Approved Body / Designated Body
What is an Approved Body?
NCB is accredited as an Approved Body to independently evaluate UK rail design and construction assessing compliance with requirements to provide confidence key specifications are met. This is a legal requirement for UK rail infrastructure and rail vehicles which supports safety and compatibility with build specifications in other parts of the worldwide rail industry.
What is a Designated Body?
NCB is accredited as a Designated Body to independently evaluate design and construction, assessing compliance with UK specific requirements that align to those assessed by the Approved Body and together the two roles provide independent confidence key requirements have been achieved, supporting compliance to current UK legislation and safety standards.
Why choose NCB?
NCB is a subsidiary of Network Rail and began operating in 2012 to meet the emerging need for assessments to meet European legislation, supporting safety, performance and cost management across the EU (the role was known as a Notified Body, or NoBo, in Europe). Since 31 December 2020 the need for independent assessment to verify compliance with key standard requirements has been stipulated in UK specific legislation and the role has changed name to Approved Body. The role of the Designated Body has not changed during this time and is an activity that NCB have undertaken continuously since it was first introduced.
What does the assessment process involve?
Assessment is undertaken by engineers working to an accredited management system. Typically, the process involves a review of the designs used to construct the project (or product) followed by assessment of the constructed infrastructure (or product). NCB can also assist in the earlier stages of the project lifecycle to discuss assessment requirements and expectations so projects can prepare for the deliverables, the technical file and for the estimated timescales in their project programmes.
What are the typical products from an assessment?
Following successful assessment, NCB provide certificates of verification for the sub systems that are provided or altered by the project. These are supported by conformity assessment reports that record the findings from the assessments and are submitted with the certificates to the Safety Authority for authorisation.