Type Approval Independent product verification from Lloyd’s Register
Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (LR) demonstrates that your product conforms to recognised industry quality standards and/or the LR Rules, through a process of independent design review, sample testing and verification of production controls. When you achieve LR Type Approval, you benefit from more than 250 years of technical excellence, inspiring confidence in your customers, investors and suppliers that you and your product comply with best practice. How can Lloyd’s Register’s Type Approval help you? LR Type Approval provides an efficient alternative to certifying identical products individually. It can be tailored to your product and business needs. It is available for a wide range of products used in marine and offshore applications, industrial plant and processes, and the information technology sector. We work with you right from the beginning, identifying any areas that may need attention. If required, we can also help pre-assess the product before you present your application
for Type Approval. This helps save time and cost and ensures that all the relevant documentation is in place. Type Approval also provides confidence that your selected vendors and suppliers are capable of providing the required standard of product components. Once you have achieved Lloyd’s Register Type Approval, you can use the LR Type Approval mark (right) to promote your compliance, on your packaging, in promotional literature or on the product itself. This can be used for all products credited on the Type Approval Certificate.
Your product will also be listed in the LR List of Type Approved Products, available at www.lr.org/typeapproval, providing you with access to worldwide markets. The list can be searched by product, certificate number, country and producer.
The LR Type Approval mark
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The two main elements of Type Approval
Categories of Type Approval
There are two main elements of Type Approval: type examination and production quality assurance.
Depending on the product and your preference, products can be approved under the following different categories:
Type examination Type examination involves design review and sample testing. It includes:
LR Type Approval (against relevant requirements): Under this category, products are type approved against the requirements of an agreed standard or standards. Standards can be national (for example, flag administration requirements from bodies such as the UK MCA and Transport Canada); international (for example, ISO Standards) or any other type of specific requirement (for example, the LR Rules).
–– Design/specification review: Your submitted design data is reviewed to establish that the design complies with the requirements of the specified standard(s) and/or LR rules. –– Prototype testing: Representative samples of the product are tested to verify they meet the testing requirements of the relevant standards and any performance requirements associated with the product. Production quality assurance Production quality assurance is carried out to ensure that the product, when mass produced, will be of an acceptable quality and will conform to the version that was prototype tested. Production controls are inspected to confirm that the product can be manufactured in accordance with the design data.
Certification Once Type Approval is achieved, a Type Approval Certificate, normally valid for five years, is issued, subject to the product’s conformity being maintained. The product is then entered in the relevant part of the Lloyd’s Register List of Type Approval Products.
Marine Equipment Directive (MED) A product which has been covered by the MED can be type approved under this category. You can choose the most appropriate conformity route for approval of your product. Lloyd’s Register Verification (LRV), an authorised Notified Body, can certify equipment in compliance with the regulations specified by the Directive. EU Mutual Recognition Selected components and equipment, for which technical requirements have been developed and agreed by all European Union (EU) recognised organisations (ROs), can be type approved against this scheme.
Client enquiry and discussion LR provides quotation for the services requested Quotation accepted and documents sent Type examination
Design review Prototype testing
Production quality assurance Type Approval Certificate The Type Approval process
Approval of Welding Consumables, Non-Metallic Materials and Coatings Under this category, the manufacturer’s plant, method of production and the product can be approved subject to satisfactory inspection of the works and/or type testing. Typically, products need to comply with the LR Rules and international standards.
“LR Type Approval provides an efficient alternative to certifying identical products individually. It can be tailored to your product and business needs.”
0038/yy The MED ‘wheelmark’
To find out more about how we can help you, contact your local Lloyd’s Register office, email TypeApprovalEnquiries@lr.org or visit www.lr.org/typeapproval
www.lr.org June 2014 Lloyd’s Register and variants of it are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Copyright © Lloyd’s Register Group Limited. 2014. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.