auditing textile testing bttg

PPE Module D

PPE Module D

As Approved Body 0338, BTTG® is accredited for Module D.

Category III PPE must undergo annual checking by a UK Approved Body, in accordance with the UK PPE Regulations. Manufacturers have two options, Module C2 or Module D. The Module D procedure is suitable for manufacturers of Category III PPE with an approved quality-control system, such as ISO 9001 or similar systems.

BTTG®, Approved Body 0338, is accredited for Module D and can offer approval of a manufacturer’s quality system for the items within our scope, including protective clothing, gloves, hoods, balaclavas, aprons, vests and related protectors, as well as firefighter boots and helmets.

The Module D process

The manufacturer should provide BTTG® with its quality-control system documentation. We will then audit the production sites and other premises included in the quality system, such as head office, design offices etc. Once BTTG® decides that the system can produce PPE which conforms with the original model, with the Directive and with the relevant standards, then we will issue an Article 11B Certificate.

The Certificate will cover the following:

  • all of the manufacturer’s production sites covered by the audits
  • all of the manufacturer’s products and technical files notified to BTTG®
  • all of the manufacturer’s Module B Certificates, whether issued by BTTG® or other UK Approved Bodies.

The Certificate is issued for 3 years, and can be updated with new sites, products, and technical files.

BTTG®, as an Approved Body, must continue to monitor the quality-control system by carrying out surveillance audits, generally once per year.

UKCA Marking and the Declaration of Conformity

Once the Module D Certificate is issued, the manufacturer can then issue the UK Declaration of Conformity according to the UK PPE Regulations, and affix the UKCA mark to their product. The BTTG® Approved Body number 0338 must be shown beside the UKCA mark.

The BTTG® number can be applied to any PPE item covered by the Module D Certificate. If a new product or new Technical File is approved by another UK Approved Body, BTTG® should be informed before applying our number to the marking.

BTTG® Auditing services

BTTG® auditors are trained to the principles of ISO 9001 and have many years’ experience of auditing PPE manufacturers and textile producers, they cover the globe from our bases in the United Kingdom, Ireland, China and India. PPE manufacturers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America may rely on our professional auditing staff to deliver product specific, high-quality auditing to internationally renowned quality management auditing standards.

For manufacturers of firefighter equipment for marine use, our auditors can often combine the PPE Module D audit with a UK Marine Equipment Directive Module D audit, providing a cost-effective solution for manufacturers targeting both markets.

BTTG®, through our Ireland and UK based auditors, can also provide ISO 9001 certification, and can usually conduct a PPE Module D audit alongside the ISO 9001 audit. This allows a manufacturer to gain Quality Management Systems approval at the same time as fulfilling their regulatory obligations (see here for our ISO 9001 information).

Contact our certification and auditing team at onestopshop@bttg.co.uk / +44 (0) 161 876 4211.