Capability Approval certified as "Attestation of Conformity"

Capability approval is carried out on delivered samples to demonstrate passing of all electrical or safety requirements. 3P verifies that the manufacturer or supplier in question is capable of producing the connecting hardware, permanent link or channel in question.

Attestations of Conformity are issued for connecting hardware, and permanent links and channels, but not for cables or cords. It is concluded by 3P that a full production line qualification is necessary for assuring the quality of these components.

Certified connecting hardware, permanent links and channels having a valid Attestation of Conformity cannot be identified by a 3P notation on the component or component packaging, as no follow up service is possible for 3P. However, brochure material may state that the connecting hardware, permanent link or channel has been tested by 3P. Such a statement is only possible as long as the Attestation of Conformity stays valid.

Full Production Line Qualification certified as "Compliance Statement"

Full production line qualification is a more comprehensive type of certification. It includes both factory inspection, initial capability approval of components, and a continuous follow up testing of components selected by 3P at the manufacturer during regular inspection visits. A new inspection visit is carried out every 6 months for cables and patch cords, and every 12 months for connecting hardware.

Compliance Statements are issued for cables, cords and connecting hardware. This means that connecting hardware can be certified by either a capability approval or by a full production line qualification.

Qualified cables, connecting hardware and cords having a valid Compliance Statement may be marked "3P Verified" on the components, packaging and brochure material.

Fire safety certifications

Fire safety testing of cables is included in the qualification and maintenance of qualification programme. This normally does not include issuing of a separate "safety" certificate as this testing is fully integrated in the issued Compliance Statement for the cable. However, separate Attestations of Conformity are issued for cables, for instance for fibre optical cable, for which the qualification programme is in development. The certification for fire safety demonstrates compliance with the IEC, CENELEC or draft Construction Products Directive (CPD) requirements.