IECEE CB Scheme

Principles

The CB Scheme of the IECEE is an agreement for mutual recognition of test certificates for electrical equipment. The fundamental principle of the scheme is that a manufacturer can obtain a CB Test Certificate for a defined product, which means that a National Certification Body (NCB) has tested the product and found it to be in conformity with the requirements of IEC standards covered by the agreement. The manufacturer can then present this certificate to the NCBs in other countries whose certification marks he wants for his products.

These applications should be made according to the rules and procedure of the NCBs in question. Each of these NCBs deals with the application according to its own procedures and will issue a license to use its mark when its rules are fulfilled. These rules may differ for things as factory inspection, fee requirements, requirements for a responsible agent etc. When pre-license and/or regular inspection in the manufacturers factory is required by an NCB, this may be delegated to the NCB which has issued the test certificate.

Participants

The operating bodies of the CB Scheme are the National Certification Bodies (NCBs). Currently, there are 53 countries participating in the CB Scheme with a total number of 72 NCBs. OVE as a founder member is accepted since 1961 for all product categories covered by the agreement.

Member Bodies and Certification Bodies in the IECEE CB Scheme

What is a CB Test Certificate?

A CB Test Certificate is a document issued by a National Certification Body (NCB) to inform other NCBs, in conjunction with the attached Test Report, that one or more specimens of certain electrical products were tested according to a standard accepted for use in the IECEE and that the specimens were found to be in conformity with that standard. A CB Test Certificate is valid only when the relevant Test Report is attached. The Test Report will cover the test results according to the standard, and when requested also according to declared national differences.

Procedure for obtaining a CB Test Certificate from OVE

The applicant may be a manufacturer or act on behalf of a manufacturer. The application may cover one or more factories within one ore more countries, where the product will be manufactured.

  • The applicant submits:
    • CB Application form (available on request / download Application Form)
    • Product documentation
    • Test samples
      (The applicant should contact OVE before sending a specimen)
  • OVE arranges testing of the relevant product in an accepted CB Testing Laboratory
  • When testing is completed a Test Report will be issued
  • When the testing is successfully carried out, OVE will issue the CB Test Certificate

The CB Test Certificate attached by the Test Report may be submitted to any other member countries to obtain their national certification marks.

The applicant may request testing to cover national differences in countries in which the CB test certificate is to be used. If additional tests have been carried out, a report of the results may be attached to, and considered to be a part of, the Test Report.

Procedure for recognition of CB Test Certificate through OVE to obtain the Austrian Safety Mark

When an applicant applies to OVE for national certification to obtain the Austrian Safety Mark for a product on the basis of a CB Test Certificate the following should be submitted:

  • Application form (available on request / download Application Form)
  • Application letter giving name and address
  • CB Test Certificate
  • CB Test Report
  • EMC Test Report including disturbances in supply systems
  • Identity Declaration
  • Specimen of the product

We are prepared to recognize annexes to the CB Test Certificate and Test Report covering our national deviations.

Incoming OVE applications based on CB procedure will be dealt with priority before testing assignments, provided the need for retesting is small.

Pre-licence factory inspection according to CCA 251 is required. Factory inspection reports issued by Member NCBs and not older than 3 years are accepted in general.

Further information on national certification may be obtained in section:
National certification / The Austrian Safety Mark

Standards applied

The purpose of the CB Scheme is to offer recognition of test results according to IEC standards. The CB Scheme is applicable to electrical equipment within the scope of IEC standards for safety, accepted for use in the IECEE.

Standards and Categories of Products covered by OVE as member of the CB Scheme