Certification of materials and components
In today’s world, approved products, materials and processes are key to economic success. DNV is your reliable partner for certification and technical expertise that give you a decisive advantage.
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Certification of materials and components
Services
Details
We offer the entire range of technical services – design assessment, type approvals, third-party inspection, verification and testing, advisory and engineering services – for all your projects. These include certification of materials, components and systems relevant to the safe operation of ships, offshore installations, industrial plants and more.
Certification of Materials and Components (CMC) process simplified
This infographic provides a simplified overview of the Certification of Materials and Components (CMC) process in DNV.
It shows the key decision points and steps involved from identifying whether design or type approval is required, through to product survey and final certification.
Depending on the product, approval can happen at different levels:
- Type Approval, where the design is approved for repeated use
- Design approval, assessed case by case
Once requirements are met, DNV performs the necessary survey and issues certification, confirming compliance with class rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ship classification certification becomes mandatory in practice because:
1. Flag states depend on class to issue statutory certificates.
2. Ports and canals require classed ships.
3. Insurance requires valid class.
4. Commercial charters require class.
5. Banks require class for financing.
6. Shipping industry uses class as a safety benchmark.Ship Classification is legally optional, but commercially indispensable. In real operations, a ship cannot trade without class certification.
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Approval of Manufaturers, Approval of Service Suppliers, Welding Technology Approval, Additive Manufacturing Certification, Underwater Verification and Certification services, Certification acc. To EU Marine Equipment Directive and UK Marine Equipment Regulation.
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Typical examples include:
• Safety-critical equipment (valves, pumps, fire doors, CO₂ systems)
• Hull materials (steel plates, profiles, welding consumables)
• Machinery components (engines, gearboxes, shafting)
• Electrical and automation systems
• Navigation and communication equipment
• Pressure vessels and piping components -
Type Approval (TA):
• Confirms that a product design meets class rules.
• Based on testing, design assessment, and documentation review.
• Applies to series production.
Product Certification:
• Confirms that the individual delivered unit meets requirements.
• Includes manufacturing assessment, inspections, testing, and documentation control.In short:
Type Approval = design verified
Product Certificate = unit verified -
A surveyor may:
• Witness pressure tests, load tests, and functional tests,
• Verify material traceability and manufacturing processes,
• Review certificates and documentation,
• Confirm that production follows the approved design,
• Issue a certificate or endorse a manufacturer’s certificate.The surveyor ensures the product meets rule requirements and is suitable for installation on a classed vessel.
For more questions, click here.
Related links
Approval Finder
DNV approved products, manufacturers and service suppliers