Certification and assessment of electric bikes, bicycles and their accessories

A bicycle is quite a complex product, and numerous tests have to be done to verify its full functionality, robustness and durability. Your bicycle should meet all the requirements of the applicable standards that we mention here, as they are based on the requirements of the applicable standards. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers to demonstrate conformity of their products to the applicable standards and to declare that the products meet all the requirements laid down. 

Generally, the manufacturers can demonstrate conformity of their products in two ways:

1. The manufacturer has its own, in-house test station and verifies all the parameters in there.

2. The manufacturer has the parameters verified by one of the testing laboratories that are competent to perform the required tests.

What is tested?

• quality of the design/construction of bicycles  
• brakes
  (hand-operated brakes, back-pedal operating system, their attachment, strength tests, effectiveness in dry and wet conditions, heat resistance)
• steering
  (handlebars, stems, dimensions, strength tests – static and fatigue)
• frames
  (suspension-frames and rigid frames, impact tests, fatigue tests – pedalling forces, horizontal and vertical forces)
• front fork
  (rigid and suspension forks, tensile test, static tests, impact tests, fatigue tests)
• wheels and wheel/tyre assembly
  (run-out, static tests, wheel retention)
• rims, tyres and tubes
  (tyre inflation pressures, tyre and rim compatibility, rim-wear)
• mudguards
  (mounting and position)
• pedals and pedal/crank drive system
  (pedal treads, clearances between the pedal and front wheel or mudguard and ground, static tests, impact tests, fatigue tests)
• saddles and seat-pillars
  (dimensions, mounting, static tests, fatigue tests)
• chains and chain guards
  (dimensions and design)
• lighting systems and reflectors
• field tests

E-bikes (including the abovementioned):

• electric safety
• functionality
• EMC (electro-magnetic compatibility)
• Assessment according the Machinery directive – MD (2006/42/ES)

What is ASSESSED?

• accompanying documentation
  (drawings, material safety data sheets, declarations of conformity for various parts, etc.)
• instructions
• marking
  (torques, tyre inflation pressure, air pressure in fork and damper, etc.)

The most frequently occurring problems:

• fracture of handlebars
• fracture of stem
• cracking or bending of cranks
• fracture of pedal axle
• insufficient documentation and instructions

Standards:

• EN ISO 4210-2 ed.2 
• EN ISO 4210-3 ed.2 
• EN ISO 4210-4 ed.2
• EN ISO 4210-5 ed.2
• EN ISO 4210-6 ed.2
• EN ISO 4210-7
• EN ISO 4210-8
• EN ISO 4210-9
• EN ISO 8098
• EN 15194
• EN 17404

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