Testing or certification? The difference between the two services
Technically reviewed: 2026-07-31
In short
Laboratory testing is measurement: objective data about a product's properties — for development, verification, disputes. Certification (EU type-examination) is a legally defined conformity-assessment procedure conducted by a notified body, resulting in a certificate. You can commission the former at any time; the latter is the market-access condition for Category II–III PPE. The two roles and responsibilities are separate — for impartiality reasons too.
The two services, side by side
| Laboratory testing | Certification (EU type-examination) | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens? | measurement by standard methods | a legally defined conformity-assessment procedure |
| Who can commission it? | anyone: manufacturer, importer, brand, retailer | the manufacturer (or authorised representative) |
| What is the result? | a test report | an EU type-examination certificate |
| What is it for? | development, verification, disputes, documentation | market access of Category II–III PPE |
| Mandatory? | no — a business decision | yes, depending on category |
Why the separation?
Because the certificate’s value stands on impartiality. A notified body may not have an interest in the procedure’s outcome and may not give product-design advice on a product it assesses. That is why laboratory services and conformity assessment are separated roles at BIMEO — what they share is only the technical standard of measurement.
The practical order
For most manufacturers the two come in sequence: during development, laboratory measurement supplies the data for decisions; when the product is ready, the certification procedure assesses the type. Whoever arrives at the procedure without measurement meets the gaps there for the first time — the most common and most expensive detour.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I place PPE on the market with a test report?
- No. A report records measurement results; placing Category II–III PPE on the market requires an EU type-examination certificate and an EU declaration of conformity. A report can feed the procedure but does not replace it.
- If BIMEO's laboratory measured my development samples, can it also certify the product?
- Development-supporting measurement and conformity assessment are separated roles. In the certification procedure the decision rests solely on the procedure's own examinations and the documentation — impartiality is the precondition of the certificate's value.
- Can I get certification for non-PPE products?
- BIMEO's notified-body designation covers personal protective equipment. For other products we offer laboratory testing — the result is a report, not a certificate.
Where next?
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