A CB test report binds four things together: one applicant and manufacturer, a defined list of models, safety standards in specific editions, and the ratings of the tested samples — all issued by a laboratory inside the CB Scheme. Read it in that order: identity pages, model list and ratings, deviations and conditions, then results. A report impressive in its results can still fail your order in its first pages, if your model, ratings or standard edition are not the ones it names.
Key Takeaways
- A CB report is test evidence accepted across participating bodies — not a market approval.
- Read in order: identity pages, model list, ratings, standard editions, then deviations and results.
- Only listed models and described variants are in scope; amendments are part of the document.
- When scope and order disagree, put the questions to the supplier and the issuing body — in writing.
What the CB Scheme Is, in One Paragraph
The CB Scheme is an international system under which participating laboratories and certification bodies accept each other’s test work. A scheme laboratory tests a product against the agreed international safety standards; a certification body elsewhere can then use the report as test evidence behind its own national certification, usually adding only checks for national differences. The report is evidence, not an approval: no market’s mark comes from it alone. Our overview of EV charger certifications places CB alongside CE, UKCA and North American listings.
The Identity Pages: What Binds the Report to a Model
| Field | What to read | Why it binds |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant and manufacturer | The companies named as applicant and as manufacturer | The parties the report describes; another contracting party needs the relationship explained, as with certificate ownership in a private-label deal |
| Model and type list | Every model designation listed, plus how variants differ | Only listed models — and variants the description covers — are within scope |
| Ratings | Voltage, current, frequency and enclosure rating of the tested samples | A version built for a different voltage or rating is a different product to the report |
| Standards and editions | Each standard named, with its edition or year | Acceptance is judged against editions; an older edition may not meet your market’s requirement |
| Laboratory, report number, dates | The issuing laboratory, the report reference, issue and amendment dates | The verification key — what the issuing body can confirm when you check the report is real |
The Sections Buyers Skip
Past the results tables sit the pages that decide how far the report travels. Look for the record of national differences or deviations, which shows which markets’ extra requirements were considered. Read the tested-sample description against the production datasheet: if the sample’s cable, enclosure or protection differs from what will ship, the report describes a different build. Finally, check the amendment history — reports grow by amendment, and your model may depend on one.
Questions to Ask When the Scope Does Not Match
- Our model is not in the model list. Ask whether an amendment covers it, and request that amendment — or written confirmation from the issuing body — before treating the report as evidence for your order.
- The ratings differ from the quoted version. Ask which document covers your market’s version. A separate report or variant description must exist; a verbal assurance is not a scope.
- National differences for our market are not addressed. Ask what additional testing or documentation your market’s body will require on top of the report, so it lands in the project plan, not at the port.
Putting a CB File to EVDANCE
EVDANCE is a Shenzhen EV charger manufacturer founded in 2011, exporting to more than 30 countries, with private label from 100 units and a 3-year standard warranty. For a European programme, evaluation typically starts with a model such as the EV-ACT3204PE wallbox — 22 kW three-phase, Type 2, listed with CE — and with the test evidence behind the mark. Request the report for your exact model and market version through our contact page, and read it identity-first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a CB test report the same as certification for our market?
No. It is test evidence participating bodies accept as the basis for their own decisions. Your market’s certification is still issued by its own body — in the U.S., through an OSHA NRTL-recognised laboratory (see our guide to UL and ETL listing).
Our charger is a variant of the tested model. Are we covered?
Only if the model list and variant description include it, or an amendment adds it. Resolve it with the document, not the supplier’s assurance.
The standard edition in the report is older than we expected. Does it still work?
It depends on what your market’s body currently accepts. Ask the body or the supplier to confirm acceptance of that edition in writing before relying on it.
Related Reading
- EV Charger Certifications Explained: CE, UKCA, UL, ETL, CB and What Buyers Should Ask For
- UL and ETL Listing for EV Chargers: How NRTL Certification Works
- EV Charger Certification for Australia: SAA, RCM and EESS Explained
