CE marking indicates that the product concerned conforms with the relevant European Directive, which includes areas such as system design, performance and quality control. To achieve this, a company may need third party approval for its product, but in reality it’s often the case that a manufacturer’s unverified claims of conformance are accepted.
The manufacturer must then ensure that its products meet the necessary standards. Unfortunately, it would appear that the thoroughness of this process isn’t always what it should be.
Potential consequences of poor manufacturing include low performance levels on site and a tendency towards malfunction. In the worse case scenario, faulty equipment could well prevent a fire alarm from being transmitted, and thus endanger lives.
BSIA-registered manufacturers strongly support the CE standard, but are concerned that it’s simply too easy for equipment to be ‘CE badged’ without it having passed the relevant tests.
Our advice? Low-priced goods don’t always mean best price in the long term. Ask your installer what quality assurances they can give you, and never be tempted to settle for second best.
