Local and international customers from a wide cross-section of the economy have made SIRIM the preferred choice for their certification, inspection and testing needs

SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s leading certification, inspection and testing body, which has recently opened its maiden branch office in the Middle East region in Manama, Bahrain, is exploring the possibility of establishing infrastructure in the region as it currently possesses in Malaysia.

'For a start, SIRIM QAS International will be offering the IECEx certification of personnel competence for explosive atmospheres, IECEx certified service facilities certification, product certification and management system certification services in Bahrain,' says Harman Bin Alang Kasim, head of International Business.

In September 2018, SIRIM QAS International was granted and authorised as the GCC Notified Body by GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO) and is authorised to provide product certification service under the Gulf conformity marking system (G Mark) for low voltage electrical equipment and appliances.

With this recognition, SIRIM QAS International will be able to assist manufacturers who intend to export their electrical products to GCC countries such as the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Such manufacturers are required to obtain the G Mark to ensure that their products adhere to the standards and rules as determined by the GSO, he explains.

An electrical product bearing G Mark indicates that it has been evaluated by a notified body such as SIRIM QAS International to comply with the essential safety requirements and electromagnetic requirement stipulated in the Gulf Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances Compatibility.

The Gulf Conformity Marking Scheme along with other testing, inspection and certification services offered by SIRIM QAS International fully supports the government’s efforts to promote Malaysia’s export to the world and in this case, enhancing market access of Malaysian electrical appliances to manufacturers in the GCC countries. After over three decades of providing certification, inspection and testing services under SIRIM Berhad, SIRIM QAS International was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the SIRIM Group in March 1997.

Today, local and international customers from a wide cross-section of the economy have made it the preferred choice for their certification, inspection and testing needs. Companies that wish to demonstrate their compliance with internationally recognised requirements have found their ideal solution in SIRIM’s certification scheme.

As a partner of the International Certification Network (IQNet), its management system certificates are widely recognised across the globe, adding value to customers’ products and services and giving them access to world markets.

Customers can also rely on SIRIM’s one-stop solutions and quality services to safeguard their interests. With SIRIM, customers enjoy all the benefits of a recognised world-class certification, inspection and testing body, including:

• A one-stop solutions provider for all their testing, in spection and certification needs;

• Greater market acceptance of products in Malaysia and abroad;

• Market access to over 37 countries around the world via the International Certification Network (IQNet); and

• Continuously updated certification schemes which put consumers and the environment first.

SIRIM QAS International is an accredited certification, inspection and testing services provider under numerous bodies, including the GCC Accreditation Center (GAC), the National Accreditation Body, the Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) among others. These achievements demonstrate the firm’s high degree of competency, impartially and credibility in the area of conformity assessment.

It also offers services to the oil and gas sector, namely ISO related certification, inspection services and IECEx related services.

'With the new initiatives taken by GSO in establishing a unique working group on explosive atmospheres in the oil and gas industry, we foresee that this positive development will help to promote relevant conformity assessment services such as IECEx schemes in the Gulf region,' he adds.