1. CB certification introduction
The IECEE CB system is the first truly international system for mutual recognition of electrical product safety test reports. A multilateral agreement has been formed between the national certification bodies (NCBs) of various countries, and manufacturers can obtain national certifications of other member states of the CB system by virtue of a CB test certificate issued by an NCB.
The CB system is based on international IEC standards. If the national standards of some member states are not completely consistent with IEC standards, national differences are also allowed, but they should be announced to other members. The CB system utilizes a CB test certificate to confirm that product samples have successfully passed the appropriate tests and complied with the relevant IEC requirements and the requirements of the relevant member states.
The main goal of the CB system is to promote international trade, by promoting the unification and coordination of national and international standards and the cooperation of product certification bodies, so as to bring manufacturers closer to the ideal 'one test, multiple applications' goal. History Initially, the CB system was initiated by CEE (the former European 'National Committee for Qualification Testing of Electrical Equipment') and was incorporated into IEC in 1985.
2. The scope of the CB certification system
The products covered by the CB system are within the scope of the IEC standards recognized by the IECEE system. When three or more member states declare that they want and support a standard to join the CB system, the new IEC standard will be adopted by the CB system. The currently used IEC standards are published in the CB Gazette and the IECEE website.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is not currently included in the CB system unless specifically required by the IEC standard used. However, the CB system has started polling its members about their willingness to conduct EMC measurements in conjunction with safety testing. The results of this survey will be published in the CB Gazette on this subject.
3. CB certification test certificate and CB certification test report
The CB certification test certificate is an official CB system document issued by an authorized NCB. Its purpose is to inform other NCBs that the tested product samples are found to meet the current requirements. The CB test certificate should not be used for advertising, but it is allowed to use the existing CB certificate as reference material.
The CB certification report is a standardized report that lists the requirements of the relevant IEC standards in the form of an item-by-item list. The report provides the results of all required tests, measurements, verifications, inspections and evaluations, which shall be clear and unambiguous. The report also contains photos, circuit diagrams, pictures, and product descriptions. According to the rules of the CB system, the CB test report is only valid when provided with the CB test certificate.
If an NCB has the necessary test equipment and technical capabilities, it can test and evaluate products according to the national differences of other countries. These additional tests are attached to the CB test report as attachments and are usually recognized by other recognized NCBs.
4. The benefits of CB certification system to manufacturers
The CB system can bring benefits to manufacturers who export their products to the member countries of the CB system. These manufacturers can:
- Choose a suitable NCB for cooperation;
- All product testing is done by the same NCB, including testing of target market country differences;
- Use the CB test report and certificate issued by NCB, and obtain the national certification of other countries through the member NCB of other countries.
Although countries that recognize CB certificates will require manufacturers to submit applications and may also require samples to be submitted, additional testing is usually not required, or only a small number of tests are required, and most of the application processing process is some administrative work. Therefore, these certification applications based on CB test certificates and CB test reports will be prioritized over other certification applications, and the application cycle and application fee will be reduced.