Pro-Application Service: CB Scheme - IEC Standards

The Scheme is essentially based on the use of international standards – IEC Standards. If some members' national standards are not yet completely harmonized with IEC Standards, national differences, Special National Conditions (SNC) and Regulatory Requirements are permitted subject to formally declaring and detailing them to the IECEE Secretariat for further publication. The CB Scheme utilizes CB Test Certificates to attest that product samples have successfully passed the test conditions and are in compliance with the requirements of the relevant IEC Standard(s). When applicable, the CB Test Certificate and its associated Test Report can also include declared national differences, Special National Conditions (SNC) and Regulatory Requirements of various member countries.

The main objective of the Scheme, is to facilitate trade by promoting harmonization of the national standards with international Standards and cooperation among accepted NCBs worldwide in order to bring product manufacturers a step closer to the ideal concept of "one product, one test, one mark, where applicable'.

CB Test Report is a standardized report in a clause by clause checklist format referencing, the requirements of the relevant IEC Standard. The Test Report provides clear and unambiguous results of all the required tests, measurements, verifications, inspections and evaluations. It also contains photographs, electrical diagrams, artwork drawings as well as a description of the product. Under the rules of the CB Scheme, a CB Test Report is considered valid only if accompanied by its CB Test Certificate.

An NCB can test and evaluate products to national differences of other countries if it has the necessary test equipment and expertise. These additional tests are documented in the Supplements to the CB Test Report which are generally accepted by the recognizing NCBs.

National differences from an IEC Standard are those requirements in the corresponding National
Standard which are necessary to comply with, when seeking certification marks from NCBs located in Countries where this information is provided.

Special National Conditions
National characteristic or practice that cannot be changed even over a long period, e.g. climatic conditions, electrical earthing conditions, electrical code installation

NOTE: If it affects harmonization, it forms part of the European Standard.

For the countries in which the relevant special national conditions apply these provisions are normative. For other countries they are informative.

Regulatory Requirements
The restrictions, licenses, and laws applicable to a product or business, imposed by the government or the national authority

The various regulatory and statutory requirements need to be addressed so as to ensure relaxed exporting in countries where regulatory requirements apply.

Such manufacturers can:

Although the manufacturer is required to submit an Application and may also be required to submit a product sample in the country of destination, no additional testing is needed, and only administrative work should be involved in processing such Applications. Applications for obtaining certifications based on CB Test Certificates and CB Test Reports are given priority over other Applications as no testing is involved.