Brochure
Solar Keymark brochure:
The Solar Keymark Brochure is available in several languages:
• Portuguese 2017 version (PT)
• Macedonian 2017 version (MK)
• Chinese 2010 version (Mandarin CN)
Why and how to become an accredited Solar Keymark Certification Body? How to join the Solar Keymark Network?
Why, as a Certification Body, the Solar Keymark & the Solar Keymark Network are important?
The Solar Keymark is:
- a solid, reliable and trustworthy Certification Scheme for 15 years,
- a certification internationally used (beyond the European continent),
- facilitating the access to subsidy schemes in many countries (SKN Map of European Support Scheme),
- supported by the Solar Keymark Network, which handles the Solar Keymark scheme in the most professional manner and finds the best solutions to complex technical matters, saving time and money with respect to a self operated certification scheme.
How to become an Solar Keymark Certification Body?
To become an empowered Solar Keymark Certification Body, please contact CEN’s point of contact in charge of the Keymark.
In case you have any questions regarding the process to become an empowered certification body, please contact the Solar Keymark Manager or the Solar Keymark Chairman.
How to join the Solar Keymark Network?
Once your organisation became an empowered Certification Body, you will be automatically added to the Solar Keymark Network Members
Solar Keymark Network
Compositon of the SKN
Members of the SKN
The Solar Keymark Network is the operative framework around Solar Keymark. It consist of the Solar Keymark operators (certification bodies, test labs and inspectors) and industry representatives.
Tasks of the SKN
The tasks of the network are:
- to maintain and continuously improve the Solar Keymark scheme rules and procedures;
- harmonise practical procedures;
- exchange experience amongst operators;
- exchange information between industry and operators;
- arrange comparative testing "Round Robin" amongst test labs;
- nform about Solar Keymark;
- list certified products;
- list empowered and accredited operators
Financing the SKN
Until 2010 the network was financed by:
- The Solar Keymark operators themselves;
- The European Commission (ALTENER & IEE projects);
- The European Solar Thermal Industry federation, ESTIF
The activities of the Solar Keymark Network are now financed by "Solar Keymark Licence fees". Though, the members of the SKN finance their own involvement in the Network.
The Solar Keymark Scheme Rules
The overall rules for the Solar Keymark certification scheme follows the general Keymark rules givene in the CEN docuemts below.
· CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations: Part 4 Certification, July 2018 (PDF)
The specific Solar Keymark rules acts as a supplement to the general rules, giving the specific requirements related to the particular Keymark certification of solar thermal products.
· SOLAR KEYMARK SKN_N0444R5_SK_Scheme Rules (PDF) / Edition 2021-07-09
· SKN_N0484_R6 History and List of changes for SK SRs SKN_N0444
· Annexes:
Annex A Inspection report templates
Annex E FPC
Annex P Product Specific Annex: Collectors EN 12975
P1 General
P3 Correction and interpretation file for the standard
P4.1 Datasheet Scenocalc
P4.2 Manual Aircow
P4.2 Datasheet AirCow
P5.1 PVT
P5.2 Coloured Glass
P5.3 Exchange rules for insulation
P5.4 Hydraulic Designation Code
P5.5 In-Situ Collector Certification
Annex Q Product Specific Annex: Systems EN 12976
Q1 General
Q4 Datasheet
Annex R Product Specific Annex: Systems EN 12977
R1 General
R4.1 Datasheet Store
R4.2 Datasheet Controller
R5.1 Application of ST software for EN 12977-2 system simulations
Annex W Weather Database
W2 EC Locations
The former version of the Scheme Rules including the annex are still available at the Solar KEYMARK website in case the fall back clause will become into effect. This ensures that all third parties and customers can see the former version to make sure that in case of any overlooked error or inconsistency the previous version of the Scheme Rules and Annexes can be applied (i.e. the set of documents that is valid today).
Former version of the Scheme Rules including the annexes – Replaced by SKN_N0444R1 and its Annexes
The Solar Keymark Network documents
See restricted area
European Standards for ST
Relevant standards
Published Standards
- EN 12975-1. Thermal solar systems and components - Solar collectors - Part 1: General Requirements.
- EN ISO 9806. Solar Energy - Solar thermal collectors - Test methods.
- EN 12976-1. Thermal solar systems and components - Factory made systems - Part 1: General requirements.
- EN 12976-2. Thermal solar systems and components - Factory made systems - Part 2: Test methods.
- EN 12977-1 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 1: General requirements for solar water heaters and combisystems
- EN 12977-2 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Test methods for solar water heaters and combisystems
- EN 12977-3 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 3: Performance test methods for solar water heater stores
- EN 12977-4 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 4: Performance test methods for solar combistores
- EN 12977-5 Thermal solar systems and components - Custom built systems - Part 5: Performance test methods for control equipment
- EN ISO 9488. Solar energy - Vocabulary.
SK Certified products
Database of Certified products
It is a requirement of the Solar Keymark Scheme that Certification bodies make test results publicly available.
Certification Bodies have an updated list of certified products by them - some also at their websites.
Parallel to this, in the Solar Keymark database, products with Solar Keymark are listed with links to manufacturer's web's and to data sheets with certified values of performance parameters for the products.
Note: We receive from the certification bodies updates for the database approx. once a month. If you don't see your new product in the database, please contact the certification body.
Solar Keymark Certification
Introduction
The Solar Keymark is a voluntary third-party certification mark for solar thermal products, demonstrating to end-users that a product conforms to the relevant European standards and fulfills additional requirements.
The Solar Keymark is used in Europe and increasingly recognized worldwide.
The Solar Keymark is a CEN/CENELEC European mark scheme, solely dedicated to:
- Solar thermal collectors (based on European standards EN 12975 and EN/ISO 9806)
- Factory made solar thermal systems (based on European standard series EN12976)
- Custom build solar thermal systems, storages and controllers (based on European standard series EN12977)
The Solar Keymark was developed by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) in close co-operation with leading European test labs and with the support of the European Commission. It is the main quality label for solar thermal products and is widely spread across the European market and beyond.
Who can certify ST products?
Certification Bodies empowered by CEN Certification Board for issuing Solar Keymark licenses. These Certification Bodies ensure that the products and their manufacturers comply with the requirements of the Solar Keymark Certification Scheme.
The empowered Certification Bodies require from the costumer testing according to:
- EN/ISO 9806: Solar energy -- Solar thermal collectors -- Test methods
- EN 12976-2: Thermal solar systems and components. Factory made systems. Test methods
- EN 12977-2: Thermal solar systems and components. Custom built systems. Test methods for solar water heaters and combisystems
- EN 12977-3: Thermal solar systems and components. Custom built systems. Performance test methods for solar water heater stores
- EN 12977-4: Thermal solar systems and components. Custom built systems. Performance test methods for solar combistores
- EN 12977-5: Thermal solar systems and components. Custom built systems. Performance test methods for control equipment
From recognised Test Labs, i.e., Test Labs that comply with the requirements of the Certification Body and are entrusted by this to carry the according to the relevant EN Standards and the SK scheme rules.
How to become a recognised test lab?
The requirements are set in the Internal Regulations of the Keymark System. The general requirements are given in [1], part 4.1.5:
"Bodies engaged in certification, testing and inspection shall fulfil the requirements of the relevant standards for their operation, e.g. EN 45000 series and EN ISO/IEC 17000 series of standards, as well as the additional requirements defined in the Keymark scheme rules..."
The Solar Keymark Scheme Rules as set additional requirements/rules, for instance:
- The certification body in agreement with the manufacturer (license applicant) employs any of the approved testing laboratories fulfilling the requirements in this scheme and listed in paragraph 8 "List of bodies for the implementation of the scheme";
- Evaluation of testing laboratories by the certification body is not an alternative to accreditation;
- Certification bodies, testing laboratories and inspection bodies shall participate actively in the Solar Keymark Network, i.e. participate the in meetings relevant for their activities in Solar Keymark certification, testing and inspection;
- Certification bodies shall make test results public available in the harmonised format agreed upon by the Solar Keymark Network – See Annex B. Updated lists of certified products shall be sent to the Secretariat of the Solar Keymark Network each month.
- Certification bodies shall collect a fee for each license issued to be transferred to the Secretariat of the Solar Keymark Network.
Contact List
Please click on the links below to access the:
Subcategories
Solar Keymark products
Solar Keymark News
-
Solar Certification Fund: 12th call
Brussels, November 18th 2020 – The Solar Certification Fund (SCF) launched its 12th call for proposals to continue to provide regular and reliable support for:
Read more...
