A Term That Appears on Every Specification — Explained Once and in Full
Type Approval is one of the most frequently referenced terms in marine product specifications. It appears in tender documents, procurement checklists, classification society surveys and shipbuilder specifications worldwide. Most buyers encounter it as a requirement rather than an explanation: the product must be Type Approved. The approving body is usually named. The implication — that unapproved products are unsuitable — is clear.
What is less commonly explained is what Type Approval actually involves, what the classification societies are and what authority they hold, what the approval process requires a manufacturer to demonstrate, and why the presence or absence of Type Approval matters in practice for the different parties who specify, purchase, install and operate marine window blinds.
This article provides that explanation. It covers Type Approval from first principles — what it is, who grants it, what it means legally and operationally, and why SOLASOLV® holding four Type Approvals from the world’s leading classification societies is a significantly stronger position than holding one, or none.
What Is Type Approval?
Type Approval is a certification granted by a recognised marine classification society confirming that a product meets the design, construction and performance standards required for use on classified vessels. It is not a quality management certificate and it is not a self-declaration. It is an independent, third-party verification that a specific product type — defined by its design, materials, construction method and performance characteristics — is fit for its intended purpose in a marine environment.
The process works as follows. A manufacturer applies to a classification society and submits the product for evaluation. The classification society reviews the product design, construction materials, manufacturing process and performance test data. In some cases the society conducts or oversees its own testing. If the product meets the applicable standards, the society issues a Type Approval certificate for that product. The certificate is specific to the product type as submitted. If the manufacturer changes the design, materials or construction in a material way, the approval must be renewed or revised.
Type Approval is not a one-time event. The classification society may conduct periodic audits of the manufacturing process to confirm that the approved product continues to be manufactured to the approved specification. Maintaining Type Approval requires ongoing compliance, not just initial certification.
For marine anti-glare screens and solar blinds, Type Approval confirms that the product meets the standards applicable to equipment installed at navigation bridge windows on classified vessels. These standards cover performance — glare reduction, heat rejection, UV filtration and visible light transmission — as well as construction quality, material stability and suitability for the marine environment.
Who Are the Classification Societies?
Marine classification societies are independent organisations that develop and maintain technical standards for the design, construction and maintenance of ships and marine equipment. Their origins lie in the underwriting of marine insurance in the 18th and 19th centuries, when shipowners and cargo insurers needed an independent assessment of vessel seaworthiness. Today, classification societies play a central role in the global regulatory framework for shipping and their approvals are recognised by flag states, port state control authorities and international bodies including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The four classification societies whose Type Approval SOLASOLV® products hold are among the most globally recognised in the industry.
Lloyd’s Register was founded in 1760 and is one of the oldest and most widely recognised classification societies in the world. Lloyd’s Register operates globally across 180 countries and provides classification and certification services across the full range of vessel types. Lloyd’s Register was the first classification society to Type Approve SOLASOLV® anti-glare roller screens, granting approval for SOLASAFE® and SOLAROLA® in May 2001.
ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) is one of the world’s largest classification societies and is particularly widely recognised in the Americas and in North American shipbuilding and vessel operation. ABS Type Approval for SOLASOLV® products was obtained in September 2001, following Lloyd’s Register, as part of Solar Solve’s expansion into the North American market.
DNV (formerly Det Norske Veritas) is a Norwegian classification society with global reach and one of the largest in the world by classed fleet. DNV is particularly prominent in offshore, oil and gas and Norwegian and Scandinavian flagged vessels. DNV Type Approval for SOLASOLV® screens was obtained in July 2002. DNV subsequently Type Approved the ROLASOLV® range of fabric roller blinds in June 2005.
RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) is the Italian classification society, operating globally across all vessel types. RINA approval broadens the reach of SOLASOLV® Type Approval across Southern European, Mediterranean and Latin American flagged fleets.
Holding Type Approval from all four of these societies means that SOLASOLV® products meet the standards of the four most globally influential classification bodies. A vessel classified by any one of these four societies can specify SOLASOLV® screens with confidence that the product is approved for that classification. For shipbuilders working simultaneously with multiple classification societies across different projects, a supplier with four approvals removes the need to source different products for different classification requirements.
What Type Approval Means for Each Type of Buyer
Type Approval has different practical implications depending on where a buyer sits in the supply chain.
For shipbuilders and shipyards
Shipbuilders specifying equipment for new build vessels are required to meet the classification standards of the society under whose rules the vessel is being built. When a piece of bridge equipment holds Type Approval from the relevant classification society, the shipbuilder can include it in the vessel specification with confidence that it will pass the classification survey without additional scrutiny. Using a non-approved or self-certified product creates a risk of specification rejection, survey delay or requirement for expensive substitution during the build programme. Type Approval from all four major societies means that Solar Solve can supply to any shipyard working under any of these classification rules without the buyer needing to verify suitability independently.
For vessel owners and operators
Vessel owners are ultimately responsible for ensuring that their vessels maintain classification throughout their operational life. Classification surveys are conducted at regular intervals, and any equipment installed on the vessel that does not meet the applicable standards is a source of survey finding, potential deficiency notice or, in serious cases, vessel detention. Type Approved products are the lowest-risk specification choice for owners, because their compliance with classification standards has been independently confirmed. Non-approved alternatives introduce a compliance risk that the owner carries, not the product supplier.
For procurement managers and fleet operators
Procurement managers specifying marine solar screens for fleet refit or new build contracts increasingly include Type Approval as a mandatory specification criterion rather than a preference. This is because the liability risk associated with specifying a non-approved product in a safety-critical bridge application now falls on the procurement team if a survey finding or incident occurs. Type Approval transfers the burden of proof regarding product compliance to the classification society, providing documented, independent confirmation that the product is fit for purpose. For procurement teams who need to justify specification decisions to technical superintendents, fleet managers or auditors, Type Approval documentation is the strongest evidence available.
For resellers and distributors
Marine resellers who supply SOLASOLV® products to vessel owners, shipbuilders and operators can present Type Approval documentation as part of their sales process. The approval confirms that the product they are supplying meets the applicable marine standards, reducing the risk of compliance disputes, rejected installations or warranty claims arising from a product being deemed unsuitable for the application. Resellers who supply non-approved alternatives are carrying a product liability risk that Type Approved suppliers do not. For the full reseller specification and support resources available from Solar Solve, visit the SOLASAFE.
What SOLASOLV® Type Approval Specifically Confirms
For SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens, Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA confirms the following about the products and their performance:
Performance data is independently verified. The glare reduction, heat rejection, UV filtration and visible light transmission figures are the basis on which Type Approval is granted. They are not manufacturer claims — they are independently reviewed and confirmed performance specifications. This is why buyers can cite the 93% glare reduction and 87% heat rejection figures in specification documents with confidence.
The product design and construction meet marine standards. The film material, roller mechanism, cassette construction (for SOLASAFE®) and fixing systems are evaluated against the applicable marine construction standards. Materials must be stable in the temperature, humidity and saltwater exposure conditions found on working vessels.
The product is suitable for use at navigation bridge windows. The specific application of the product at navigation bridge windows, where maintaining clear outward visibility under all conditions is a regulatory requirement, is covered by the Type Approval scope. This is a different and more demanding requirement than general window covering approval, and it is what makes Type Approval for this product category particularly significant.
Regulatory standards referenced in SOLASOLV® Type Approval documentation include: ISO 8468 (Ship’s bridge layout and associated equipment — requirements and guidelines), M Notice 760, and Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1419 (1998). Compliance with these standards is confirmed through the Type Approval process for SOLASAFE® and SOLAROLA® products.
Why Four Approvals Matter More Than One
Some marine blind and screen manufacturers hold Type Approval from a single classification society. Holding approval from one society confirms that the product meets that society’s standards, but it creates a gap for buyers working under different classification rules.
A vessel classified by ABS requires ABS-approved equipment. A vessel classified by DNV requires DNV-approved equipment. A shipyard simultaneously building vessels under Lloyd’s Register and RINA rules needs both approvals for the same product if they want a single-supplier solution.
SOLASOLV® is the only marine anti-glare screen product in the world to hold Type Approval from all four of the world’s leading classification societies: Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA. This means that regardless of the classification society under whose rules a vessel is built or operated, SOLASOLV® screens meet the applicable approval standard. For global fleet operators managing vessels under multiple classification societies, this eliminates the need to source different approved products for different vessels and simplifies both procurement and compliance documentation across the fleet.
For detailed technical specifications and to view Type Approval documentation, visit the Solar Solve technical information.
How Type Approval Relates to SOLAS and IMO Requirements
Type Approval from a classification society and compliance with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and IMO (International Maritime Organisation) requirements are related but distinct frameworks.
SOLAS is the primary international treaty governing ship safety, administered by the IMO. SOLAS Chapter V sets the regulatory requirements for navigation safety on commercial vessels, including bridge equipment and visibility requirements. IMO resolutions and guidelines provide additional technical detail on how these requirements should be met.
Classification societies develop their own technical rules and standards, which are informed by SOLAS and IMO requirements but may go beyond them in specific areas. A product that holds Type Approval from a classification society has been evaluated against those rules, which include the applicable SOLAS and IMO requirements within their scope.
SOLASOLV® screens comply with ISO 8468, which provides specific guidance on ship bridge layout and equipment including bridge window visibility, and with the relevant IMO and SOLAS requirements for navigation bridge window equipment. Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA confirms this compliance through independent review, providing a level of verification that self-certified compliance cannot match.
For guidance on specifying SOLASOLV® products for your vessel type and classification requirements, visit the SOLAROLA product page or contact the Solar Solve team directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Type Approval for marine blinds and screens?
A: Type Approval is a certification granted by a recognised marine classification society confirming that a product meets the design, construction and performance standards required for use on classified vessels. It is an independent, third-party verification process. The manufacturer submits the product for evaluation, the classification society reviews the design, materials and performance data, and if the product meets the applicable standards, a Type Approval certificate is issued for that product type.
Q: Which classification societies have Type Approved SOLASOLV® screens?
A: SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens — including SOLASAFE® and SOLAROLA® — hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (granted May 2001), ABS (September 2001), DNV (July 2002) and RINA. SOLASOLV® is the only marine anti-glare screen product in the world to hold Type Approval from all four of these leading classification societies simultaneously.
Q: Why does it matter which classification society has granted Type Approval?
A: Different vessels are classified under different classification society rules. A vessel classified by ABS requires ABS-approved equipment. A vessel classified by DNV requires DNV approval. Holding approval from all four major societies means SOLASOLV® screens are compliant regardless of which society has classified the vessel, eliminating the need to source different products for different classification requirements.
Q: Does Type Approval mean the product is SOLAS compliant?
A: Yes. SOLASOLV® screens comply with ISO 8468 and relevant IMO and SOLAS requirements for navigation bridge window equipment. Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA confirms this compliance through independent review, which provides a stronger basis for specification than self-declared SOLAS compliance.
Q: What happens if a vessel is fitted with non-Type Approved marine blinds?
A: Non-approved products installed at navigation bridge windows on classified vessels may result in classification survey findings, deficiency notices or requirements for product substitution before the vessel can maintain its class certificate. The risk is carried by the vessel owner and the procurement team who specified the non-approved product. Type Approval eliminates this risk by providing independent confirmation of suitability.
Q: Is Type Approval a one-time certification or does it require renewal?
A: Type Approval requires ongoing compliance. Classification societies may conduct periodic audits of the manufacturing process to confirm that the approved product continues to be manufactured to the approved specification. If the manufacturer changes the product design or materials in a material way, the approval must be reviewed. Solar Solve has maintained its four Type Approvals continuously since they were first granted between 2001 and 2002.
Q: Does Type Approval cover all SOLASOLV® products?
A: SOLASAFE® and SOLAROLA® hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA. ROLASOLV® fabric roller blinds hold Type Approval from DNV in accordance with the mandatory IMO FTPC Part 7 A.563(14) Resolution. Type Approval covers the specific product type as submitted and is not automatically transferable to other products in the range.
