Approvals
AEGIS Certification Services Ltd offers a full range of third-party independent assessment and certification services. These include:
Our team has a wealth of experience in applying legislative requirements. We’re always on hand to support you in securing safety approvals and authorisations for rail vehicles, infrastructure, plant and machinery. We adopt a pragmatic approach whilst maintaining the necessary level of independence and impartiality.
Fully accredited
AEGIS is accredited by UKAS to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body and to BS EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 as a Product Certification Body. The rigorous accreditation process examined our processes and competence across all railway engineering disciplines.
We have a broad knowledge of supporting technical and process standards including BS EN 50126, BS EN 50128 and BS EN 50129. We have AEGIS personnel who are active, contributing members of the standards committees, which enables us to advise our clients on the latest updates and approaches.
Independent Safety Assessment and Audit
We have a proven track record in undertaking Independent Safety Assessment (ISA), having become one of the first Network Rail approved ISAs in 2002. We begin the ISA process at the start of a project or product development, allowing any safety concerns to be managed at an early stage and controlled with minimal impact.
We adopt a risk-based approach to focus effort on the areas of greatest concern or uncertainty. The ISA typically comprises the formal assessment of a project’s safety deliverables (safety plan, hazard identification, risk assessment and safety case) and supported by safety audits.
Example projects have included LOTRAIN, software for Class 345 Crossrail trains, Class 378/379/387 Cat A Modifications and ATC Signalling for SSL.
Assessment Body (AsBo)
AEGIS is accredited to act as an Assessment Body (AsBo) in accordance with Regulation (EU) 402/2013 (as amended by EU Exit) Regulations 2019 [S.I. 2019/837) on the Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM RA).
The role of the AsBo is to assess the suitability of the risk management process and the results of the process, which is presented in a Safety Assessment Report. This regulation applies to technical, operational and organisational safety-related changes to the railway and requires that an AsBo is appointed if the defined change is determined to be ‘significant’ to operational safety.
Example projects include TfW new and cascaded fleet introduction, Merseyrail Class 777 introduction, Heathrow Express ETCS upgrade and introduction, Class 345 Crossrail trains, C44 Rail Grinders, Class 465 Regen, Channel Tunnel ElecLink, Amey Level Crossing product development and SSL ATC signalling.
Approved Body (ApBo)
AEGIS has been appointed by the DfT as an Approved Body (ApBo) against the Railways (Interoperability)(Amendment )(EU Exit) regulations 2019 and amendments. We are able to undertake certification against all of the structural and transverse National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs) , including Rolling Stock (LOC & PAS), Control-Command and Signalling (CCS), Energy (ENE), Infrastructure (INF), Noise, Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) and Safety in Railway Tunnels (SRT).
We offer certification of new and modified vehicles and infrastructure, including interoperability constituents. Our team has considerable experience of different project types and can offer guidance on the compliance demonstration process, selection of the conformity assessment modules and construction of the Technical File.
Designated Body (DeBo)
In addition to being an Approved Body, AEGIS is also appointed by the DfT as a Designated Body (DeBo) to assess conformity against the National Technical Rules (NTRs).
Verification of Engineering Change to Rail Vehicles
Our BS EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 accreditation covers undertaking independent verification activities under RIS-2700-RST (Rail Industry Standard for Verification of Conformity of Engineering Change to Rail Vehicles). This replaces the superseded Vehicle Acceptance Body role and involves the verification of the design and construction (including maintenance arrangements) against the agreed list of applicable requirements (which may include RGS, RIS, EN and specific customer requirements).
An Attestation statement will be produced by AEGIS to confirm that the engineering change conforms with the applicable requirements.
We have carried out RIS-2700-RST verification for a variety of clients including Alstom, dg8, T&RS Engineering, G-Volution and Stadler Rail Services UK to name few.
Plant Assessment Body (PAB)
The scope of our accreditation to BS EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 also includes the ability to undertake Plant Assessment Body (PAB) reviews in accordance with RIS-1710-PLT (Rail Industry Standard for Engineering Certification of Railborne Plant). Our team offers assessment and certification of On-track Machines (OTM) and On-track Plant (OTP).
Example projects include a wide range of manufacturers and engineering companies including Allan J Hargreaves Plant Engineers Ltd, Fitzgerald Plant Services Ltd, Rexquote, Rail Products UK Ltd and SRS Sjölanders AB.
Independent Competent Person
Under the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS), non-mainline transport operators need procedures to cover safety verification of new or altered rolling stock or infrastructure.
Within the safety verification process, AEGIS has experience of acting as the Independent Competent Person (ICP) to support the duty-holder in establishing and following suitable processes for safety.