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)
What is the Solar Keymark? Why is the Solar Keymark useful for Public Authorities?
What is the Solar Keymark?
The Solar Keymark is a voluntary third-party certification mark for solar thermal products, owned by CEN/CENELEC.
Every certified product is in full conformity with the relevant European standards and fulfils additional requirements to assure constant quality. This level of quality is maintained by initial type testing and by regular controlled of the products and their production sites by independent inspectors. Consumers and authorities can fully rely on the certified products.
For these reasons the Solar Keymark is the basis for most European supporting schemes and it is also increasingly recognised or adapted worldwide.
The Solar Keymark can be currently granted to:
- Solar collectors (according to EN 12975-1),
- Factory made solar thermal systems (according to EN 12976-1),
- Custom built solar systems thermal systems: solar water heaters and combisystems,
- (according to EN 12977-1).
Why is the Solar Keymark useful for Public Authorities?
The Solar Keymark:
- Is a well-proven (15 years) trustful quality mark for solar thermal products managed by a European group of expert, the Solar Keymark Network,
- Gives a fair chance that the certified product will provide a good performance as well as being resistance and durable. It filters out many lower-quality products available on the market,
- Offers a certification scheme that can be used in subsidy schemes as it is easy to use and provide the market surveillance authorities with reliable technical information. Due to its facility to use, the Solar Keymark is used in several support schemes in Europe (SKN Map of European Support Scheme),
- Is a true European mark which facilitates trade and helps overcoming barriers within Europe.
Solar Keymark Network
The Solar Keymark certification system is managed by a group of empowered certification bodies, recognised testing laboratories, quality-conscious manufacturers and Solar Heat Europe: The Solar Keymark Network.
Do you have any question regarding the Solar Keymark or Solar Keymark Network?
Contact the Solar Keymark Secretariat at info@solarheateurope.eu.
Solar Keymark Network
Compositon of the SKN
The Solar Keymark was created to certify solar thermal products of high quality at European level. The aim is to reduce trade barriers and promote the use of high quality
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
Solar Keymark Certification
Who can certify ST products?
Certification Bodies empowered by CEN Certification Board for issueing 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 12975 and EN/ISO 9806: Solar thermal systems and components - Solar collectors
- EN 12976: Solar thermal systems and components - Factory made systems
- EN 12977:Solar thermal systems and components - Custom built systems, storages and controllers
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.
Please click on the links below to access the:
SK Certified products
How to recognise a certified product?
Solar Keymark’s certified products bare the official Keymark logo together with an identification code. If affixing to the product itself is not possible or practical, it shall be visible on the product’s package, user manual or accompany commercial documentation.
Registered Code
The identification code must remain clearly legible. Other marks used in conjunction with the Keymark shall not create confusion with it, not shall they reduce its legibility and visibility.
The validity of a Solar Keymark certificate can be checked in the Solar Keymark Database of Certified products.
Database of Certified Products
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.
If you want to know more about the collector performance parameters - and if you want to compare your collector to a typical collector, go to:
Explanation of the certified collector performance parameters
Product Certification
Why should product certification be required?
What are the advantages for the consumer?
What are the advantages for the manufacturer?
Why should product certification be required?
Product certification assists users to select quality products, as attest that a given product complies with the relevant European Standards.
The certification may be:
- voluntary (SK) or compulsory (ex: some CE marks);
- third-party (SK) or self-certification (CE marking);
- European (SK) or national on its scope and recognition.
Product certification, when required by a support scheme set up by a public body, assures that a proper use of public funds is done.
What are the advantages for the consumer?
- high quality products
- guarantee that the product sold is identical to the tested product
- confirmation that products are FULLY tested according to the relevant standards
- eligibility for subsidies
What are the advantages for the manufacturer?
- simpler testing procedure
- one test valid for all European countries
- freedom of choice amongst the accredited test labs
- easier introduction of new products in different European countries
- simplified procedures for replacing components in certified products
How does the Certification process work?
What is the current situation in European countries?
The Solar Keymark is used in Europe and increasingly recognized worldwide. It is the main quality label for solar thermal products and is widely spread across the European market and beyond. It is recognised in all European countries, even if in soime countries some aditional requirements may apply.
Further information may be found on country reports. These intend to provide an overview of the situation of different European markets. This overview addressed general market topics and specific standards & certification issues.
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