KEMA "Keuring Van Elektrotechnische Materialen,"

KEMA Standard

KEMA Labs testing and certification of electrical equipment

Understanding what independent electrical equipment testing verifies

KEMA is a name whose history goes back to electrical equipment inspection and testing activities established in the Netherlands in 1927. Today, KEMA Labs is the CESI Group's laboratory network providing testing, inspection and certification services for the electricity sector. Although “KEMA standard” is a common expression, KEMA is not a separate family of standards like IEC standards. The useful question is which product was assessed, against which standard, and within what scope.

What does a laboratory test actually establish?

Imagine a manufacturer claiming a 50 kA short-circuit breaking capacity for a circuit breaker. Independent testing examines whether the product meets that claim at the specified voltage and under the defined test conditions. The current figure alone is insufficient: voltage, frequency, test sequence and product configuration must be considered together. The same current figure under different conditions does not imply identical performance.

KEMA Labs' activities cover high- and medium-voltage switchgear, low-voltage assemblies, power and distribution transformers, cable systems, insulators, bushings and surge arresters. Short-circuit, switching, short-time current withstand, temperature-rise and dielectric withstand tests are selected according to the product and applicable standard. The same test package does not apply to every type of equipment.

A device standard and an assembly assessment are different

The IEC 60947 family is important for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear devices. IEC 60947-1 covers general rules, IEC 60947-2 circuit breakers, IEC 60947-3 switches and disconnectors, and IEC 60947-4-1 contactors and motor starters. Check the relevant part and edition of the standard stated in the document, rather than just its family number.

IEC 61439 assesses complete low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies; the general rules apply together with the relevant product part. A successful circuit-breaker test does not automatically establish compliance for every assembly containing that breaker. Busbar arrangement, connections, enclosure, temperature rise and short-circuit withstand also matter at assembly level. An IP protection rating describes only the protection within its scope; it does not establish all electrical performance characteristics.

A field insulation resistance measurement is also different from a laboratory dielectric withstand test. A satisfactory maintenance measurement does not mean you have reverified every result of the original type tests.

Type test certificates, performance reports and test reports

A KEMA Type Test Certificate indicates successful completion of the relevant type test program under the standard identified in the document. A Report of Performance may cover successful completion of only part of that program. A Test Report records tests and their results; having a report alone does not establish successful completion of the full type test program. Read the document title, scope and results together.

A brief “KEMA tested” statement in a catalogue is no substitute for the document itself. Compare manufacturer, model, document number, standard, edition, test date and technical ratings. Do not assume that a product with a different number of poles, rated voltage or design is covered simply because it looks similar.

Editor's note: Presenting a contactor's or circuit breaker's KEMA document as certification of the entire control panel is a common mistake. A verified component characteristic and compliance of the completed assembly are separate assessments. The model and test scope in the document must actually match your selected product.

Its role in protection and substation automation

KEMA Labs is not limited to power testing involving large currents. Its assessments also address the IEC 60255 family for protection relays and measuring equipment, and IEC 61850 for substation communications. Functionality, electromagnetic compatibility, product safety, environmental conditions and communication interfaces are different test scopes. A communications conformity certificate should not be interpreted as verification of all a device's protection functions.

The relationship between KEMA Labs, DNV and CESI

Older documents may carry the names DNV KEMA or DNV GL – KEMA Laboratories. The laboratory transfer agreement between DNV GL and CESI was announced in 2019. Transfer of the Chalfont laboratory in the United States was completed on 2 March 2020. Describing the entire transfer process simply as “completed at the end of 2019” therefore leaves out part of the timeline. Today, KEMA Labs belongs to the CESI Group.

Distinguishing KEMA-KEUR from DEKRA Mark

KEMA-KEUR is an electrical product safety certification mark introduced in 1931. KEMA Quality B.V. was established in 1995 and acquired by DEKRA in 2009. However, that acquisition did not transfer ownership of the KEMA-KEUR mark to DEKRA: DEKRA states that the rights remained with KEMA NV and the mark was exclusively licensed to DEKRA. KEMA-KEUR and KEMA Labs type test certification are different systems.

DEKRA Mark was introduced in 2021 and has been gradually replacing KEMA-KEUR. DEKRA explains that certificates can be issued alongside valid KEMA-KEUR certificates during the transition, with the change managed through agreements with manufacturers. It is therefore incorrect to assume that all existing marks became invalid at once. For a new application or product change, check the current procedure and the status of the existing certificate with DEKRA.

Using the document in a purchasing decision

First identify the required product standard and service conditions, then match the product identification in the document to the model you intend to buy. Review the relevant testing scope within the laboratory's ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. Accreditation of an organization does not mean that every service it offers falls within the same accredited scope.

A KEMA document is neither a general quality score nor a service-life guarantee. The manufacturer's ISO 9001 quality management system, product type tests and maintenance condition provide different kinds of evidence. A KEMA document also does not automatically replace CE marking or documents required under the IECEE CB Scheme; each system has its own rules.

You can investigate a certificate number through the search facility linked from the official KEMA Labs certificate page, and use CESI's verification service to check a report's authenticity. Failure to find an older record outside a search facility's coverage is not, by itself, evidence of forgery; confirmation can be requested from the issuing organization. For used equipment, document authenticity and the device's present physical condition also require separate assessment.