PI has established a qualified certification system for PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices. In officially authorised Test Laboratories (PITLs), which are all listed on this Website, devices are tested regarding conformance with the PROFIBUS or PROFINET Specifications and Guidelines as well as interoperability with devices from other manufacturers. The test shall result in a positive test report, based upon which PNO (PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation, who is responsible for the certification on behalf of PI) issues a certificate for the device.

Test Specifications

For available Test Specifications see "Download Area" / "Test and Certification".
All Test Specifications are available for free download for PI Members.

Certification Tests

The tests executed at the PI test laboratories are described in detail in the Test Specifications (see above).

The better you and your device are prepared for the test, the faster and smoother the test can finally be effected – which saves you time and money:

• Register your PROFIBUS device at PNO in due time and have the confirmation available for the check at the Test Laboratory in order to avoid delays. (For details about device registration: see 'Registration' on this page)
• Edit the Device Description Files (e.g. GSD-Files) in accordance with the valid Guidelines in order to avoid any errors.
• Carefully prepare a complete set of the required documentation.
• Clarify all questions in advance.

In order to clarify questions and problems occurring during the test, you may ask the Test Laboratory whether you may be present during the test. This results in a shorter test time in total. After the test at the test laboratory, the manufacturer gets a test report which is then, together with an application for a certificate, sent to the PNO Certification Office.

PROFIBUS Certificates

For a device with a positive test report, the PI Certification Office issues a certificate. In the Product Guide at www.profibus.com the certified products are specially highlighted, so that customers easily get an overview on the available certified products.

PROFIBUS certificates are valid for 3 years. After that time, the PI Certification Office and the manufacturer check whether or not the certificate shall be prolonged and if it can be prolonged with a declaration of the manufacturer or with a new test.

A certificate is much more than a marketing argument for the manufacturer: It stands for the quality of a product. Many end-users only use certified products in their plants. Thus, a certificate is often the reason why a certain product is chosen. Currently, several hundred PROFIBUS products are certified, so that the end-users have the possibility to chose from a great variety of products.