QandA on electrical equipment certification

Since the announcement that Electrical Equipment CertificationService (EECS) will close by July 2003, there has been muchspeculation about the continuing validity of EECS certificatesafter 2003, liability for those certificates and the continuinguse of the BASEEFA/MECS name and mark.

The questions reproducedbelow are representative of those asked of Sira Test andCertification recently.

Q: What is the process for transferringproduct certificates to another notified body? You should writeto EECS requesting that technical files be transferred to thenotified body of your choice.

The following information should beincluded: The serial numbers of the certificates to betransferred.

The name of the notified body to which you requirethe product certificates to be transferred.

The names of anycompanies for which Trade Agent registration has been issued byEECS, and which you wish to retain.

Where applicable, the name ofthe body that will be responsible for your ATEX Quality AssuranceNotification.

EECS will transfer the technical files directly tothe chosen notified body.

EECS will not pass them to you.Liability for the work contained in the original file remainswith EECS and the Health and Safety Executive.

Liability for anyvariations or new work is that of the new body undertaking thework.

Raw evaluation data (eg laboratory notebooks, raw test dataetc) will not be provided by EECS to manufacturers or notifiedbodies.

Q: Can the new notified body issue a variation to anexisting EECS EC type-examination certificate after 30 June 2003?Yes, once the certificate has been transferred from the newnotified body.

Q: My product has the following marking:BAS01ATEX1234.

Can I sell my product legally in Europe after 30June 2003? Yes, provided that the conformity assessmentprocedures relating to the production phase are adequatelycovered.

EECS does not intend to withdraw EC type-examinationcertificates after 30 June 2003.

Q: My EECS Quality AssuranceNotification covering production of the above product expires inJune 2004.

Is it still valid after EECS closes? No.

Q: How do Itransfer my Quality Assurance Notification to another body? Youshould request transfer at the same time as you ask for thetechnical files to be transferred.

You should ask EECS to sendaudit reports and other documentation to your chosen notifiedbody.

Q: My product marking includes the following:BAS01ATEX1234, 0600.

Will I have to have new labels made up after30 June 2003? The four-digit number after the CE marking mustcorrespond to the notified body involved in the production phase.For example, if the manufacturer obtains a Quality AssuranceNotification from Sira, the number must be changed to 0518.BAS01ATEX1234 may be retained.

If certificates are transferred toSira, the name or mark 'Sira' must appear on theproduct marking.

The situation regarding the Tudor Crown will notbe addressed by HSE until autumn 2002.

Q: If I need to change myproduct marking, how will I be compensated for the costs I incur?There will be no compensatory payments made by HSE.

Q: If I donothing now (ie, I don't transfer my EECS certificates toanother notified body) and I require a variation to mycertificate after 30 June 2003, who do I contact? Contact HSE -files will be retained by HSE for a period of years, yet to bedetermined.

Q: Can I transfer my certificate No BAS Ex98D1234 toa body appointed under directive 94/9/EC but not appointed underdirective 76/117/EEC? Yes, providing that a UK notified body isused for the transfer.

Q: I have a UKAS accredited'Certificate of Assurance' to IEC 79 issued by EECS.

Idisplay the UKAS mark on the certified product.

Can I continue tomark the product with the UKAS logo and sell the product (outsideEurope) after 30 June 2003? Only if the product certificate is'transferred' to another UKAS accredited certificationbody.

Q: I have paid in advance for my EECS licence/notification.Will I get a refund if I transfer to another notified body now?Yes.

There will be a refund of the balance owing at the time oftransfer.

Q: I have a trade agent registration agreement withanother company.

Can this be transferred from EECS to the newnotified body or should I apply for a new trade agentregistration through the new notified body? Trade agentagreements do not transfer automatically.

You need to notify EECSof the names of any companies for which Trade Agent registrationhas been issued by EECS, and which you wish to retain.

Q: I havean EECS 'repair licence'.

How do I transfer this toanother body? The EECS repair licence scheme will be terminatedwhen EECS closes.

Since this is a voluntary scheme there is noregulatory requirement to maintain it.

However, if there issufficient interest, Sira will operate a similar scheme.

SiraTest and Certification is a notified body offering electricalequipment certification to customers across the UK and Europe,with its specialist Hazardous Area Centre based in Chester.

Fromthis location, Sira offers certification of explosion protectedequipment and systems.

For manufacturers holding an EECScertificate who would like further information on how Sira canadvise and assist in transferring certificates, or for furtherinformation about the electrical equipment services, pleasecontact Sira directly (links at top of this page).