determined by the name of the testing institute.
The tests are specifically defined by EN 14604 and are thus absolutely identical at all qualified institutions.
Does a smoke alarm have to carry a VdS Label?
No. A smoke alarm can obtain a CE certificate through the VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH, as well as from one of the other notified testing locations. According to § 11 (6) BauPG, these CE certificates are absolutely identical as they are based on testing procedures standardized throughout Europe according to EN 14604. Which institutions are qualified to provide smoke alarms with CE certification? The current listing of notified institutions can be found here.
The following institutions are qualified to issue a CE certificate for smoke alarms (as of May 2009):
- AFNOR Certification (France)
- Association nationale pour la protection contre l'incendie et l'intrusion ASBL (ANPI) - Nationale vereniging voor beveiliging tegen brand en binnendringing VZW (NVBB) (Belgium)
- ASBL/VZW (BOSEC) Belgian organisation for security certification (Belgium)
- BRE AND LPC TESTING (England)
- BRE Global Limited. Incorporating the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), BRE Certification (BRE C) and BRE Global Listed (England)
- BSI Product Services (England)
- Centrum Naukowo-Badawcze Ochrony Przeciwpozarowej (Poland)
- DELTA Dansk Elektronik Lys og Akustik (Denmark)
- EVPU a.s. (Slovakia)
- Instytut Techniki Budowlanej (ITB) (Poland)
- KRIWAN Testzentrum GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
- SGS United Kingdom Limited (England)
- TELEFICATION B.V. (Holland)
- VDS Schadenverhütung GmbH (Germany)