NOTIFIED BODY (nobo)

What is a NOBO mission ? 

The Directive 2016/796/EC on the Interoperability of the Rail System within the Community defines the essential requirements needed to ensure the interoperability for the European Railway Network.

The Interoperability Directive introduces the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs), which dictates a framework with fundamental parameters for each system, structural sub-system (Rolling Stock, Energy, Infrastructure, Control-Command & signalling), functional sub-system and interoperability constituent (Bogies, Overhead line, Rail, Balise, ...) to create a Single European Railway Area (SERA), without any frontiers by relying on harmonized, transparent and common rules.

Thus, the full compliance with essential requirements – assessed by a NoBo – ensures the Interoperability across the Trans-European Network safely, i.e. a system or a product interfaces that are completely compatible to work with other products or systems without any restrictions.

In order to prove the fulfilment of the TSIs and ensure the respect of the basic parameters and essential requirements, the verification has to be demonstrated through a detailed file (design documentation, test results, verification results and any evidence of conformity) which has to be verified by a Notified Body (NoBo), i.e. independent body, whose competences for one or more TSIs have been notified to the European Commission by a Member State. The NoBo operates in all phases of the project: from the design to testing & commissioning. Through an independent assessment of the compliance of subsystems and constituents with TSIs, the certification body certifies the interoperability through the issuance of an EC certificate of conformity (for constituents) or EC certificate of verification (for subsystems).

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NOBO ?

On the basis of the information provided by the proposer, the NoBo prepares an assessment plan in line with the assessment "module” chosen by the applicant (2010/713/EU). The NoBo performs conformity assessment according to TSIs through documentary assessments, audits (manufacturing, installation, conception) and test witnessing. Tests can be carried out by the applicant or by an independent laboratory according to the chosen module and the scope of the mission. When the assessment and test results demonstrate interoperability in applying the provisions laid down in the directive, the NoBo delivers EC certificates of conformity or verification.