hpivs-CEI Alliance for Post-Brexit Certification

HPi-CEproof is pleased to reveal its very exciting post-Brexit plans for continuing inspection & certification work: the hpivs- CEI Alliance

HPi-CEproof (Ireland) Ltd. was registered in Ireland, an EU Member State, before the UK’s referendum on leaving the EU, back in June 2016. HPi-CEproof is proud to announce that it has formed an alliance with Compliance Engineering Ireland Ltd, also a Approved Body for EMC & RED Directives.  The companies now share offices in CEI’s laboratory facility in Co. Meath, just north of Dublin from where full product safety testing services and Approved Body services are provided for the following UK Regulations:

  • Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR)
  • Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations (PER)
  • Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations (SPV)
  • Machinery Directive
  • ElectroMagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD)
  • Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
  • Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

HPi-CEproof Ireland (CRO # 577786) will start issuing certificates in mid-2018.  This means that, for a period yet to be agreed between UK and EU, HPi-CEproof will have two approvals as a Approved Body, with exactly the same scope of supply. The UK Approved Body will continue for as long as the ultimate UK-EU Brexit agreement allows. Thereafter, the current UK certificates & files will simply be transferred to the Irish company with no charge or delay to customers.

So not only will HPi-CEproof be carrying on work post Brexit, but the array of possible services is greatly increased owing to the hpivs- CEI Alliance.

The office & laboratory address:

Clonross,
Dunshaughlin,
Co. Meath, A85 XN59
Ireland

Email:  ireland@HPi-CEproof.com

Telephone: +353 (0)1 8017008

Celebrating 20 years of EU UKCA Certifications

This year marks the 20th anniversary of HPi-CEproof (HPi VS), and as we reflect on the past two decades, it’s worth taking a moment to recognise the successful business we have been able to build. Over the years, it has been our prerogative to ensure that our customers continuously receive a high-quality service that reflects and upholds the values that have remained core to the business since its inception in March 1997.

HPi VS has become synonymous with offering an independent EU certification service grounded in in-depth knowledge and expertise for several UK Regulations, including the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR), Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations (PER), SPV, and Machinery Directive. Because we understand the needs of our clients, we pride ourselves in offering a bespoke hands-on, consultative, and flexible service that seeks to ensure an efficient, cost effective, and comprehensive path to compliance.

It is this approach married with our knowledge and expertise that has strengthened our position as a serious player within the industrial, marine, offshore, and oil and gas sectors. And, as we continue to grow, we remain committed to providing our customers with the utmost professional and robust certification solutions and advice.

Taking lessons from the last 20 years, we understand the value of recognising and appreciating the sometimes-difficult market conditions that our customers face, and the need to be flexible, agile, and responsive in order to support them whenever and wherever required.

We continue to educate the market on the various UK Regulations, and together with my colleagues that I have been privileged to work alongside for the last few years, we continue to work with our clients to educate them on the need for compliance in a timely and cost effective manner.

This is a significant landmark for the company, and my hope is that we take the learnings from the last 20 years to continue to grow in strength, knowledge, and expertise. In doing so, we may continue to offer a tailored and high quality service to our customers, that upholds the high standards and code of conduct regulations set out by governments and the EU Commission.

 
20-years

New ICOMIA Technical File Generator simplifies RCR II compliance process

A formal Technical File is needed to UKCA mark a boat and prove it complies with the legislation and all the applicable standards. However, the format and detail of the Technical File is not defined within the compliance requirements of the legislation. For those with poor or insufficient documentation, there is a danger of being deemed non-compliant, should there ever be a liability claim. To help simplify the compliance process, ICOMIA has brought to the industry its Technical File Generator. This is an online software tool which enables quick and efficient creation of the file and supporting declaration of conformity.

To further supplement the ease of compliance, Rulefinder.net has launched a one-month membership of its online access, to cover every single ISO standard required for RCR compliance. Combined, these provide the industry with the ultimate RCR compliance tool.

Industry feedback regarding the tool has been overwhelmingly positive. As such, HPi-CEproof is offering customers that choose to submit their file using the ICOMIA TFG format a 30% discount on our certification services. For more information on the Technical File Generator, please visit www.icomia.tech.

ICOMIA launch their RCR Technical File Generator

If you need to UKCA mark a boat, you need a formal Technical File to prove it complies with the legislation and all the applicable standards. The format and detail of the Technical File is not defined in the legislation. Those with poor documentation are in danger should there ever be a liability claim.  So ICOMIA has brought to the industry their Technical File Generator.  This is an online software tool to create the file and also the declaration of conformity.

To help with this, Rulefinder.net have also launched one-month membership of their online access to ALL the ISO standards required for RCR.

Put these two together and the industry has the ultimate RCR compliance tool.  HPi-CEproof likes it so much, we offer 30% discount to clients submitting their files in the ICOMIA TFG format.  Find out more at www.icomia.tech.

RCD I is dead! Long Live RCD II !

CE marking legislation for boats changes tonight!  When the clock strikes midnight, RCD I will no longer exist as a legal statute across the European Economic Area (except UK where the Brexit referendum means both the new and old Directives will both be legal for a while longer).  Manufacturers may no-longer issue Declarations of Conformity to RCD I after 17th January 2017.

For further details click here.

HPi-CEproof Sponsor Southampton University Hydro Team to Success

Southampton Hydro Team 2016 on Lake Geneva
Southampton Hydro Team 2016 on Lake Geneva

Southampton Hydro Team are back from Lausanne, Switzerland and over the moon with this year’s success.  The team, sponsored by HPi-CEproof, entered their boat in the 2016 Hydro Contest. This prestigious competition invites universities to design and build the most energy efficient craft and conduct a series of trials to find the best.  Southampton achieved the following results:

Heavy Weight Race: 4th

Light Weight Race: 6th

Long Distance Race: 4th

Winners of the Communication Prize!

The team suffered a serious set-back in practice when two teams on the same radio frequencies interfered, leading to a high-speed collision with the dock wall.  Quick repairs from the skilled team of students resulted with the boat making the start line on time but who knows how much better the results might have been.

Aradna Pons Forn, Project Leader stated “This brilliant achievement would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors and we cannot thank you enough for the support you have given us in the run up to the competition.”

The team continues with some new and some old faces and HPi-CEproof wish them luck.

Business as usual after Brexit

Following the UK’s shock decision to leave EU, HPi-CEproof would like to assure its customers that it is business as usual.image001

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29th March 2017, signalling the UK’s intention to leave EU.  The exit procedure takes 2 years and so the UK is expected to lose EU member status on 29th March 2019.  If both parties agree to longer negotiations, the UK may remain a member for longer. Whenever the UK formally leaves EU, HPi-CEproof will be able to continue trading as a Approved Body by either or both of the following two possibilities:

  1. the UK and EU may negotiate a mutual recognition treaty that will allow UK certification bodies to be EU Notified Bodies, and/or
  2. HPi-CEproof will trade from Ireland, an EU member state.

Long before the vote, HPi-CEproof registered a company in Ireland and made contact with INAB, the Irish National Accreditation Board.  Since the vote, HPi-CEproof senior management has visited INAB and agreed an action plan and timetable for Approved Body status in Ireland. The process is expected to be complete in late 2017.

So when the UK leaves EU, one or both of the above solutions will be in place.

So it is business as usual for HPi-CEproof and clients need not have any concerns about their certificates.

Please contact me directly if you have any questions.

Alasdair Reay

CEO, HPi-CEproof Ltd.