The GS Mark

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• European
• International
• Certified products
• Certification Rules

The GS Mark

The GS mark is a voluntary mark indicating that some products are meeting safety requirements. The issuing and management requirements of the mark are detailed in the German Equipment and Safety Act (GPSG or "Geräte- und Produktsicherheitsgesetz") dating back to 01/06/2004 and relating to Technical Work Equipment and Consumer Products safety.

The mark is famous in many countries. It can be allocated to products that have been declared compliant with the safety technical rules applied in Germany, once tests and assessment of the production means are performed: regulations, standards, etc. After they have been tested, the products satisfying all the requirements have to be labeled with the GS logo. The name of the certifying body has to appear on this label.
Also, a certificate has to be issued to prove that the GS mark has been granted. The period of validity of the certificate is five years maximum.

Products concerned

The GS Mark can be granted for many categories of products. LCIE Bureau Veritas is a GS Certification Body since 1998 for the following electrical products:

• Household appliances,
• Recreation electronics,
• Laboratory equipment,
• Power hand tools,
• Luminaires,
• Office equipment and IT devices,
• Testing, measure and sample collection instruments,
• Cooking equipment for institutional food service,
• Photovoltaic inverters.

The prerequisites and the surveillance requirements of the GS compliance mark are specified in the document "Certification Rules GS Mark by LCIE", available on request.

Granting and Surveillance of the GS Mark - Process

The process is detailed in the "Certification Rules GS Mark by LCIE".

Obtaining the GS Mark

• Performing electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests following the requirements and drawing up the Test Report,
• Proving that the materials comply with the PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) requirements,
• Performing the initial audit of the manufacturing plant, drawing up the Plant Inspection Report,
• Assessing the results and laying down the certificate,
• Granting the right to use the GS Mark (GS Licence). 

Surveillance of the GS Mark

• Periodic visit of the manufacturing unit
• Maintenance of the right to use the Mark.

Documents and samples to supply LCIE when requesting the mark

Any request for the GS mark has to be accompanied by the product technical file, whether it is written in French or in English, including the following documents:

• technical description of the product: plan, scale drawings, photos, electrical diagrams,
• materials and components specification,
• installation instruction cards and operating instructions,
• description of the manufacturing control system and/or the quality scheme,
• proof of the materials complying with the PAH requirements.

Moreover, the following documents must be written in German to enable the granting of the certificate:

• installation instruction card, operating instructions, safety warnings,
• text and markings appearing on the packaging.

The samples provided for test purposes must be representative of the series products and must be presented in their marketing package, with the final label and all the necessary leaflets and accessories.

The GS Mark is very popular in Europe. In fact, this label shows a double interest, either from a technical point of view than from a marketing one.