Certification and assurance
Ricardo Certification comprises a set of companies within the Ricardo group that perform independent assurance and testing services in rail and other sectors.
Assurance, inspection and certification services
Ricardo Certification operates as a separate and entirely independent business within the Ricardo group. Each assignment we undertake is accepted in full recognition of the need for impartiality and confidentiality, so the client and its key stakeholders can have full confidence in the assessment performed.
Our strict internal controls require that we review, identify and control any potential conflicts that may arise - at a personal, project or company level - which may bias an assessment. All certification decisions are made by designated project decision makers, known as Signatories. Signatories are independent of the project work performed and ensure both that the assessment work is performed in accordance with Ricardo Certification’s accredited processes and that the assessment is impartial.
To view Ricardo’s independent assurance policy in full visit ricardo.com/policies.
To view Ricardo Certification's Declaration of Impartiality Click here (PDF, published August 2024)
Projects
Elizabeth line - Crossrail
Read case study
Siemens Mobility ICE Notified Body
Read case study
Toronto Metrolinx safety assessment
Read case studyAbout Ricardo Certification
Ricardo Certification operates as a separate and entirely independent business within the Ricardo group. Strict internal controls require that we review, identify and control any potential conflicts that may arise - at a personal, project or company level - which may bias an assessment.
To view Ricardo’s independent assurance policy in full visit ricardo.com/policies.
To view Ricardo Certification's Declaration of Impartiality Click here (PDF, published August 2024)
Our approach is based on a belief that assessments should not be ‘box-ticking’ exercises. Nor a burden on your teams.
Instead, experience has demonstrated how the early involvement of a proactive team of assessors adds value to projects and provides an important source of insight for Project Managers. By maintaining open and constructive dialogue throughout the process, we can help remove unnecessary paperwork and reduce the risks of delays and cost overruns.
If you need to lodge a complaint or appeal - for example, about a certification decision or assessment outcome - please contact your local Ricardo Certification office in the first instance. A member of our team will help you with your complaint or appeal. Throughout the process, this member of our team will be called 'the recipient of the complaint'.
The recipient of the complaint must pass the information to our Head of Accredited Services. The Head of Accredited Services will then judge whether your complaint or appeal relates to activities for which Ricardo Certification is responsible. If it does, the Head of Accredited Services will assess whether Ricardo Certification, and who within Ricardo Certification, shall deal with it.
The investigation into the complaint or appeal, and the ultimate decision about how to address the it, will be performed either by the recipient of the complaint or by the Head of Accredited Services. This shall not result in any discriminatory actions. The decision will be reviewed and approved by the HSEQ Manager, who is independent of the certification or inspection activity that the complaint or appeal relates to.
If the complaint or appeal is judged to be relevant, then the recipient of the complaint will enter the details of the complaint or appeal into the Ricardo Improvement Tool (RIT). The complaint or appeal will be investigated and tracked through the RIT. The RIT process is described in HSQ-HT-018 Improvement, and details of this process can be provided to third parties on request.
The recipient of the complaint must provide you with confirmation of receipt, offer subsequent progress reports, and then let you know the outcome of the investigation. The recipient of the complaint will give you formal notice that the complaint and appeals handling process has finished.
Your feedback on the complaints and appeal process is welcomed. Please send your feedback to your local office.
Certificates
Notified Body certificates issued by Ricardo Certification are available on the ERADIS website (eradis.era.europa.eu), which houses a database of all the Notified Body certificates for products and applications under the Interoperability Directive that have been issued.
If you need to see a relevant ISA, RPC or even NOBO certificate issued by Ricardo Certification for a system or product, or related to an application, please contact the relevant local office who will be able to assist.
Financial
Ricardo Certification charges fees to clients for the independent assurance and testing activities it performs, and this is its only source of income.
Fees can vary considerably to reflect the services provided, timescales and scope of work. They will typically be based on the number of days effort required to perform the work.
Fees are agreed through the provision of a proposal from Ricardo Certification for the services provided, based on documentation and discussion of details with potential clients. If you wish to discuss a potential commission, and determine the likely fees please contact your local office.
Processes and procedures
Ricardo Certification is accredited by UKAS, RvA, and DANAK, against either ISO 17065 or ISO 17020 or ISO 17025 depending upon the scope of each particular accreditation. The services which Ricardo Certification provides are defined in service manuals which sit underneath a top-level manual, RC-MD-001, which defines the general set up and organisation of the company. Specific services use an evaluation scheme related to their scope, and are defined in the service manuals, and embodied in a plan that is produced. More details are available upon request from local offices.
Rights of Applicants/Clients
The rights (and duties) of applicants for each particular service are defined within the relevant Domain Manuals and also documented in client proposals. This includes the right to appeal certification decisions and to complain if the service provided is insufficient.
Based on your specific requirements of the markets you serve, companies within Ricardo Certification can provide the relevant accredited assurance services to support you.
For a list of accreditations held by the companies in Ricardo Certification visit our Certificates page.
Unique to Ricardo Certification, and developed exclusively for the rail sector, the Ricardo Compliance Tool is a pioneering cloud-based technology used to deliver Independent Assurance projects from requirements capture through to acceptance and certification.
Find out more about the Ricardo Compliance Tool
Our services
In the rail sector, a Notified Body (NoBo) undertakes an assessment of conformance of railway products/systems to relevant standards (Technical Specifications for Interoperability and others). This is an accredited service against the requirements of EN17065 (Certification Body) or the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 as amended (Certification Body).
Ricardo Certification Limited is also accredited to provide Approved Body (ApBo) services in the UK.
Following the UK's departure from the EU in January 2021, much of the legislative landscape remained unchanged, although some terminology was updated. The TSIs were replaced by National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs), whilst the term 'Notified Body' was replaced with Approved Body (ApBo).
In the UK, it is the responsibility of an ApBo to assess the railway sub-systems against the NTSNs.
Learn more about our Notified, Designated and Approved Body services
An Assessment Body (AsBo) checks that your project is conformant with the European Common Safety Method of Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM RA) and that the results generated are acceptable.
This is an accredited service against the requirements of EN17020 (Inspection Body). The same service also applies to the UK and Canadian implementations of the CSM RA.
Learn more about our Assessment Body capabilities
An Independent Cyber Security Assessment will confirm whether a product or subsystem complies with the necessary security assurance requirements, such as a network operator's Security Assurance Framework, and relevant industry guidance e.g. guidance on implementation of the NIS Directive, and the CPNI/NPSA Code of Practice for Security-Informed Safety, and/or voluntary security standards such as IEC62443 and CENELEC CLC/TS 50701.
Find out more about Rail Independent Cyber Security Assessment
Demonstrate against ISO17025 accredited testing that a product (vehicle, infrastructure or a subsystem) complies with key requirements.
Often these tests provide inputs for NoBo / DeBo Technical files. Utilising technical knowledge, Assurance Testing focusses on translating requirements into a test specification, performing tests and writing a test report with test conclusions. In most cases this service involves measurements and the organisation of test runs on operational railways.
With technical specialists across rolling stock, track, signalling, sub-systems (such as brake systems, pantograph units and catenary) and electro-magnetic compatibility, the expertise and support we provide draws upon many years’ experience of rail operations and the surrounding regulatory environment.
More about our Testing and Measurements team
A Designated Body (DeBo) in the rail sector undertakes an assessment of conformance of railway products/systems to the Notified National Technical Rules of each EU Member State. This is an accredited service against the requirements of EN17065 (Certification Body).
Learn more about our Designated Body services..
Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) establishes whether a product, system or entire railway complies with a client’s specified requirements for Safety, RAM, Functionality and Quality.
Acitivies typically involve performing audits and assessments throughout the product or system lifecycle, which are used to gather evidence to enable eventual certification should specified criteria be met.
Find out more about our IV&V services
An Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) is a third-party service performed to confirm that a product, system or entire railway complies with the necessary safety assurance requirements.
Accredited services are delivered in line with the requirements of EN17020 (Inspection Body). Non-accredited ISA will typically be undertaken in line with a specific client’s specification and requirements and adopt the accredited manual wherever possible. This can include Independent Safety Assessment and Independent Software Assurance.
Read more about our ISA services
An Independent Competent Person (ICP) is an expert in a particular technical or operational field (e.g. a product or system) capable of forming an independent judgement on behalf of a client or industry authortiy in connection with specified requirements or standards associated with a technIcal product or system.
Find our more in the ICP section of our Independent Safety Assessment page
Why choose Ricardo Certification
Rail domain specialists
Rail systems experts will be responsible for preparing all outputs and will provide constructive feedback throughout the process.
Efficiency and collaboration
We use bespoke tools and processes that reduce administration, minimise delays and prevent cost overruns.
International network
We will bring best practice and techniques honed from performing assessments on rail and transit projects across the world.
An industry voice
Our assessors are contributors to the Working Groups and industry forums that define technical standards and assessment criteria.
