CANopen conformance test - rules and regulations

Rules and regulations define CiA’s test policy for ensuring certified conformance with the CANopen application layer and communication profile.

Scope and application

CAN in Automation e. V. authorizes and regulates device certification. The CiA Interest Group (IG) CANopen is responsible for the CANopen conformance test specification as well as the certification policy. The goal is to facilitate interoperability among CANopen devices from multiple vendors. The certification policy applies to all CANopen devices successfully tested by CiA GmbH or an authorized test laboratory.

Device certification

  • Devices shall be tested against the CANopen conformance test tool based on the current version of the conformance test specification.
  • The device under test shall perform all test cases successfully.
  • A certification number is assigned to each device tested successfully, and the submitter gets an official certification document.
  • Test results are confidential between vendor and test laboratory. Only certified devices will be published on CiA’s website.
  • Device shall only be marked as CANopen certified if they have passed the conformance test at CiA GmbH or an authorized test laboratory, and all certification fees have been paid.
  • The right to mark devices as CANopen certified may be revoked upon notice of non-conformance by CiA e. V.
  • Passing the conformance test does not relieve the vendor of responsibility for conformance of the CANopen application layer and communication profile, in particular the dynamical establishing of PDOs and the variable mapping of PDOs.

Family approval

A device family is a group of products from a single vendor that is derived from a common implementation. A device family is characterized by CANopen interfaces that provide the very same application layer features except the number and default mapping of the implemented PDOs, the additional info in the Device type object (1000h), sub-index 02h, 03h and 04h of the Identity object (1018h) and objects 1009h and 100Ah. All family members must follow the same device profile (however they may support different objects in the area above 1FFFh). A complete list of product family members together with all Electronic Data Sheets must be submitted at the time of testing. For family approval in minimum two representative (but not identical) devices from the family and all electronic data sheets shall be tested. A vendor can ask for family enhancement by submitting the eds file of the new family member and a written statement that the new product shares the same CANopen implementation.

Certification is only valid for the tested devices and the used CANopen conformance test tool version (both shall be mentioned in the certification document). Re-testing is required if the CANopen implementation or behavior in the device has been changed or enhanced by means of hardware or firmware or software. Re-testing is recommended if the conformance test tool has been updated.

General conditions

All deliveries and supplies of CAN in Automation are based on the General Conditions for the supply of products and services of the electrical and electronics industry ("GL")* for commercial transactions between businesses

recommended by ZVEI - Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektroindustrie e. V.
– as of January 2018 –
You may order a copy from the CiA office.


*"Grüne Lieferbedingungen" The original German text shall be the governing version.