KNX Association

KNX Certification
Scheme for products

KNX TUTOR SEMINAR

TableofContents
1
2
3

Essentials of the Certification Scheme for Products .................................................... 3

Players in the Certification Schemes for Products ....................................................... 4
Different phases in the KNX Certification Process....................................................... 5
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5
Introductory phase ............................................................................................... 6
Registration Phase ............................................................................................... 7
Testing Phase ...................................................................................................... 7
Certification Phase ............................................................................................... 7
Surveillance Phase .............................................................................................. 8

Contents of Certification .............................................................................................. 9

4.1
4.2

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 9
Selected Aspects of Product Hardware Testing .................................................. 9

4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
4.2.7
4.2.8
4.2.9
4.3

Electrical Safety ............................................................................................... 9

Functional Safety ............................................................................................. 9
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) ............................................................ 10
Environmental Conditions .............................................................................. 10
Reliability and Quality..................................................................................... 10
Physical External Interface............................................................................. 10
Bus Connection .............................................................................................. 10
Recycling........................................................................................................ 10
Bus Power Consumption................................................................................ 10

Selected Aspects of Product Software Testing .................................................. 11

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1 Essentials of the Certification Scheme for Products

KNX Association currently runs two certification schemes: the newly established
certification scheme for KNX products and the one dating as far back as 1996, i.e. the EIB
certification scheme
In view of the fact that EIB is backward compatible to KNX, as a manufacturer it is in most
cases possible to apply for both KNX as well as EIB trademark on the basis of an identical
technical file.
The objective of the various certification schemes is to establish the relevant trademarks
as tokens of quality and multi-vendor interworking.
as regards hardware, each certified product shall meet the requirements of the bus
family standard EN 50090-2-2 as well as an appropriate product standard
as regards system and application software, each product shall be tested at third
parties, i.e. at a KNX accredited test lab
All certification processes are run in accordance with Volume 5 of the KNX Specifications.
Volume 8 of the KNX Specifications constitutes the basis for the EIB and KNX
Certification Tests. The KNX Working Group Certification short KonCert is responsible
for keeping both volumes up to date.
All certification schemes are self-imposed: Certification is not a must for members, the
consequence of a non-certification being that the product may not bear the KNX
Trademark and is not configurable by ETS.
Although the certification scheme run is in line with EN 45011, KNX Association is not a
nationally accredited certification body.

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2 Players in the Certification Schemes for Products

KNX Association as an umbrella organisation
establishes the rules of the certification system
offers membership to potential applicants
certifies products on the basis of CE-declarations and test reports emanating from
KNX accredited test labs.
During an audit, using the standard ISO 17025 and the KNX (test) specifications as a
basis, KNX Association judges whether test labs qualify as regards their knowledge and
organisational structure. Accredited testing stations may:
test devices according to the test specifications, for which they have proven their
competence
evaluate test reports from manufacturers in the framework of certification - market
monitoring and under instruction from KNX Association,
produce test reports
Four institutions comply with the strict quality regulations and earned the right to carry out
the relevant tests in KNX Associations name.

Bro Veritas Paris (F)

DIAL Ldenscheid (D)

IMQ Milano (I)

Siemens Regensburg (D)

Manufacturers (KNX members):

develop, produce and distribute devices
elaborate the requirements as regards testing etc. in the appropriate working groups

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KNX Association
Certificate

Manufacturer
QM manual or certificate, at least ISO
9001:2000

"

(only in case of
main certificates)

Trademark
License
Agreement

ISO 900x Quality audit

Figure 1: Phases in KNX Certification Process 1

3 Different phases in the KNX Certification Process

3.1 Introduction
A distinction is made between products emanating directly from the applicant (main
certificates) or OEM products that are marketed by the applicant but already certified by
another applicant (derived certificate).
The main philosophy behind the KNX Certification Process lies in the fact that when a
part or an entire product has shown compliance to the specifications - it is not retested
when it is resubmitted to certification by the same or another applicant. Certification is
then reduced to a mere administrative act.
The underneath described Certification Process, applicable for main certificates, is in
principle divided into five phases:
Introductory Phase
Registration Phase
Testing Phase
Certification Phase
Surveillance Phase

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3.2 Introductory phase

Manufacturer

KNX


Application Form
data sheets
database entry

accredited test lab

S113012A12DC12DD12DE12DF1 802A621AE50CD0E49
S113013A0C A631CE0128CC0E0C02010100AE01CD71
S113014A0D355F385 359385359D6014381C60127AF
S113015AB7561402 A605ADE507560144B755A603DA
S113016AADDB0456024848BA55AE5 0CD0C64B754B8
S1 13017A3F5BBE5BE6DCB75AD60123B7594 F01543D
S113018A0F135A005A211 05A05591C095915200DE2
S113019A115A02 5A12125A07590D0B590610DB1931

Application

S11301 AA02200411DB1802BE5B3454B65AE7DC3C 65
S11301 BA5B055BBE05DB0BA603CD0E2A249615D B75
S11301CA12DB01DB2204DB1F02D01C02 DB0C14DB72

S11301DAA631CE0128CD0E0C2 00D13DBB6D14CA4CA
S10D 01EA3FB7D14FCD0D91CC0C822C

S9030000FC

Registration



Test contract
Test samples
PICS + PIXIT

released
database

 Test report

communication
testing

Statement of
conformity

 Test report

certificate

Figure 2: Phases in KNX Certification Process 2

When a manufacturer has finalised his first KNX compatible development and has
decided to brand this product with the respective trademark (and in the case of EIB or
KNX S-mode products wants to distribute his product via ETS databases), the
manufacturer shall apply for KNX membership.
Since the beginning of 2006, KNX members are obliged to brand their products at least
with the KNX logo when submitting new products for certification. The option to
additionally apply for the EIB logo, next to the KNX logo, remains.
As a second step prior to the registration of the first development, the applicant shall also
sign the license agreements. These agreements define the conditions under which the
applicant may brand products with the respective logos respectively use patent rights of
other member companies on the KNX technology free of charge in KNX certified products
Last but not least, the applicant shall prove his compliance to ISO 9001:2000 either by the
submission of a copy of the acquired certificate from an accredited certification body or by
inviting KNX Association to carry out a quality audit at his premises. If positive, the
registration phase of the first product can start.

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3.3 Registration Phase

KNX Association registers a submitted product on the basis of a technical file (for Smode/EIB products this includes an ETS database entry) by attributing a registration
number and releasing the ETS product database for further use in the ETS.
In order not to restrict the access to the market unnecessarily for the manufacturer, the
developments can be provisionally marked with the requested logo from the moment of
their registration.

3.4 Testing Phase

From the moment of registration onwards, manufacturers have 6 months time to complete
the certification process, i.e.
submit the necessary positive test report for the software (system and/or application
software) emanating from a KNX accredited test house. For this the applicant shall
supply the necessary test samples to the test house of his choice, along with a
description of the implemented software (PICS 1 and PIXIT 2 )
carry out the necessary hardware tests in his or other facilities, in order to be able to
establish the CE-declaration for the hardware.

3.5 Certification Phase

Once the test report has been submitted to KNX Association, together with a CE
statement of conformity, the manufacturer is issued with a certificate for the product
(device and/or application).
If the certified product is left unchanged as regards hard- and software, the issued
certificate never expires. In case of a modification, the certification process is repeated.

Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement: document listing which features of the protocol
one has implemented in the submitted device
2 Protocol Implementation eXtra Information for Testing: document giving more detailed information
on declarations given in the PICS document

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3.6 Surveillance Phase

According to the Certification Manual, KNX Association is allowed to:
draw certified products from the market and check whether they still comply to the
requirements by having them retested at an accredited test lab of KNX Associations
choice
request the test reports underlying the received CE-declaration and have them
checked at an accredited test lab of KNX Associations choice.
In the case where it is found that products do not comply, KNX Association is allowed to
withdraw the right to use the logo.

Manufacturers quality management system acc. ISO 900x,

Electrical safety,
Functional safety,
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC),
Environmental conditions,
Reliability and quality,
Physical external interface (PEI),
Bus connection
Communication

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4 Contents of Certification
4.1 Introduction
The certification of products covers both hardware and software aspects.
Most of the aspects of hardware conformity (electrical safety, EMC ) is proven by the
manufacturers declaration in the framework of the CE mark. The corresponding tests are
carried out by the manufacturers themselves and documented or can be carried out by
external testing houses.
By submitting a CE statement of conformity, the manufacturer confirms that he has tested
the device for certification based on a suitable product standard and the common
European standard for bus devices (EN 50090-2-2). The manufacturer must test the
device according to the strictest requirements (the minimum requirement is EN 50090-22).
For a number of other hardware related aspects (e.g. bus power consumption), the
manufacturer simply states compliance in the data sheet for hardware to be submitted at
the time of registration.
For the testing of compliance of the integrated software, an applicant always has to take
recourse to a test lab accredited by KNX Association.

4.2 Selected Aspects of Product Hardware Testing

The requirements given below refer to EN 50090-2-2 (requirements Home and Building
Electronic Systems), which serves as the minimum requirement (apart from a suitable
product standard) for hardware certification.
4.2.1

Electrical Safety

Requirements concern the safety separation of bus from hazardous voltages and currents
of other nearby electrical circuits (internal and external).
Safety separation according to the relevant international standards means the
separation of electrical circuits by basic and additional protection or an equivalent
protective measure.
The following aspects are judged in this framework:
insulating capacity of creepage distances and clearances
resistance of housing and carriers to environmental conditions
4.2.2

Functional Safety

The manufacturer presently confirms that the product, properly installed and maintained,
does not create hazardous situations in the case of normal operation or in the case of
foreseeable abnormal conditions.

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4.2.3

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

The term electromagnetic compatibility signifies the capability of a device to operate

satisfactorily in an electromagnetic environment, without itself causing electromagnetic
interference that would be unacceptable to other devices present in this environment.
In order to ensure this, the EN 50090-2-2 defines a number of tests.
4.2.4

Environmental Conditions

EN 50090-2-2 defines a number of environmental tests, during which it is tested whether

the product is e.g. able to withstand extreme heat, cold, humidity, shock and temperature
changes. The degree of protection offered by the housing to the user is also tested
(protection class).
After the environmental tests, the devices should be examined again on safety aspects.
4.2.5

Reliability and Quality

Unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer, a service life of at least 10 years shall be
guaranteed for devices.
This must be declared accordingly at the registration stage. If this life time is not
predominantly determined by switching cycles, the manufacturer can substantiate the life
time of a product by calculating its FIT (Failure in Time) value, i.e. the sum of the
statistical values of the failures in time of the used individual electronic components.
4.2.6

Physical External Interface

If the device has a physical external interface (normally devices mounted on a standard
flush mounted BCU e.g. pushbutton sensors), this interface shall correspond to the KNX
mechanical and electrical specifications. The manufacturer declares at the registration
stage that the devices comply with these values.
4.2.7

Bus Connection

When a non-standard solution for the bus connection has been used, the manufacturer
shall declare that this complies with the KNX minimum mechanical and electrical
requirements.
4.2.8

Recycling

KNX Association has defined a range of recommendations for recycling material. If the
device complies with these recommendations, this shall be declared during registration.
4.2.9

Bus Power Consumption

If a TP device is supplied from the bus, a manufacturer shall declare the relevant bus
power consumption during registration.

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4.3 Selected Aspects of Product Software Testing

PC1
KNX

Test Tool and

Configuration
Tool (if
needed)

RS 232 Interface

Load Generator

BUS DEVICE UNDER TEST (BDUT)

Figure 3: Software testing

Communication testing must always be carried out at a KNX accredited test lab.
For most of the tests to be carried out, a common software test platform named EITT is
used. In other words, all products are not tested against one another but against a
common test reference, which simulates a sensor sending frames (when testing an
actuator functionality) and an actuator receiving frames (when testing a sensor
functionality).
The extent of the communication testing depends on whether the submitted product
contains a certified system stack or not.
Case A: Submitted product contains already certified system stack
In this case the following tests are carried out
Interworking and Functionality tests: it is checked whether

the product functions as declared by the manufacturer in the submitted PIXIT

forms and
if the declared data point types conform to the specifications

Checking of the products behaviour on initialisation, reset and power failure according
to what the manufacturer declared in the submitted PIXIT forms
Checking of the value of the routing counter as used in frames generated by the
device (shall be 6 or lower)
Checking of the products telegram rate limitation for cyclical functions

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Case B: Submitted product contains (partly) uncertified system stack
In this case the following additional tests are carried out:
in the case of a closed device (i.e. a device not separable into a bus access unit and
an application module): Physical 3 , Link, Network, Transport, Application (Interface)
Layer
in the case of a product consisting of a bus coupling unit and an application module:
additionally, test of implemented external message interface (i.e. the frames
exchanged via the Physical External Interface).

As physical layer implementations can also be bought separately as ASICs and integrated into
products, when using such components sometimes (part of) the physical layer tests can be
waived.

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