Most Common Misconceptions between a Test Report & Product Certification
Are you confused about the differences between a Test Report & Certification, Type Test & Product Approval, actual Product Certification vs just a Certificate? Take a look at our simple guide below which explains the differences.
Cable manufacturers usually select third-party independent laboratories for testing of their produced cables to prove their performance. After completion of any required tests, third-party labs will typically issue a test report or type test report, which relates to that individual test undertaken on a specific sample. However, this process skips a crucial part of quality assurance i.e. the cable manufacturing process, which is covered in factory audits, rigorous checks on manufacturing processes, random sample selections for independent testing, and market surveillance. If a factory audit is undertaken in addition to cable testing, it is thorough check for cable quality and reliability, known as Product Certification, usually carried out by third party-certification body and testing laboratory.
So, what is the end result that a manufacturer receives? Is it a test report, type test report, certificate, or product certificate? This can be classified into two categories as detailed below:
Category 1:
Terms used: 'Test Report / Type Test Report / Test Certificate / Performance Report / Type Test Certificate / sometimes simply 'Certificate' or 'Compliance Certificate'
- Involves cable testing performed at a third-party laboratory
- It's done only once with no repetition, either on one or two cable sizes/samples
- A report of various tests conducted is issued or in some cases just a one-page test certificate with brief of details.
- There are no factory audits or continuous quality control
- No expiry or validity, it is just a snapshot in time called a One-off Test or simply Type Test.
Category 2:
Terms used: 'Certified Cables / Product Certification / Product Approved Cables / Certificate of Product Approval'
- Initial factory audits for quality assessment of manufacturing processes
- A particular product range is covered and initial full type testing of multiple cables samples
- Yearly Surveillance Audits (3 times per year) for continuous quality monitoring
- Yearly Routine Testing from random samples selected during audits by auditors from manufactured lengths.
- Has validity of 3 years and recertification after 3 years.
- Numerous samples are tested and almost all cables sizes from a declared product range are covered in 3 years.
- Market surveillance cable samples and their quality checks.
In summary, to be assured the cables you are procuring for projects maintain compliance, reliability and quality always check details for actual Product Certification and look for the BASEC approval mark over Type Testing for peace of mind.
