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TRaC and BSI: new agreement launches unique Test/Certification partnership

21st July 2010

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TRaC, a leading provider of test and certification services, has announced that it is to collaborate with BSI in offering an approvals programme for equipment designed to operate in explosive atmospheres. Together, the two companies have a depth of expertise, and global reach, that is unrivalled in the field. TRaC CEO Mark Heaven comments, “This agreement represents a major step forward in terms of the support we can offer the industry, and for TRaC itself. We are delighted that BSI, with its global reputation in certification services, has selected TRaC as its Test Partner in this demanding industry sector.”

TRaC is accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) as an ATEX test laboratory. The company’s facilities are also qualified under IECEx, an internationally-recognised Conformity Assessment System that runs under the auspices of the IEC, defining safe operating parameters for equipment that will be used in any location (known as “Ex Areas”) where there is risk of fire or explosion. TRaC’s services help manufacturers to simplify and speed up the process of preparing their products for international markets. Once a product has been certified as IECEx-compliant, it is recorded on a central database and can then be sold in over 30 countries worldwide.

The British Standards Institution, BSI, offers a range of services in the field of certification for hazardous-area operation. It is a Notified Body for the EU ATEX Directive 94/9/EC; compliance to that Directive is mandatory in the EU for any equipment intended for operation in explosive atmospheres. BSI offers its clients design advice for products to ensure that they are ready for full assessment, type testing, certification, and storage of the technical files that hold all of the data used to substantiate conformity claims.

Closer co-operation between TRaC and BSI means an even more responsive and comprehensive service. With TRaC focussing on the testing aspects of the approvals process, and BSI majoring on certification, the combined offering of both bodies will mean that clients will have the highest possible level of support at every stage of their product development, from design through to release to market. The combined international reach and expertise of both companies is unparalleled in the industry, allowing products to be prepared for the widest range of markets worldwide, in the shortest possible time.
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Ken Coveney, Managing Director of BSI Testing Services adds “This is a real step forward in the provision of speedy and responsive services in the ATEX testing and certification field. We fully anticipate that this collaboration will bring significant and long lasting benefits to manufacturers as well as site operatives.”