Is a certificate with the old address invalid?
A different address alone does not allow a reliable statement about validity. What matters is what is behind the new address and what the issuing body confirms. For certificates issued under the testing and certification rules of DGUV Test, address changes must be reported without delay, an automatic expiry through the change of address alone is not provided for there. The AirGuard Pro certificates are issued by the notified body CCQS (no. 2834). The conditions of CCQS apply to them.
In practice: have a different address explained in a traceable way and, if needed, request the updated certificate or a confirmation from the issuing body for the specific certificate.
What role the address plays in the document
An EU type-examination certificate documents the assessment of a specific PPE type by a notified body. As a rule it names the manufacturer, the product, the standard and an expiry date, as shown in EU type-examination certificate explained.
The EU declaration of conformity is a separate document. With it the manufacturer takes responsibility that the PPE meets the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (Art. 15). It has to be kept up to date. Certificate and declaration of conformity therefore have different tasks. In addition the manufacturer must indicate a postal address at which they can be contacted on the PPE, or if that is not possible on the packaging or in a document accompanying the PPE (Art. 8(6)).
Move, relocated production or new manufacturer?
Three different cases can be behind a different address. They should not all be treated as a “new address”.
| Case | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| New administrative or contact address | How the changed details were recorded at the certification body and the affected documents updated. |
| Relocation of production | Additional assessments or an inspection of the new site may be needed. For DGUV Test certificates a notification without delay is required. |
| Change of company or certificate holder | A transfer of the certificate must not be assumed. DGUV Test certificates are tied to their holder and, for product certificates, also to the tested product. |
Check the notified body in the EU database
Whether a body is listed as a notified body for the PPE Regulation is shown in NANDO, the European Commission database of notified bodies. Search there for the identification number, for AirGuard Pro 2834 (CCQS), and see for which legal acts and procedures the body is notified. This does not replace a statement on an individual certificate, but it rules out that the document comes from a body that is not notified. The number also appears next to the CE marking and in the instructions for use.
Keeping the declaration of conformity up to date
The Blue Guide of the European Commission, the guide on the implementation of EU product rules, states that the EU declaration of conformity is to be kept up to date. If manufacturer details change, you therefore look not only at the certificate but also at the declaration, the instructions for use and the marking. If these documents do not match each other, ask the manufacturer before you use or resell the product.
Which documents to compare
It makes sense to compare certificate, EU declaration of conformity, manufacturer information and product marking together. It must be clear which company is responsible for which product. A general letter about a move can explain a different address. As proof of the status of a specific certificate, request a clearly assigned statement.
How to check a certificate with a different address
- Assign the product: compare model name and article details with the documents you have.
- Identify the certificate: note certificate number, issuing body and document version.
- Clarify the difference: ask whether only the address changed or also manufacturer, production or company structure.
- Have the current status confirmed: ask for the current version and, if needed, a written statement from the certification body.
- Document the clarification: keep the reply together with the product-related documents.
For DGUV Test certificates you can search the number in the public DGUV Test certificate search. For CCQS certificates the certificate itself names the contact for queries. More under EU type-examination certificate explained and ISO 9001 certificate explained.
Questions about a DS SafetyWear certificate?
Did you receive a product document with a different address or do you need documents for your internal check? Send us the article name, the certificate number and, if possible, the document concerned. This lets us match your request clearly to the product and the certificate. To the enquiry. The available documents are under Data sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Is a certificate with the old address automatically invalid?
No, a different address alone does not allow a statement about validity. What matters is which change is behind it and what the issuing body confirms. For DGUV Test certificates an automatic expiry through the change of address alone is not provided for.
What is the difference between certificate and declaration of conformity?
The certificate documents the assessment of a type by a notified body. With the EU declaration of conformity the manufacturer takes responsibility that the PPE meets the requirements. It has to be kept up to date.
Must a relocation of production be reported?
Yes, for DGUV Test certificates the testing and certification rules require a notification without delay. Additional assessments or an inspection may be needed. For other bodies their conditions apply.
Does a certificate pass automatically on a change of company?
That must not be assumed. DGUV Test certificates are tied to their holder and, for product certificates, also to the tested product.
Which address must be on the PPE?
The manufacturer must indicate a postal address at which they can be contacted on the PPE. If that is not possible it can be on the packaging or in the accompanying documents (Art. 8(6) of Regulation (EU) 2016/425).
How do I get a confirmation for a DS SafetyWear certificate?
Send us the article name, certificate number and if possible the document through the enquiry. We match it to the product.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
- DGUV Principle 300-003: testing and certification rules of DGUV Test, part 1, May 2024 edition, sections 3.2, 3.5 and 3.6
- DGUV Test certificate search
- CCQS Certification Services Limited (notified body no. 2834)
- NANDO: database of notified bodies (European Commission)
- Blue Guide 2022: guide to the implementation of EU product rules (OJ C 247, 29.6.2022)
