CE, NF, A2P Certification

CE MARKING AND NF MARK
Since 1 October 2003, products are required to have the CE marking to be able to be freely circulated in Europe. This is a mandatory requirement for products to meet a European directive. The CE marking is similar to a regulatory compliance. It ensures that products meet requirements addressing safety issues, public health, and consumer protection. The certificates for these markings are issued under the charge of the AFAQ AFNOR. Thus, Thirard companies must also meet the requirements of the Products directive (89/106/EEC of 21.12.88 amended by Directive 93/68/EEC of 22.07.93).

The CE marking is easily identifiable with the use of the following marking: CE sign + No which can be found on the product itself, the packaging, or the accompanying document.

Several categories for the NF mark

The NF mark is a product certification. This mark meets French and European standards. The standards meet the criteria of size, safety, endurance, durability, and resistance...

The AFAQ AFNOR is responsible for ensuring compliance of NF guaranteed products with the standards and regulations of the mark. In addition, this organisation conducts independent controls on manufacturing quality.

Currently, four families of products are subject to an NF mark where the markings are different.

NF Certified for traditional use
NFqe Certified for the evacuation of persons
NFqc Certified for fire subdivision
NFQE+c Certified for the evacuation persons and fire subdivision

The packaging for NF products is subject to special attention. Several methods of marking are defined. The NF logo must conform to the graphic identity. The manufacturer's brand name must also be provided. The product’s commercial reference must be indicated. In addition, the product's adherence to one of the four categories must be clearly indicated. Instruction, installation, and maintenance manuals must also be included with the product.

A2P CERTIFICATION *
The CNPP, located near Vernon in the department of Eure, is the only organisation accredited to issue certification of products with the A2P mark. Following several years of being faced with an upsurge in robberies and burglaries, insurance companies encourage their customers to install efficient security systems. Therefore the CNPP also issues Service certifications for installation and maintenance of security systems in the fire and malevolence fields (APSAD and A2P Service certifications). The A2P mark is a collective mark that is recognized by various bodies:
- insurance companies,
- governments,
- users and security professionals.
Obtaining an A2P certification is a voluntary process by the manufacturer.

• What is the A2P mark certification ?
"It is above all a product security certification vis-à-vis the resistance to forced entry. The A2P mark certifies that the products to which it is applied meet technical specifications and are produced by a manufacturing company whose quality is controlled”.

• What are the essential certified features ?
"The essential certified features for building locks, benefiting from the A2P mark, lie in the ability to resist the attempts of unauthorized access, during a given time, attacks from an individual using his physical strength and established tools (hand, electrical, and thermal tools), but also the lock’s ability to resist subtle opening attempts”.

• Where do the tests take place ?
"The tests are conducted in CNPP laboratories. In addition to testing, manufacturers are subject to annual audits within their companies. Each product produced must be fully consistent with the model subjected to the A2P certification”.

• What do the different stars awarded by the A2P Building Locks certification represent ?
"There are several classifications depending on the product’s resistance power to breaking and entering when subjected to more rigorous testing. Depending on their growing resistance to attempts at unauthorized opening, the locks, including their security, will be classified into three classes: 1, 2 and 3 stars, this resistance being assessed on criteria defined by the technical rules and methods of the test.”

• How do you recognize a product that has the A2P mark certification ?
"The first guarantee that the product is indeed an A2P certified product lies in the fact that each element that comprises it is indelibly A2P marked. If one of the components of the product is changed, A2P certification is automatically lost. An informative label including, among others, the A2P label and product classification, is also on the product’s packaging when it leaves the factory”.

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