CERTIFICATION SAFETY & BEYOND · Fire Extinguisher product certification – Fire rating to AS/NZS1850. To address the ‘lifetime’ rating and provide objective evidence of ‘on

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CERTIFICATION SAFETY & BEYOND

Ferhun Emeksiz & R.M ( Max) Bradbury Client Manager & Fire Products Program ManagerGlobal-Mark Pty Ltd


ContentProduct Certification

Understanding the frameworkFundamental PrincipalsProduct testing and audits

SafetyWhy safety is paramount in product certification?

BeyondGlobal-Mark fire industry product certification program


CERTIFICATION

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

Process of certifying a certain product that passes • performance tests and, • quality assurance tests. Also meets qualification criteria stipulated in contracts, regulations, or specifications.


CERTIFICATION

Understanding the framework

• The Standard / code writing body• The Laboratory• The Certifier

Each has a specific role, expertise and needs to be independent with due processes and accountabilities.


CERTIFICATION

The Standard writing body and regulatory bodiesAustralian & New Standards by• Standard Australia (AS) • Combined Standard Australia and Standard New Zealand (AS/NZS)• ACCC (Fire extinguishers, Aerosol extinguishers, baby dummies, vehicle jack, sun glasses and etc)

• ABCB – National Construction Code (NCC) and Plumbing Code (WaterMark).

• ElectricalCan be mandatory or voluntary.


CERTIFICATION

The Laboratory

• Needs to be NATA accredited, or equivalent under ILAC• Needs to be competent• Needs to follow a known and set methodology• Issues Recognised Test Reports


CERTIFICATION

The Certification Body

• Needs to be JASANZ accredited, or equivalent, under ISO17065.• Needs to be competent,• Conducts audits, • Reviews Approved Test Reports, compliance folder• Issues Certificate of Approval


CERTIFICATION

Who selects

samples certification

company

Types of Product Certification

Activity 1 2 3 4 5 Product samples taken at production area?

(once)

(on-

going)

(on-

going)

(on-

going) Product samples taken in the market place?

(on-going)

(on-

going) Independent test carried out

Approved Laboratory

(on-going)

(on-

going)

(on-

going) Production assessed and witnessed

(on-

going) Management system review (is production stable and capable)

(on-going)


CERTIFICATION

Types of Product Certification

Key steps in the process

1 2 3 4 5

Compliance Product Folder

Certification Validity

3 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years

Certification subject to yearly reviews

(12 m.)

Number of Products per Certification

1 only

1 only

1 only

1 only

Range

Product Changes/Upgrade allowed (as part of on-going surveillance)

No (1)

(1) Manufacturer must advised us of any changes from the design locked and tested product


CERTIFICATION

Fundamental principles

Voluntary independent product certifications programs structured to meet international standards such as ISO/IEC 17067-2013 with a System 5

• Relies on the firm’s management system to make and maintain the product and processes stable and capable: including conforming

• This assumes that tomorrow’s product will be the same as today’s and the same at the product tested yesterday

• Involve type testing, and on-going testing• Rely on effective and working feedback mechanisms (complaints, defects, recalls)• Overall some schemes are mandated, but compliance and the demonstration of compliance

has been outsourced (to people like us).


CERTIFICATION

Compliance folder• Such a file must contain, as appropriate to the product (discuss this with one of our Client Manager): • Description of the product,• Description of the range of the product, (size, grade, colors, etc)• List of critical components• Bill of material • Drawing, sketches, photographs and graphs which show the product, its assembly, manufacturing and

parts• Recognised Test Reports• Standards or specifications Design calculations or notes, supporting the product compliance to the

standard,• Information on product branding, packaging and promotional material (including information

contained with the product)

After the compliance folder + approval: DESIGN LOCKED


CERTIFICATION

Recognised Test Reports

• Should “generally” be less than 5 years old • Should be issued by a Approved Laboratory/NATA or organisation which has an MOU/MLA

with NATA• Lab needs to be in scope for this test/standard• Should address the Standard compliance or not: i.e. should conclude• Should be signed, identify the product tested, branding, labeling, and if appropriate sampling

regime• Some Clients send 5 samples to the lab, so it can select “the sample”


CERTIFICATION

AUDITS – What should we look for• Is the manufacturing process stable and capable? (will tomorrow’s products be as good as

today’s),• Global-Mark’s G11 document for product certification program (based on ISO9001)• Is the SC’s requirements implemented, and records in place (routine inspection, batch

testing),• Traceability issues: in case of a recall,• Marking, branding (non approved products)• Non-conforming products; quarantine (how do they dispose of NC products with Certification

marks)• Incoming inspections, and purchasing specifications of raw material, Certificates of

Conformity of incoming products/assemblies.• Calibration


CERTIFICATION

AUDITS – What should we look for? • Product changes (what you saw last time, document on our files) with or

without design lock notification to Global-Mark• Production register, batch testing levels, confirm AQL is met• Select and mark samples for internal testing (early in the morning): witness the

testing, interview the test operator (including his/her qualifications) calibration status

• Review test reports, counter sign the ones you have seen, take a copy.


CERTIFICATION

What does voluntary/independent product certification provides?• An indication that the manufacturer is capable of consistently manufacturing

compliant product; • However, the manufacturer or distributors remain responsible for the

product’s ongoing compliance with the standard


SAFETY

ACCC requires, All consumer products you supply must be safe and meet consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Generally the manufacturers or importers of products are liable for the damages.Suppliers may reduce their exposure to product liability action by using these responsible and sensible business practices:• conduct regular reviews of product designs and production• implement and review quality assurance procedures• test products regularly to relevant standards, including batch testing• conduct appropriate marketing• provide clear and thorough user instructions• where necessary, conduct a quick voluntary recall of any products that are defective or unsafe.

https://www.accc.gov.au/business/treating-customers-fairly/product-safety#selling-safe-products


SAFETY

Fire industry products are

• high risk categorised products,• must meet industry and end user expectations,• no room for errors

• human lives, • damage to properties,• environmental risk.


BEYOND

Global-Mark Certification Programs • Certified Products, Type 5, (JASANZ)• Approved Products, Type 5, Test Report (not JASANZ)• WaterMark Level 1 (higher level, equivalent to ISO Type 5) and Level 2 (lower

level, equivalent to ISO Type 1b) (JASANZ)• Apparatus and Appliances, Type 1 (JASANZ)• CodeMark: BCA compliance. (JASANZ)• Gas Safety Appliances (JASANZ) Type 3• Gas Cylinder Test Station (JASANZ) Type 2• Electrical products (JASANZ)


BEYOND

Global-Mark Certification Programs (Continued)Majority of fire products are under Certified Products program, Type 5

• Fire extinguishers, (AS/NZS 1841. 2 to 8) and Mobile Units (AS4265)• Fire hose reel, (AS/NZS1221)• Emergency lights and exit signs, (AS2293)• Fire hose lay flat, (AS2792)• Fire panels, smoke alarms, heat and smoke detectors, (AS7240, AS3786, AS)• Fire Blankets, (AS3504)• Fire suppression systems to AS5062 and AS4487,• Hydrant valves (AS2419.2) and Hydrant boosters (AS2419.3)• Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems - Control and indicating equipment - Fire brigade

panel (AS4428)• Fire Alarms systems (AS7240)


BEYOND

Global-Mark Certification Programs (Continued)

Programs under Type 1 are;• Gas Cylinder Test Stations (AS2337 series)• Fire sprinkler pipes to various AS standards• Fire hose couplings to various international standards including BS and DIN (JASANZ accredited)


BEYOND

Global-Mark Certification Programs (Continued)

A new program for Fire Maintenance / Service companies to cover AS1851 activities under ISO9001 Quality management system certification.Covers fourteen maintenance activities detailed under AS1851. NEW


BEYOND

Fire Extinguisher product certification• Under System 5 Program• Certification – AS/NZS 1841 standard series and Global-Mark’s G-11

program• First audit at FACTORY – Manufacturing capability of factory is

assessed.• Type tests under Table 7.1 of AS/NZS 1841.1 (Factory and independent laboratories)

• AS/NZS1850 Fire rating (Initial certification approval testing can be carried out at various facilities acceptable to CABs)

• Generally, Australian fire fighters are employed.


BEYOND

Fire rating to AS/NZS1850

• Objective of this standard is to facilitate the production and use of fit-for-purpose fire standardized extinguishers.

• The preface of AS/NZS 1850 includes the following; “The ultimate classification and rating of an extinguisher or its recommended use is based on its fire- extinguishing potential, as determined by the appropriate tests”.

• These tests provide an ‘indication’ of a new extinguisher rating classification and fire extinguishing performance. Currently these are only type tests; there is no requirement for validation of ongoing ‘fire performance’!.


BEYOND

Fire Extinguisher product certification – Fire rating to AS/NZS1850

• Testing can be witnessed within or outside Australia• Classes – A, B, C, D, E and F• When type tests are achieved – becomes lifetime rating (???). That

means there is no requirement for validation of ongoing ‘fire performance’!.


BEYOND

Fire rating to AS/NZS1850

• Portable fire extinguishers are more than simple assemblies comprising cylinder, discharge system including valve and extinguishing agent.

• Even minor changes to parts or the extinguishing agent can significantly affect performance.


BEYOND

Fire Extinguisher product certification – Fire rating to AS/NZS1850• B Class (Flammable liquid fire) test is recognised the least ‘reproducible’ ‘test

fire’ performance tests in AS/NZS 1850• These B class tests require optimal conditions e.g. wind speed and direction

therefore another test is proposed to validate on going compliance.• Currently in Australia after ‘initial’ fire performance /rating tests they are

considered as ‘lifetime’ rating


BEYOND

Fire Extinguisher product certification – Fire rating to AS/NZS1850To address the ‘lifetime’ rating and provide objective evidence of ‘on going’ fire extinguishing capability, • Ay least two validation tests at 40% of the original B class ratings should be

undertaken every 5 years after initial certification /listing,• Why 40%? The test was derived from UL 711 clause 5.4 that in part includes; • The fire extinguishing classification is equivalent to 40 % of the area of the fire

consistently extinguished by an expert operator. • An extinguisher obtained from the open market shall extinguish a B class fire equal to

40 percent of the listed rating


40% TEST CHART

Existing certified B Class rating

Proposed B Class validation tests

2B 2B5B 2B

10B 5B20B 10B30B 20B40B 20B60B 30B80B 40B

120B 60B


BEYONDFIRE RATING TO AS/NZS1850Fluorine Free Foams – not containing PFOS and PFOAFoams are• High volume use – to protect high value properties in industries like marine,

mining and defence (Fire suppression systems),• but also its use in portable and wheeled fire extinguishers at lower volumes,• Environmental concerns and changing regulatory requirements in Australia,• Fire rating tests are in progress; Changes may be required on

• how to use instruction labelling• AS1851 maintenance requirements.


BEYONDFIRE RATING TO AS/NZS1850Alternatives for Fluorine Containing AFFF Foams• The production and use of ethanol blended fuels is likely to increase• The main danger is from incidents involving tanker trucks ,rail cars etc. carrying

large amounts of ethanol both in transit and at manufacturing facilities and storage facilities. Not from use of these fuels on vehicles

• Therefore, responders need to be prepared for large-scale emergencies and prepared with the most effective techniques and extinguishing media.

• There are fuels available that contain 85 % ethanol ( E85) so, a variation to AS/NZS1850 clause 4.2.2 for the B class test is being proposed to cover these fuels.


BEYOND INITIAL CERTIFICATION

The manufacture of most portable fire extinguisher and other fire related products has moved from Australia to oversees.As a consequence many Compliance Assessment Bodies ( CAB’s) are reviewing their on going ‘auditing methodology’. Currently most CAB’s undertake annual ‘pre arranged’ or announced ( clients advised ) audits however increasingly this methodology is being questioned to allow for ‘periodic’ ‘unannounced’ random audits.Unannounced audits will still cover manufacture processes including ‘critical operations’ and product sign off plus as applicable major subcontractors.


BEYOND


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CERTIFICATION SAFETY & BEYOND · Fire Extinguisher product certification – Fire rating to AS/NZS1850. To address the ‘lifetime’ rating and provide objective evidence of ‘on