CB Certificate – CB Scheme IECEE

The IECEE CB procedure, or CB procedure, is an international system for the mutual approval of test results and certificates on the safety of electrical and electronic components, equipment and products. It is based on a multilateral agreement between the participating countries and the certification bodies. The main objective of the IECEE CB scheme is to facilitate international trade of electrotechnical products by making it easier for manufacturers to obtain country-specific certificates worldwide.

The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) uses the term IECEE for its “IEC system for conformity testing and certification of electrical and electronic components, equipment and products”. IECEE stands for “International Electrotechnical Commission for Electrical Equipment” and CB for “Certification Body”.

The CB procedure is based on the use of international IEC and CISPR standards. If national standards are not yet fully harmonized with IEC standards, national regulatory requirements and special national conditions can be considered in the CB procedure. The prerequisite for this is that they have been formally reported to the IECEE secretariat and submitted in detail for further publication.

Every country that is a member of the IECEE can nominate its national certification bodies for the CB procedure. This requires the harmonization of their own national standards with the IEC standards. Any deviations or differences from the IEC standards must be publicly declared and submitted to the IECEE secretariat for publication. Furthermore, each National Certification Body (NCB) must apply for recognition of the specific IEC standards it wishes to use within the CB scheme. All applicants are audited on site by a team of experts employed by members (NCBs and CBTLs) to verify compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065. IECEE currently has 52 member bodies and around 276 CB Testing Laboratories (CBTLs). A CBTL is a testing laboratory that is recognized according to the CB procedure and can therefore carry out tests and prepare CB test reports for one or more product categories. Although a CBTL can work for several NCBs, it is always under the responsibility of one NCB or belongs to an NCB. For recognition, CBTLs are assessed on site in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.

We are represented by four certification bodies (NCBs) in Germany, Hungary, the USA and Japan and have over 70 CB scheme-recognized testing laboratories (CBTLs) worldwide, also in your area.

A manufacturer of electrotechnical products or its representative applies to an NCB for product certification in accordance with the IECEE CB scheme. A recognized testing laboratory then tests product samples for conformity with the relevant IEC standards. If the products comply with those IEC standards, the laboratory prepares a CB report and the relevant certification body issues a CB test certificate on the basis of the test report.

Manufacturers can ask the certification body to perform additional product tests to obtain the certification marks required for their products in different target markets. If the manufacturer already has CB certificates and test reports, any other certification body that participates in the CB procedure and recognizes these CB certificates can offer further tests based on the certificates. This is the case if the tests are required before products can be placed on the market.

As long-standing members of the IECEE CB program, we have extensive experience and expertise in country-specific regulatory requirements.

The CB procedure offers particular advantages to manufacturers who export their products to countries that participate in the CB procedure. These include the free choice of the NCB, product testing by only one NCB, including additional tests required for launching in other target markets, and the use of CB test reports and certificates to obtain country-specific test marks.

NCBs participating in the CB procedure are also required to prioritize certification applications based on existing CB certificates. Certifications based on the CB procedure are therefore more time-saving and cost-effective.

The CB process covers a wide range of products: IT and office equipment, household electronics and appliances, lighting systems, measuring instruments and medical electrical devices. We offer safety testing according to the CB procedure and EMC testing for the following electrical product groups categorized in accordance with IECEE.

• IT and office equipment, e.g. IEC 60950, IEC 60825, IEC 62368
• Electronics, entertainment, e.g. IEC 60065, IEC 60950, IEC 62368
• Household and similar appliances, e.g. IEC 60335
• Batteries, e.g. IEC 62133
• Lighting, e.g. IEC 60598, IEC 61347
• Electrical appliances for medical use, IEC 60601
• Measuring, control and laboratory equipment, IEC 61010
• Electromagnetic compatibility, e.g. CISPR14 etc.
• Safety transformers and similar equipment, e.g. IEC 61558
• Portable tools, e.g. IEC 60745
• Miscellaneous, e.g. IEC 60825
• Installation accessories and connection devices, e.g. IEC 60884, IEC 60309, IEC 61058
• Switches for devices and automatic controls for electrical household appliances, e.g. IEC 60730
• Photovoltaics, e.g. IEC 61730
• Installation protective equipment, e.g. IEC 60898
• Low-voltage and high-power switchgear, e.g. IEC 60947
• Cables and wires
• Industrial automation, e.g. IEC 60204
• Electric vehicles
• Capacitors as components
• Energy efficiency

CE marking and CB certificate are completely different topics:

The CE marking is a self-declaration by the manufacturer that its products comply with all applicable legal requirements of the European market. The manufacturer or its representative located in the European Union applies the CE marking and thus declares in full responsibility that the product complies with all relevant requirements of EU law or European directives.

In the context of the CB procedure, a certification body acts as an independent third party to check whether the electrotechnical product complies with the applicable and published IEC standards.

Distributors and importers can provide a copy of the CB certificate. You can find a list of all certification bodies participating in the CB procedure on the IECEE website.

Yes, medical devices also belong to the product groups that are categorized according to IECEE and for which we perform safety tests according to the CB procedure. The CB scheme can be applied to electrical equipment for medical use, but also to measuring, control and laboratory equipment. In the context of the CB procedure, we test according to IEC 60601 and other relevant standards, consider possible national deviations for each market and finally issue the CB certificate on the basis of the CB report.