Conformity assessment is the umbrella term for demonstrating that a product, system, or service actually meets a specified standard. If something has been certified or tested to a standard, that is conformity assessment at work.
- a circuit breaker tested to a UL standard in the United States,
- a fuse tested to an EU standard in Europe,
- a SIL switch certified to IEC 61508 by TÜV
- a 12awg conductor rated for maritime use
The above is all the same idea in action. It spans an enormous range of products, services, and standards, and functional safety certification to IEC 61508 is one corner of that universe.
A conformity assessment body (CAB) is a loose term for any of the organizations in that universe that do the certifying or testing. TÜV certifying a SIL device, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing electrical cable in the United States, and CSA Group doing the same in Canada. The term is useful precisely because it covers every one of them under a single label, whatever the product or the standard.
Key Points
- Conformity assessment is the umbrella for demonstrating that a product, system, or service meets a standard, through testing, inspection, or certification.
- It spans many industries and standards, from UL listings and EU product standards to IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 functional safety and far beyond.
- A conformity assessment body (CAB) is any organization that does this work, such as TÜV, UL, or CSA Group.
- Functional safety certification to IEC 61508 is just one example of conformity assessment, carried out by a certification body.
Example
A SIL 2 capable pressure transmitter certified to IEC 61508 by TÜV is one instance of conformity assessment. The very same idea covers a circuit breaker that UL lists to a US standard, or a fuse a European lab tests to an EU standard: different products and different standards, all under the one umbrella.
See Also: certification body (CB), accreditation body, notified body, CE marking
Cited Sources
- ISO/IEC 17000:2020, Conformity assessment — Vocabulary and general principles
- ISO/IEC 17025 (testing and calibration labs), ISO/IEC 17020 (inspection), and ISO/IEC 17065 (product certification)
- ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity assessment — Requirements for accreditation bodies
Deep dive: For a much more in-depth treatment, see Who Certifies Functional Safety Equipment, and Who Accepts It.