Before you proceed to the Warringtonfire Certified Companies/Certificate Check portal, we need you to confirm that you have read and understand what third party certification is and the definitions of the different terminology we use. Please read the information below, then return to the original page and check the box to confirm your understanding. You may then proceed to the portal.
What is third party certification?
Third party certification is a conformity assessment activity, conducted by independent third party certification bodies, which can be applied to a product, a service, a process, a management system, a body or persons. Conformity assessment is used to provide added assurance to all interested parties that what is being supplied is capable of meeting the specified requirements set out in the relevant standards and other normative documents.
The type of conformity assessment depends on the product, process or service and is set out in the certification schemes defined by the certification body, in accordance with a relevant conformity assessment standard, such as ISO 17065, to which the certification body is accredited. Conformity assessment can include product sampling, initial type testing, factory inspection, office audits, competency reviews and periodic audit testing.
Third party certification schemes are developed for specific products and services, and as such it is necessary for the purchaser to understand the essential criteria and limitations of a particular certification scheme, in order to be confident that the certified product or service will meet their end goal objectives.
Once the scope of the certification scheme is understood, it is essential to verify that the actual product or service being requested is covered by the scope of the supplier’s third party certification and that the supplier’s certification is active and has not been withdrawn, suspended or expired. Third party certification is an ongoing process of conformity assessment and as such the status of the certified company can change over time.
Third party certification can offer the highest level of assurance in terms of the ability for a product, service or process to meet specified requirements but only when both the purchaser and third party certified company have a transparent understanding of the goods or services required, and the scope of that certification scheme that is being used to help demonstrate compliance.
Definitions:
Status
- Issued & Valid: A live certificate that has been issued and the customer’s certification is currently valid
- Expired: A certificate that had been issued but the expiry date on the certificate is now in the past
- Suspended: A customer who has been temporarily suspended under the scheme. During the period of suspension, they cannot claim to be certified under the scheme. They may be reinstated in the future
- Withdrawn: A certificate that has been withdrawn and the customer can no longer claim to be certified under the scheme
Document Type
- Certificate: Issued to a customer once they are fully certified under the scheme
- Technical schedule: Is the technical specification against which products are assessed/tested