TS 13154

TS 13154 is a guidance document for applying EN 45011, the standard associated with general requirements for bodies operating product certification. It is aimed at the practical interpretation of how certification bodies evaluate products against specified requirements and manage the supporting certification process in a structured way.

How product certification is understood in practice

Product certification is a form of conformity assessment in which an independent body determines whether a product meets defined technical requirements, rules, or scheme criteria. In general technical terms, the key concepts behind this field are impartiality, competence, consistency, traceability of decisions, and confidence in the certification outcome. EN 45011 provides the framework for those organizational and process requirements, while TS 13154 adds guidance on how that framework is applied.

What this document covers and what it does not

The scope of this standard is limited to guidance for the application of EN 45011. It does not define a separate product test method, numerical product limit, or an independent certification scheme. Its value lies in helping users understand the standard’s intent, the relationships between certification functions, and the practical meaning of terms used in accreditation and product certification work.

• Supports the practical application of product certification requirements.
• Provides interpretive guidance for EN 45011.
• Places impartiality and consistency in the context of certification bodies.
• Helps harmonize understanding across conformity assessment activities.