As a member of LOVAG ALPHA at VDE is authorized to issue LOVAG Certificates.

The VDE - Certification Body is accredited by the German Accreditation Body DAkkS according to EN 45011 (Guide 65). The certification of APHA at VDE is a part of the VDE-Certification Body.
Testing for LOVAG Certificates issued by ALPHA at VDE has to be performed in an accredited laboratory being approved and registered by ALPHA and LOVAG and being accredited by DAkkS. By their accreditation the certification of ALPHA at VDE and the ALPHA-LOVAG Registered Laboratories are integrated in the international associations of accreditation bodies, such as

• IAF International Accreditation Forum and
• ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

IAF/ILAC provide a common quality of accreditation and facilitate the recognition of accredited conformity assessment services through a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA).

The LOVAG Certificate indicate that adequate confidence is provided that

• a clearly identified apparatus
• or a homogeneous series of apparatus

conform(s) with type test requirements of IEC- and EN - Standards listed by LOVAG. A homogeneous series of apparatus are products having the fundamental parts in common and differing in some components only.

The certificates are prepared according to the rules of LOVAG (Low Voltage Agreement Group):

• Are based on harmonized LOVAG Test Report Forms (TRF)
• testing is performed according to harmonized LOVAG Test Instructions (LTI) in laboratories accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025
• Harmonized uncertainty limits have to be kept

The validity of the Certificates is unlimited.

The Certificates apply only to the apparatus tested. The responsibility for conformity of any apparatus having the same designation with that tested rests with the manufacturer or responsible vendor.

Contact ALPHA at VDE or ALPHA-LOVAG registered Laboratory. ALPHA at VDE will help you with the following steps: You will receive (or download) Application Form  Scale of charges for certification  General terms and conditions  Form for General Agreement between Manufacturer and ALPHA at VDE  LOVAG Certification Scheme  Management and performance of testing in an ALPHA-LOVAG registered laboratory Application for testing to an ALPHA-LOVAG registered Laboratory Set up of testing plan Performance of testing under the supervision of ALPHA at VDE Issue of LOVAG Test Report by the ALPHA-LOVAG registered laboratory Application for Certification to ALPHA at VDE including: Signed Application Form Signed General Agreement LOVAG Test Report Evidence that product is subject to an effective quality assurance pursuant to the ISO 9000 series of standards Catalogue or equivalent document with technical data of the product Issue of ALPHA-LOVAG Type Certificate, including Original, sealed issue of the LOVAG Certificate Unsealed Copy for reproduction of the Certificate ALPHA and LOVAG Brochures for use with clients Ongoing Supervision of issued certificates by questionnaire (every year for 20 % of the issued certificates, audits for the oldest certificates)

In Europe LOVAG Certificates are used for the technical documentation necessary for CE Marking. Increasing numbers of recognition are available by admission authorities and end users worldwide.
For example (see additionally table in  ):

• By the shipping classification authorities like Lloyd‘s Register, RINA, Germanischer Lloyd, Bureau Veritas - Marine Division, DNV, PRS and ABS-American Bureau of Shipping...).
• In Russia and Ukraine for GOST and UkrZSM
• Middle East (VAE, Kuwait,..), and Far East (Hong Kong, Singapore, ..), India and South Africa.

Please contact the Certification Body ALPHA at VDE if you need any help or further information by e-mail to: alpha [at] vde [dot] com