Appliance Certification & Testing

BSI is a leading global provider of type approval, testing and certification services for gas and electrical appliances used in both domestic and commercial environments.  We have some of the most experienced and knowledgeable staff in the world and are recognised internationally for our technical expertise, quality services and in-depth knowledge of gas, electrical, oil and solid fuel product testing and certification.

The extensive knowledge and experience BSI has developed over many years in the industry is enhanced further through the recent acquisition of the gas appliance approval and certification division of the former research arm of British Gas (later known as Advantica) in the UK. 

Today, BSI provides the leading certification for domestic and commercial gas appliances in the UK and it is one of the top three in Europe as well as having some of the most experienced and knowledgeable staff in the world.

Our services include:

• Product testing and approval of gas, electrical, oil and solid fuel appliance products
• CE Type Approval and Surveillance activities for European Gas Appliances Directive 2009/142/EC and Boiler Efficiency Directive(BED) 92/42/EEC
• Product testing in support of compliance to the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC) and EMC (2004/108/EC) directives
• BSI Kitemark certification for appliances and related components
• Independent product testing and auditing of products and production control systems
• Testing for overseas clients and markets
• Provision of CB reports issued under the IEC CB scheme for numerous IEC60335 series electrical product safety standards to facilitate access to overseas markets

International Clients
Our dedicated gas and electrical test facilities at the Loughborough University Science & Enterprise Park have a strong reputation in the appliance industry which extends beyond the UK and into markets including the US, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Australia.

We work with a range of clients in the UK and across the world, including manufacturers, importers, retailers, Trading Standards, health and safety executives and insurance companies, safety and operational organisations. 

Overseas Certification
BSI has reciprocal arrangements for product approval, certification and quality system assurance with many overseas certification authorities in countries such as North America, Australia, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. This gives non-EU manufacturer’s easier access to the EU and in turn facilitates export from the EU.

To find out more about Gas Testing and Certification with BSI call +44 (0)1509 331133

BSI can test a wide range of gas, electrical, oil and solid fuel appliances for commercial and domestic environments, including:

Cooking appliances
Domestic and commercial gas cookers, induction hobs, convection ovens, LPG and natural barbecues, hotplates and storage cookers.

Gas water heating appliances
Central heating boilers, condensing boilers and combination boilers, water heaters & storage heaters. BSI has the specialist testing facilities and accreditations required to conduct safety testing on unvented water storage systems to demonstrate compliance with the UK Building Regulations. In addition, BSI has been involved in adopting and working with new and emerging technologies such as small-scale combined heat and power (micro CHP) using fuel cells, stirling engines and internal combustion engines.

Gas fires and space heaters
Gas fires, convection heaters, radiant convector heaters, patio heaters.

Leisure and camping appliances
Water heaters for vehicles and boats, space heaters and LPG vapour pressure appliances, absorption refrigerators and domestic gas refrigerators. The technology and market for these products changes so it is vital that an appropriate test programmes are developed to get the product right first time. With first rate facilities that include a radiant efficiency test rig for measuring the thermal efficiency of commercial radiant heating systems, BSI has unrivalled expertise in developing test requirements for novel types of gas and electrical appliances.

Gas-carrying controls intended for use in gas appliances
Pressure governors, flame supervision devices, multifunctional gas controls, automatic shut off valves, mechanical thermostats, pressure sensing devices, gas/air ratio controls.

Electronic safety devices intended for use with gas appliances / installations
Automatic burner controls, electronic flame safeguards, valve proving systems, gas/air ratio controls, control functions for gas burning appliances, temperature sensing controls, commercial kitchen extract proving systems, gas proving control systems.

Safety of electrical appliances for use in the household, shops, light industrial applications and farms
Gas or oil fired products, vacuum cleaners, water suction cleaners, dishwashers, cooking ranges and tables, ovens, washing machines, grills, toasters, portable cooking appliances, tumble dryers, deep fat fryers, kitchen machines, liquid heating appliances, hot water storage appliances, hair tongs, microwave ovens, refrigerating appliances, ice-cream makers, battery chargers, room heaters, oil filled radiators, range hoods, instantaneous water heaters, electric heat pumps, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, surface clearing appliances, outdoor barbecues, industrial & commercial wet and dry vacuum cleaners, automatic machines for floor treatment, fixed and portable immersion heaters, commercial dispensing and vending machines, fans, household appliances stand-by power measurement.

Ancillary equipment
Related valves, meters, hoses, flue terminals and fittings.

Our Testing Capabilities
The wide-ranging capability of our testing facilities and the broad expertise and knowledge of our testing and certification staff ensures products are rigorously tested with the utmost integrity.

Products themselves can be and are put through tests that will evaluate and report on amongst others:

• Design and construction
• Thermal efficiency
• Performance
• Electrical safety
• EMC immunity & emissions
• Failure mode analysis
• Functional safety
• Legal requirements

To find out more about Gas Testing and Certification with BSI call +44 (0)1509 331133

BSI can help appliance manufacturers to gain competitive advantage through the prestigious Kitemark, the distinctive symbol of product quality and trust.

Exclusive to BSI, Kitemark is a voluntary certification mark that shows a product or service meets the applicable and appropriate British, European, International other recognised standard for quality, safety and performance. 

Our Kitemark schemes cover a range of gas and electrical products including cooking, refrigeration, washing, drying and heating appliances. 

75%* of UK adults state that the presence of a Kitemark helps them choose between products. 

Why Kitemark?
Kitemark stands for quality, safety and trust so if a product carries a Kitemark customers will know that it has been independently tested on a regular basis and that it will perform to that consistent quality every time.

The Kitemark has for very many years been considered Great Britain’s premier symbol of product or service quality that brings real and  tangible benefits to licence holders. 

The benefits for the product manufacturer include:

• Reduced risk - Kitemark demonstrates and supports due diligence and duty of care to your industry, employees, suppliers and customers

• Improved efficiency - through reducing costs and waste you should be able to realise a more healthy profit in your business

• Customer satisfaction - happy, confident customers will bring unrivalled benefits to your business through repeat business and recommendation

• Access to new business - with public and private sector procurement managers increasingly specifying Kitemark, you can secure your access to these tenders and projects

• Reputation - Kitemark is a Business Superbrand in its own right and has established the finest reputation in its field. It offers manufacturers significant emotional and/or tangible advantages over its competitors, which customers want and recognise.

93% of the UK adult population believe a Kitemark product is safe.

* Research conducted with our product certification clients across the Kitemark portfolio

To find out more about Appliance Testing Services call +44 (0)1509 331133