This year, Vinçotte and Apragaz conducted surveillance audits to verify that the requirements associated with these certifications continue to be met and are fully integrated into our processes.

This includes, for example, how our teams manufacture our gas detection control units and how our maintenance technicians carry out work at our customers’ sites.

3 certifications, 3 sets of requirements

ISO 9001: quality at the heart of our organisation

ISO 9001 defines the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). At DALEMANS, it covers not only the manufacture of our gas detection solutions, but also how the entire company is organised to ensure the quality of its activities and continuously improve them.

During the audit, the processes that underpin our organisation are reviewed, including the management of performance indicators and complaints, competency monitoring, supplier management, documentation, and the way we manage the development of new products.

The aim is to verify that these processes are clearly defined, monitored and controlled, and that any non-conformities are addressed with appropriate actions. Quality therefore relies on a structured organisation capable of measuring its performance, identifying areas for improvement and continuously developing its practices.

VCA: safety verified in the field*

VCA* certification focuses on how safety, health and environmental requirements are applied by the teams working at our customers’ sites.

In this case, the audit goes well beyond reviewing procedures: auditors accompany our technicians during on-site work in a range of environments, including car parks, laboratories and boiler rooms.

They verify that technicians carry out their LMRA (Last Minute Risk Analysis) immediately before starting work, participate in Toolbox Meetings, hold the appropriate qualifications for the work being performed, and use their tools in accordance with the applicable requirements.

These on-site assessments provide a direct way of comparing documented procedures with our teams’ day-to-day practices.

More specifically, auditors observed work carried out at the University of Liège and KU Leuven. In Ixelles, one of the interventions observed was praised by our customer for both its speed and the quality of its execution. This recognition reflects our approach: working efficiently while applying our safety standards at every stage.

ISO/IEC 80079-34 : additional requirements for ATEX environments

ISO/IEC 80079-34 specifies the quality management system requirements applicable to the manufacture of equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres and carrying Ex marking.

During the audit, a detector from the production line may be selected to verify its full traceability. In this context, control over the manufacturing process and traceability are essential:

• Each relevant Ex component must be traceable to its technical documentation
• Tests carried out before the product is placed on the market must be recorded
• Any modification to a certified product must also go through a formal validation process before implementation

For our teams, this means maintaining a high level of vigilance throughout the manufacturing process. This rigour helps ensure that the relevant gas detection equipment and control panels remain compliant with the requirements applicable to ATEX environments.

Certifications that must be renewed regularly

Certification is never permanent. Surveillance audits are carried out regularly to verify that the requirements continue to be met, both on our production line and during work at our customers’ sites.

For DALEMANS, renewing our ISO 9001, VCA* and ISO/IEC 80079-34 certifications is important because it confirms the working methods our teams apply every day, from manufacturing our gas detection control panels to installing and maintaining them in the field.

3 certifications covering different areas, but all demonstrating the same commitment: working rigorously and consistently.

Do you have a question about our gas detection control panels or DALEMANS’ certifications? Contact our team: sales@dalemans.com