With the testing and certification of cables and wires from insulating hoses and tapes to body protection and voltage testers, our special laboratory covers a range of tests that is highly recognized worldwide. Testing is carried out in accordance with directive requirements based on national and international harmonized standards. In addition, we offer testing and support during the development phase. We are also a respected authority in long-term research on insulating materials. Since the creation of the HAR agreement in 1974, we have been THE German licensing office.

As IT networks become more important in everyday life, network security and reliability are also becoming increasingly important. The prerequisite for a reliable network is the perfect quality of all components. This is ensured by the VDE Institute with the independent assessment of data cables and connectors as well as other passive network components.

On the one hand, the demand on data networks lies in the transmission of signals or data; on the other hand, operating conditions often pose an additional challenge, especially in an industrial environment. In addition to the electrical transmission properties, the assessment of the characteristics by the VDE also includes mechanical parameters, endurance tests and resistance to the many different environmental influences, such as temperature or chemicals, and even fire tests.

The VDE Institute is accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) for testing and certification according to common national and international standards for data cables.

The knowledge of standards that our employees posses, who actively support the development of standardization and development with their know-how, continues to offer a great advantage to our customers.

High frequency measuring technology for data cables

To measure the high-frequency transmission behavior of symmetrical data cables, the VDE Institute uses state-of-the-art high-frequency measurement technology based on the Balunless method according to IEC/TR 61156-1-2. After the high-frequency transmission characteristics by the VDE Institute are tested and pass the test, the client (e.g. manufacturer or dealer) receives the special certificate "HF tested".

Directive (EU) no. 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council for establishing harmonized conditions for the marketing of construction products requires manufacturers of such products to deliver a declaration of performance to place them on the market. Here, the performance of the products has to be stated with regard to certain product characteristics and based on relevant harmonized technical specifications.

These features are listed in the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and relate to, e.g. mechanical strength, fire protection, hygiene, health and environmental protection. In addition to this multitude of mechanical and electrical tests, verifying fire behavior plays a decisive role in the design as well as in the approval and application of cables and wires. Permanently installed cables and wires in buildings are also affected by the regulations of the CPR. In the case of cables and lines, performance is assessed with regard to fire behavior, i.e. the formation and spread of a fire, as well as emissions in the event of a fire.

The procedure for assessing performance is set out in Annex V of the CPR. Out of the five rating systems described therein, EN 50575 once again specifies which system must be used for which fire class. Our fire testing center has state-of-the-art testing facilities in the field of fire testing and smoke density measurement. The latter test is especially important, since it relates to saving human lives in case of fire and a positive confirmation is therefore of the utmost importance.

VDE Institute: Notified body according to CPR

The VDE Institute is designated as Notified Body for the Construction Products Regulation and can carry out all tests and certifications according to the CPR. In addition, there are also all the services according to System 1+. The post-testing documentation provided by us, the Notified Body, includes a test report, a classification report in accordance with EN 13501-6 and a certificate for products according to System 1+. We offer these services both nationally and internationally. The manufacturer then creates their declaration of performance based on these documents. The CE marking is affixed to the construction products for which the manufacturer has created a declaration of performance.