IFA test and certification body for machines and safety components according to the equipment and product safety act

The equipment product and safety act (Geräte- und Produktsicherheitsgesetz - GPSG) applies to the use of technical working equipment or putting such equipment into circulation in the framework of business activities. Technical working equipment in the sense of the GPSG includes working installations, i.e., they can be used according to their intended purpose without requiring the addition of extra parts. Among these are primarily tools, working equipment, work machines and prime movers, lifting and conveying equipment, as well as transport conveyances.

Technical working equipment can bear the GS mark if type tests are conducted by an authorised independent body and confirmed that the product conforms to the current safety and health requirements of the Federal Republic of Germany and the test and certification body conducts inspections to assure that only the products that correspond to the type are brought onto the market (production monitoring). It is the latter requirement that distinguishes the GS certificate from a type-test certificate in accordance with the EU machinery directive, which does not require production monitoring. It is thus possible to apply the GS mark also to machines that are subject to the machinery directive, and thus to the ninth ordinance of the GPSG, if an appropriate type test was conducted.

IFA is an independent body authorised in the framework of the equipment safety test body ordinance [Gerätesicherheits-Prüfstellenverordnung]. IFA heads the German circle on the exchange of experience on machines (EK9) of the accredited GS test bodies in Germany.

The expertise of the IFA test body is described in the accreditation certificates of the Central Office of Safety Technology of the Länder (ZLS) and their records.