Third Party Certifcation
Let’s look at how third-party certification works:
A third-party certification body assesses the products, systems and procedures of a supplier company, a Prime Door Manufacturer or a Licensed Processor by comparing them with the requirements of a particular certification scheme.
The company must undergo an audit to ensure the product is tested correctly and independently, and that the company has the correct manufacturing or processing systems and procedures in place to ensure consistency of the product. This is carried out when the organisation is first certificated and then periodically (typically every 6 – 12 months) to maintain the certificate. Any operatives involved in the manufacturing process must be adequately trained to ensure the work is performed correctly.
Depending on the scheme, the certificated company will also issue certificates of conformity for the product or service they provide, such as a complete fire door assembly.
In the UK, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (known as UKAS) validates the authority of the certification body. It is an internationally recognised organisation appointed by the government to accredit certification bodies and the schemes they deliver. Certification bodies in the UK are therefore described as ’UKAS Approved’.
There is a 3-way relationship between the company and the testing house (if they are the prime manufacturer) and the company and the certification body. The test house and certification body must be independent of each other.
