CE Assessment Modules

Before placing a recreational craft, its component(s) or engine in the EU market, the manufacturer is responsible for applying the procedures set out in the modules for design & construction, exhaust emissions and noise emissions referred to in Articles 20, 21 and 22 respectively.

The involvement of a Notified Body is required for the majority of the available modules.

Assessment modules provided by LHR

The conformity assessment procedures that fall within the scope of LHR Accredtitation are described in the following sections. Detailed description for all assessment procedures can be found in Annex II of Decision No. 768/2008/EC. Post construction assessment is described under Annex V of RCD 2013/53/EU.

In this procedure, the Manufacturer is to request LHR to perform the following tests on one or more craft models representative of production:

  • stability test, in compliance with essential requirement [3.2] of the Directive;
  • buoyancy test, in compliance with essential requirement [3.3] of the Directive.
  • noise emissions test, in compliance with the essential requirements for noise emissions levels of the Directive

If the outcome of the tests is positive, LHR issues an examination report to the Manufacturer covering only stability and buoyancy assessment of the model. The manufacturer self-checks all other requirements of the directive by signing the declaration of Conformity for each boat.

LHR reviews the technical documentation of the product to assess the adequacy of the technical design, and examines the specimen(s) representative of the production to verify that the requirements of the legislative instrument have been met. The manufacturer needs to combine this module with either C, D, E or F in order to fully meet with the requirements of the RCD 2013/53/EU Directive, legally affix the CE mark, and draw up an EU declaration of conformity (provided assessment under each module is successful).

The manufacturer informs LHR of all modifications to the approved type that may affect the conformity of the product in relation to the essential requirements of the Directive; such modifications may require further approval.

This module is applicable only to exhaust emissions when the harmonized standard is not applied. LHR performs one or more tests, described in “RSG Guidelines”, on one or more specific aspects for each product concerned. If the tests are carried out by LHR, the manufacturer shall, under the responsibility of LHR, affix LHR’s identification number during the manufacturing process.

This module covers only the production phase and so must be combined with module B for design. In order for a product to be eligible to undergo module D assessment it needs to have Module B EU-Type Certification.
This module is subject to Quality Assurance standard EN ISO 9001. LHR technical staff will be responsible for assessing the quality system for production, final product inspection and testing set up by the manufacturer.
Upon positive assessment outcome, LHR issues a Quality system assessment decision – Production.
For more information on QMS Certification by LHR, please click here.

This module covers only the production phase and so must be combined with module B for design. In order for a product to be eligible to undergo module D assessment it needs to have Module B EU-Type Certification.

This module is subject to Quality Assurance standard EN ISO 9001 with LHR technical staff for assessing the quality system for final product inspection and testing set up by the manufacturer. Assessment visits to the manufacturer’s premises will be conducted. LHR auditing team will review the technical documentation of the approved type and a copy of the EC-type examination certificate, to verify the manufacturer’s ability to identify the applicable requirements and to carry out the necessary examinations with a view to ensuring compliance of the product with those requirements

Upon positive assessment outcome, LHR shall issue a Certificate of Quality System Assessment for Product

For more information on QMS Certification by LHR, please click here:

Note: Module E is similar to module D; both are based on a quality system and require module B certification. Their difference is that the quality system under module E aims to ensure the quality of the final product, while the quality system under module D aims to ensure the quality of the whole production process (including the manufacturing part and the test of final product). Module E is thus similar to Module D without the provisions relating to the manufacturing process.

This module covers only the production phase and so must be combined with module B for design. LHR carries out appropriate examinations and tests in order to check the conformity of the products with the approved type described in the EC-type examination certificate (Module B) and with the appropriate requirements of the legislative instrument. Upon positive assessment outcome, LHR issues a Certificate of conformity for each batch or samples inspected.

LHR examines, tests and certifies a unique product meeting the requirements of the Directive. Upon positive assessment outcome, LHR issues a Certificate of Conformity covering all design & production requirements of RCD, specific to the individual boat. This procedure is mostly used for one-off custom boats.

This module covers both design and production.

The manufacturer operates a full quality assurance system in order to ensure conformity to legislative requirements (no EU-type).

This module is subject to the quality assurance standard EN ISO 9001 with the intervention of LHR technical staff for assessing the quality system for design, production, final product inspection and testing set up by the manufacturer. Assessment visits to the manufacturer’s premises will be conducted. LHR auditing team will review the technical documentation for one model of each category of products intended to be manufactured, to verify the manufacturer’s ability to identify the applicable requirements and to carry out the necessary examinations with a view to ensuring compliance of the product with those requirements.

Upon positive assessment outcome, LHR shall issue a Certificate of Quality System Assessment.

For more information on QMS Certification by LHR, please click here.

The post-construction assessment (PCA) procedure described in Article 23 and Annex V of the Directive must be applied in the following cases:

  • By the private importer before putting into service the product, if the manufacturer has not carried out the conformity assessment (Article 19.2)
  • By any person placing on the market or putting into service a propulsion engine or a watercraft after a major modification or conversion, or any person changing the intended purpose of a vessel so that it falls under the scope of the EU Directive (Article 19.3)

By any person placing on the market a watercraft built for own use before the end of the 5-year period from putting into service (Article 19.4)

This person shall fulfill the obligations laid down in Annex V.2 and 4 and ensure and declare on his sole responsibility that the product concerned, which has been subject to the provisions Annex V.3, is in conformity with the applicable requirements of this Directive.
LHR will examine the individual product and carry out calculations and other assessment to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Directive.

Module selection guide