Archive for category: Service & Acknowledgment

On 16.11.2017, the second official Flame Verte Laboratories Meeting took place in Paris at the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables. There were important topics on the agenda related to the Flame Verte Recognition. Also, the contract between Syndicat of Energies Renouvelables and the test laboratories was revised, the “Charte des Flamme Verte” for the manufacturers was presented and the procedure for the so-called “Performance Tests” and round robin tests were discussed. For you, we, as on of the leading laboratories, have contributed to the above-mentioned topics with our professional competence and our Know-how.

All in all, the label’s representatives place a high focus on the quality and compliance with emission requirements, not only in the “Entry Test” on the test bench, but also in the fireplaces in the ongoing production. In the coming years, regarding the ECO-Design guideline 2022, there will be further tightening on the requirements for manufacturers.

The first official FlammeVerte (FV) Laboratories Meeting was on 23th of June 2016 in Paris at „Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables”. The presentation about FV label, the RoundRobin test between the FV laboratories and the accreditation of the laboratories by Eurovent Certita were big points of the agenda. Also the „Golden Rules Document“ for the FV laboratories were worked out and the future procedure as well as important issues were discussed.

Important information for manufacturers

• Which advantages has been offered by FlammeVerte?

The FV label is in France the best known award for fireplaces and is politically provided by “Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables”. It has a big awareness at the customers and arranges high market acceptance. Also for manufacturers, who do not sell in France, the label is interesting because the limit values and especially the 7. star will apply with the future EcoDesign requirements (in 2022). For that you can label your products accordingly. For pure producers the label is also interesting because it´s easier to find OEM customers on the French market.

• To request as a manufacturer the FV label for the first time, three steps are necessary:

1. Application to

FlammeVerte

Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables

13-15 Rue de la Baume

75008 Paris

FRANCE

with a presentation of the manufacturer and the products.

Contact persons for the application are Mr. Nicolas Audigane and Mr. Alexis Errard.

2. Inspection of the manufacturers documents (also test reports) by Eurovent Certita and assessment if the test reports where issued by FV laboratories and based on it the classification according to 5, 6 or 7 stars.

3. „Entry Test“ – The highest classificated fireplace of the manufacturer will be chosen and has to test again at a FV laboratory.

> if the test results correspond the manufacturer gets the FV label

Any other fireplaces of the manufacturer will be classified according to the test results of the type tested test reports in 5, 6 or 7 stars. If the manufacturer already type tested in a FV laboratory the “Entry Test” is dropped.

• What is going to be tested?

The focus of FV is the adherence of the emission limit values. Because of that all pertinent testing for emission are performed, tests for fire safety are not important.

• What happens after the manufacturer got the FV label?

One fireplace of each manufacturer has been tested with a “Performance Check” by FV between 2013 and 2016, so in between those three years every manufacturer had to perform a cross-validation. In 2017 every manufacturer should perform a cross-validation once a year. If there are any deviations on test results (both positive or negative) at one of this cross-validations the fireplace will be upgraded or downgraded.

• Do OEM products have the ability to get the FV label?

If the basic fireplace has a test report of a FV laboratory they do not need new test for the OEM products.

If the basic fireplace has not a test report of a FV laboratory the OEM customer also hast to perform the “Entry Test”.

• What are the latest valid limit values?

The officially limit values are on the homepage http://www.flammeverte.org/

• Are there any tightening of limit values?

The limit values of the star classification remain in place. However the lower classifications are going to be invalid during the next years.

2014: 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-star fireplaces

2015 5-, 6-, 7- star fireplaces

2018: 6-, 7- star fireplaces

2020: 7- star fireplaces

• What happens with old test reports?

Since 18th of May 2016 the RRF is officially FlammeVerte testing laboratory. If the manufacturer already is a FV customer all test reports with an earlier date have to validate and verified in order of the manufacturer by the RRF and a new test report accepted by FV has to issued. In the course of the entry-tests for new costumers this procedure is not valid. For that a new testing on the test bench is necessary.

 

At the end of the meeting the laboratories decided to continuing work out the „Golden Rules Document”, which gives the test specification for FV laboratories and commit in writing to adherence. Additionally at least once a year a Laboratories Meeting in Paris should take place.

After successful audit by DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH) we are glad to tell you that beside the maintenance of our accreditation we also extend our range of accreditation with the following standards of products.

 

In the time to come we can offer you the following product tests:

prEN 16510:

Part 1: General requirements and test methods

Part 2-1: Roomheaters

Part 2-2: Inset appliances including open fires

Part 2-3: Cookers

Part 2-4: Independent boilers — Nominal heat output up to 50 kW

Part 2-5: Slow heat release appliances

Part 2-6: Appliances fired by wood pellets

DIN EN 1860-1:   Barbecue appliances for solid fuels

DIN EN 14059:   Decorative oil lamps

DIN EN 16647:   Decorative fireplaces for liquid fuels (ethanol fireplaces)

 

In the same breath we made a big step forward regarding our quality policy because we received a flexible accreditation for every accredited test procedures. This is only possible if the testing laboratory occupies the qualification to adapt revisions and new publications of standards or guidelines or integrate them into the testing procedure.

 

Consequently our accreditation is also valid for every modifications and future revisions of our accredited testing procedures.