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

Test Specifications are available for:

• PROFIBUS DP Slaves (2.032)
• PROFIBUS DP Master Devices (2.071)
• PROFIBUS PA Field Devices (2.061)
• PROFIBUS DP-V2 Master and Slave Devices (Isochronous Mode) (2.322)
• Safety Related PROFIBUS DP Slaves (PROFIsafe) (2.242)
• PROFINET Certification (2.222)

These 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 or PROFINET device at PI 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 PI Certification Office.

PROFIBUS Certificates

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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.

PROFINET Certificates

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In order to ensure the correct interaction of all PROFINET devices and a high product-quality, a certification system has been set up along the lines of the proven system for PROFIBUS products from the outset. At the heart of this process are certification tests carried out by accredited test laboratories authorized by PI. The test for obtaining a certificate from one of these test laboratories ensures that the products comply with specifications and are error-free.

In order to be able to carry out these tests, the following preconditions should be fulfilled by the device developer:

• The PROFINET device must correspond to serial production.
• It is also recommended that an extensive system test be carried out when development finishes.
• The PROFINET runtime software, which is stored either in the PROFINET device or can be loaded with a tool, must be executable.
• At least one XML file exists for the PROFINET engineering tool, or a tool with which a component can be produced.
• A manufacturer-specific tool for parameterizing the field device (if necessary) is available.

The following documents should be made available by the device developer:

• Brief PROFINET device description and user description
• User description of the manufacturer-specific tool for parameterization and a description of the component producer (if available)
• Manufacturer’s declaration that the field device corresponds to the necessary safety regulations for the country in which it is to be used.

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

PROFINET certificates are valid for 3 years. After that time, PI 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.

Manufacturers Declaration for PROFINET Cabling

In order to ensure the easy and reliable PROFINET installation and a high product quality, a manufacturers declaration system has been set up for passive PROFINET components.

The PROFINET installation is based on a component approach for passive network components, which is standardised in the IEC 61784-5-3.
The requirement for this approach is, that the passive components fulfil the PROFINET Guideline “PROFINET Cabling and Interconnection Technology”.

For passive PROFINET components the conformity shall be declared by the manufacturer of the product. The PROFINET logo may only be used for these products.