ABS Type Approval Executive Summary Page 1 of 2

The ABS Type Approval Program, an Executive Summary, October 2004

The ABS Type Approval program has existed in some form since 1983. Today it is
formalized in the Rules. Two basic processes and certificates establish the validity of a
product and all other certificates that may be issued in the program. The format imitates
the format of the European Marine Equipment Directive (MED).

z Satisfactory evaluation of a product to a set of Rules or standards is recorded in

the issue of a “Product Design Assessment (PDA)” certificate. The process is the
same as would be followed for an ABS Design Review Letter. It imitates the
Module B category of the MED.
z Satisfactory evaluation of the manufacturing (Works) facility to confirm their ability
to consistently manufacture the product in accordance with the PDA is recorded in
the issue of a “Manufacturing Assessment (MA)” certificate. This was previously
known in ABS as the MMEC program. This imitates the modules D and E of the
MED.

The IACS Ad-Hoc Committee for the Certification of Materials and Components have
consensus that Type Approval requires; 1) an evaluation of the product including
prototype tests (if necessary), 2) a witness of the manufacture of the product (type test),
and 3) an assessment of the manufacturer’s ability to consistently manufacture the
product in accordance with the approved specifications. There are a multitude of
derivations of this process; following is an abbreviated outline of the basic certificates:

Consequences of
Name of Certificate Criteria for issue Term of Validity
Non-compliance
Product Design Evaluation of the Five years subject to Reverts to category of
Assessment (PDA). product to ABS Rules continued compliance PDA Limited, is not
A client may qualify and / or acceptable with the Rules and eligible for Product
for one or as many of National, other standards used Type Approval, and is
these certificates as International or in the evaluation. removed from the
they request. Issued customer standards web site after one
by Technical Staff. year.
Manufacturing Valid PDA and Five years subject to The product may not
Assessment (MA). demonstrate the the continued validity be listed as Type
There is only one ability to consistently of the PDA and Approved.
certificate, per manufacture the passing annual audits.
manufacturer, per product according to
type of product. the PDA. Rule
Issued by Field Office. required testing must
be witnessed by a
Surveyor.
Product Type Approval Product must have Valid until the The Product may not
(PTA). Certificate is both a valid PDA and expiration of the PDA be listed as Type
only available from MA or MA (whichever Approved.
the web site. occurs first).
Product Quality The manufacturer Same as the Reverts to MA status
Assurance (PQA). must have a certified associated MA and and all Rule required
A formal agreement quality system and subject to semi- testing must be
between the Surveyor the MA must be valid annual audits. witnessed by a
and the manufacturer and the product must Surveyor
authorizing the require Unit
manufacturer to Certification.
witness Rule required
testing. May only be
issued by Manager
ABS Programs.
MED Module B Must have valid PDA Same as associated Same as PDA.

http://www.eagle.org/typeapproval/execsummary.html 1/6/2008
ABS Type Approval Executive Summary Page 2 of 2

(May only be issued PDA

by ABS London)
MED Module D or E Must have valid MA Same as associated Same as associated
(May only be issued MA MA and manufacturer
by ABS London) may not use the
“Wheel mark”.

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http://www.eagle.org/typeapproval/execsummary.html 1/6/2008