CB certification of electrical products: CB Scheme

The Electrical Products Certification CB Scheme ("Certification Body Scheme") also called the OC System (for "Organisme de Certification" - Certification Body in French), is an international certification system established by the IECEE (IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components).

Its principle is the mutual acceptance among its members of test reports and certificates related to the safety of electrical and electronic components, equipment, and products.
There are more than 50 member countries in the CB System worldwide, including the member states of the European Union (EU), the United States, China, India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Gulf countries.

The CB Scheme/OC System allows for the validation of a product's compliance with the requirements of international standards for electrical and electronic products.
A true passport for product conformity, it makes the various international markets accessible by obtaining multiple international certification marks by carrying out only a single testing campaign (reduction of associated costs and delays, pooling of tests): one-stop-shop.

This certification is therefore aimed at any manufacturer of electrical/electronic equipment wishing to export internationally. Without it, the manufacturer would generally have to carry out a testing campaign for each targeted market.

Electrical Products NCB Certification: How Does It Work?

To be issued an international OC/CB Scheme certificate for its electrical or electronic products, the applicant must be certified by a certification body registered by the IECEE (IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components).

The certification body (NCB - National Certification Body) is authorized to issue CB/OC test reports and conformity certificates for electrical and electronic products, recognized by all IECEE members. These CB certificates constitute genuine passports for CB Scheme certified products in international markets.

Steps and Process for a CB Scheme Certificate Application

1. Submission of an application file to Apave Certification: this usually takes the form of a technical questionnaire which will be sent to you by the Apave Certification sales department.
It includes information on: the applicant, the manufacturer of the electrical or electronic products, the standards applicable to the products concerned, and the list of countries where you wish to market said products.

2. Return of the quote and scheduling of tests

3. Execution of tests and evaluations by the CBTL (Certification Body Testing Laboratory)

4. Submission of a test report and CB certificate

5. Issuance of the CB certificate by the NCB Apave Certification

Specific Cases of Existing CB Certificate Evolution

3 cases in which a CB Scheme certificate may undergo an evolution:

A new edition or an amendment to the applicable standard which leads to the issuance of a new CB certificate

If your administrative information has changed (address, company name, product designation, etc.), you will need to submit a request for modification of your CB certification to Apave Certification. The modified certificate will then be issued to you again with the same reference number and a revision index.

If the product has undergone technical modifications (maximum 3 modifications), you will also need to submit a request for modification of your CB Scheme certificate. If the number of technical modifications exceeds 3, a new CB certificate with a new reference number will have to be issued.