CertAlarm Completes 4th Cycle Of Round-Robin Test Series To Improve The Comparability Between Laboratories

CertAlarm, an organization offering a pan-European quality mark in the fire protection and security systems industry, has confirmed the completion of its 4th cycle of round-robin test series.

Round-robin tests are comparative tests, performed by the participating laboratories, at regular intervals and using the same test sample. As such, they are an important monitoring tool for CertAlarm’s partners and recognized test laboratories.

Round-robin tests

Round-robin tests enable quality supervisors and management to place the results obtained by the laboratory performing the tests, in a wider framework and to identify problems, and initiate actions for improvement.

In particular, round-robin tests help to bring to light inconsistencies in the testing systems or methods, and can give rise to necessary corrective action, for instance:

• Interpretation of standards
• Calibration/maintenance of the testing equipment
• Training of the laboratory personnel
• Adjustment of influencing factors relevant to testing (e.g. climate)

Selection of tests proven difficult to perform

Benoît Stockbroeckx, the Technical Manager of Euralarm and Chair of CertAlarm’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG), said “In order to improve our program, we specifically select tests which have proven to be difficult to perform or have shown in the market place that inconsistencies exist in approved products.”

The criticality of this test lays in the interpretation of the PASS/FAIL criteria"

He adds, “One of the tests selected for this cycle’s series was, therefore, the measurement of the make and break distances of opening contacts, according to EN 50131-2-6 (clause 6.4.2). The criticality of this test lays in the interpretation of the PASS/FAIL criteria, in coherence with the manufacturer declaration and the requirements in Clause 4.3.1.2 and 4.3.1.3.”

Benoît Stockbroeckx continues, “As a matter of fact, diverging interpretations highlighted un-clarity in the wording of the standard. This issue has been brought to the relevant standardization working group (CLC/TC 79/WG 2) and the discussions paved the way for an improvement of the standard in view of a future revision.”

Key monitoring tool for CertAlarm’s test laboratories

Benoît Stockbroeckx adds, “Thanks to this exercise, we can now be sure that all of CertAlarm’s labs will test and conclude, according to this understanding in the future. Moreover, CertAlarm so contributed to the improvement of the standard for the benefit of all European laboratories, certification bodies and manufacturers dealing with opening contacts.”

Anja Kinsky, the General Manager of CertAlarm, said “The round-robin procedure helps us understand if we are doing things right and providing our customers the same level of results.”