In-House Certification
The World Sailing In-House Equipment Certification (IHC) Programme is a scheme whereby satisfactory equipment control is achieved and equipment certified by manufacturers for use in competition.
IHC applies to manufacturers of sailing equipment. Certification can be obtained through the application of a Certification Quality Management System under licence issued by the World Sailing directly or via a World Sailing delegate.
In-House Certification enables builders to self-certify equipment – once they have met certain standards. The aim of IHC is to maintain the standards of fairness guaranteed by traditional control and certification, but reduce the time and cost of these activities. For sailors this means they can buy certified equipment, knowing it is ready to race. With an international system of IHC, World Sailing can ensure standards and certification apply worldwide.
As most manufacturers are not class specific (i.e. they make equipment for more than one class), the scheme cannot be class-specific. This means that World Sailing IHC can only be introduced by World Sailing and not via Class Associations (CAs). However, classes associations do have a clear role within the Programme through the enhancement of equipment control specifications and hands on control training. This makes the class associations, together with manufacturers and MNAs, firm stakeholders in the Programme.
How Does it Work?
World Sailing implements the IHC scheme in cooperation with MNAs.
The scheme is administrated by IHC Authorising Authorities (AAs) appointed for a country, or a region. An AA is the MNA when it has the wish and the resources to act as AA, or, if the MNA is not the AA, a World Sailing delegate organisation based in the country or the region, or World Sailing may act as AA itself.
AAs report to the World Sailing in accordance with the criteria set out in the IHC Criteria and Responsibility paper (CAR).
Manufacturers wishing to operate IHC apply to be licensed by their AA and prepare a Certification System (CS) to be approved by the AA. The approved Certification System forms the basis of the Certification Control and the Certification.
Classes involved in the Programme are responsible for ensuring their class rules and other equipment controls lend themselves to IHC and also assist in the development of class specific control methods and control assessment training. Any class not wishing to be involved in the Programme has the right to be excluded. Participating World Sailing classes are listed on the World Sailing website.
How to Get Involved
MNAs wishing to be appointed as an Authorising Authority (AA), should first check that they have the demand for and resources to implement the IHC within their jurisdiction. Additionally the MNA will need to agree to:
- Appoint a World Sailing IHC liaison officer.
- Ensure relevant class rules and interpretations are available on their website.
- Assess a manufacturers ability to participate in IHC
- Approve manufacturer’s CS and Licensing manufacturers for IHC
- Ensure there are sufficient World Sailing Internal Official Measurers (IOM) to satisfy the IHC scheme within their jurisdiction.
- Develop a system to identify non-compliances, to feed back information to the manufacturer, World Sailing and CA as appropriate and to take any necessary action.
- Apply such penalties as determined by consultation.
- Act in cases of disputes involving; an auditor, IOM or the manufacturer.
- Purchase and Issuing to IHC manufacturers World Sailing IHC stickers and/or stamps.
- Supply the World Sailing with a list and details of IHC operations.
- Provided it is happy with the criteria and responsibilities then the MNA should apply to the World Sailing to become an AA.
Manufacturers wishing to be licensed for IHC need to be manufacturing items of equipment approved for IHC by their appropriate AA. They should also check that they fulfil the necessary criteria as specified in sections 4 and 5 of the Criteria and Responsibility paper (CAR).
The manufacturer will also need to be prepared to fulfil the responsibilities set out in the CAR. These primarily include the responsibility to:
- their clients to ensure that their products comply with class rules.
- Appoint an World Sailing IHC Certification Manager.
- Draft and gain the approval from their AA of their CS and any amendments thereto.
- Ensure they have on staff or contract sufficient World Sailing trained and currently approved Internal Official Measurers (IOMs) to satisfy its IHC.
- Ensure appropriate up-to-date class rules and interpretations are available for all licensed specified equipment.
- Implement changes to production procedures to ensure compliance with the class rule changes.
- Request their AA for audits as required and as appropriate.
- Permit and facilitate their AA and/or World Sailing with access to the manufacturing premises to undertake audits and random inspections.
- Develop a system to identify non-compliances, to feed back this information to their AA and to take any necessary action.
- Accept such penalties for non-compliance as determined by their AA.
- Purchase from their AA and mark on only IHC controlled equipment, WS IHC stickers and/or stamps.
- Cover the reasonable costs and fees of other parties in the attendance at IHC procedure.
- Supplying their AA with a list and details of IHC operations.
- Provided a manufacturer is happy with the criteria and responsibilities then they should apply to their AA to be licensed. A list of AAs will be posted on the World Sailing website.
Classes wishing to adopt the Programme will need to ensure that their class rules and other equipment controls lend themselves to IHC. The most positive way to achieve this is by the application of the WS Standard Class Rules (SCR) and the Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS). The class will also need to work with IHC manufacturers and AAs to develop and implement equipment controls methods specific to their class.
There are a number of questions that are commonly asked regarding the WS In-House Certification Programme. Some of the more frequently asked questions are found in the list below. If the answers provided here do not address your particular concern, please feel free to contact World Sailing Technical & Offshore.
What is the World Sailing IHC programme all about?
IHC is a programme to enable builders to self-certify equipment – once they have met certain standards. The aim of IHC is to maintain the standards of fairness guaranteed by traditional control and certification, but reduce the time and cost of these activities. For sailors this means they can buy certified equipment, knowing it is ready to race. With an international system of IHC, WS can ensure standards and certification apply worldwide.
How does IHC Work?
The programme is to be administered by either an WordSailing approved Authorising Authority (AA), which will normally be the MNA, appointed for a country or region (where this is more appropriate), or World Sailing itself. The AA will report to World Sailing in accordance with the criteria set out in the IHC Criteria and Responsibilities paper.
Who Controls It?
World Sailing will implement the programme in cooperation with the MNAs; however, IHC by definition will apply to manufacturer and as most manufacturers are not class specific (i.e. they make equipment for more than one class), the scheme cannot be class specific. This means that the IHC programme should only be introduced by World Sailing and not through the class associations; however, under a single World Sailing IHC licence, a manufacturer could work with a number of different classes.
Who Approves the In-house Measurers?
World Sailing develop and establish training schemes for all Internal Official Measurers (IOM) and approve MNAs to undertake IOM certification training in accordance with these schemes. The manufacturer can then nominate a number of members of staff as IOMs which will undergo training specific to their manufactured product, as specified in the World Sailing training syllabi.
Who Audits the Manufacturers and How Often?
A qualified, independent certified auditor, appointed by an AA for World Sailing IHC auditing. The auditing of a manufacturer provides the main element of control which is key to the success of the IHC Programme. Audits are performed by both the manufacturer and the Authorising Authority for internal and external auditing, to ensure the manufacturing process, and the certification control are maintained at the highest level possible. The frequency of these audits varies, with internal audits performed every three months, and an AA external audit every twelve months, although this is subject to change should there be incidence of non-conformity with current class rules.
Why is IHC Better than Our Current Measurement System?
The World Sailing IHC Programme is an international scheme that allows sailors to buy race ready equipment from anywhere in the world. There are examples of cases where fundamental measurement and certification of equipment was done at the event, taking up valuable time. The IHC scheme would ensure that all equipment presented at event inspection was properly certified to current class rules with all the correct certification marks in place.
What are the Costs Involved for Sailors and Manufacturers?
This will very much depend on the class, the Authorising Authority, the manufacturer and the type of equipment being certified. In some cases, the costs will be quite small; however, in others this may not be the case. It is anticipated that in most cases, it will be less than those of current certification costs.
What is the Classes Involvements in the Programme?
Classes are given the option to either opt in or out of the programme and may decide if they wish to be included in the IHC scheme from the outset Assuming the class wishes to be included in the IHC scheme, they are consulted at every step of the proceedings, to ensure the class rules are in order, the measurement of specific items is well documented and to encourage their manufacturers to adopt the World Sailing IHC Programme, as well as liaising with the AA regarding the auditing of manufacturers etc.
Will IHC Remove the Need for Existing Measurement?
It may do. Current measurement procedures will continue to be necessary for classes that do not wish to be included in the World Sailing IHC Programme, or for classes where their class rules are not suitable for IHC; however, this is time and class and manufacturer dependent.