The Certification & Testing Manual describes the ITSO Certification and Testing process. It deals with the role of ITSO, the Manufacturer / Vendor (Supplier) and the Independent Test Laboratory in the certification cycle and focuses on reporting, warehouse management and security. Its aim is to provide a better understanding of the ITSO certification process.

Why do we certify?

Before any equipment, software or sub-assembly can be used within the ITSO environment, it has to be certified by ITSO. To gain certification the equipment is rigorously tested for compliance to the ITSO Specification. It also undergoes interoperability testing with all the ITSO-compliant equipment available to-date, to ensure as far as is possible that all components are truly physically interoperable.

Certification provides formal recognition of a product's conformance to the ITSO Specification. This allows:

  • Organisations to make clear and substantiated claims of conformance to the Specification.
  • Buyers to specify and successfully procure conforming products that inter-operate.

ITSO testing is managed through the ITSO Test House and the ITSO Interoperability Warehouse; Integri NV has been accredited to perform the ITSO testing service. Upon successful completion of appropriate testing, the equipment and/or software is awarded an ITSO Certificate of Compliance, that is normally valid in compliance with the ITSO Specification requirements for a period of seven years.

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Test Lists & Test Tools

Availability of Test Lists and Test Tools gives suppliers the opportunity to test their equipment in-house during its development and reduces potential problems when formal testing occurs.

ITSO publish the Test Lists carried out by the ITSO Test House, and these are available from the Members’ section of the ITSO web-site.

ITSO Test Tools are available for purchase or hire from the Testing House, Integri. For fees please refer to Schedule 5 of the current Pricing Structure on Pricing page.

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Specific requirements for certification of various types of equipment

CMD6 - Withdrawal of Requirement to Test POSTs for CMD6 – Oyster™ Media This paper outlines the withdrawal of requirement to test POSTs for CMD6.

  CMD2 - Generic MicroProcessor Cards This paper outlines the requirements for the migration of existing issued CMD2s to alternative platforms.

  ITSO CM Perso and Certification This document details the minimum security requirements for loading ITSO shells onto new media during personalisation or the retailing of an ITSO shell onto an existing media.  The requirements for testing multiple media configurations are included for CMD2.

 ITSO Certification and Testing Rail POST Equipment This paper relates to the minimum requirements for the Certification of UK Rail Validation Equipment that are Fixed Devices that are to be used within a Closed System and with the functionality of an ITSO POST. This specifically relates to devices that are to be used on, or in conjunction with devices on the UK National Rail Network. 

  ITSO Certification and Testing Offline Hand Held Post Equipment This paper relates specifically to the minimum requirements for the Certification of Off-line Hand-held POST Equipment having a self-contained power source for Certification. This is specifically designed to allow such POSTs to be designed for extended service intervals on bus, tram, or ferry services.

  Certification of Off Line Bus ETM Equipment This paper relates specifically to the minimum requirements for the Certification of Off-line bus ETM Equipment. Off-line bus ETM equipment shall be considered fully compliant, with respect to the Operating Licence and the Certification Process, if it meets or exceeds the following requirements outlined in this paper. 

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