Topic: How long is IWF certified equipment certified for?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

If I own a certified Eleiko set bought in 1990, does anyone know whether it is still a certified set now? How long is a certification good for? Is it a set time period or does it change whenever the IWF changes the certification requirements?

I read all the IWF bylaws, constitution, and technical rules and saw no information on this matter.

Thanks in advance.

[Mike Wittmer]

Chris, I thought that once it is certified, it is always certified.  As far as I know, there is no way to determine what year a bar was made.  I suppose the TC could, or should, check the bar and discs for damage or wear, but if the set is ceritifed, it's good to go.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

...I thought that once it is certified, it is always certified. As far as I know, there is no way to determine what year a bar was made. I suppose the TC could, or should, check the bar and discs for damage or wear, but if the set is ceritifed, it's good to go.

Mike, I don't know but that doesn't sound like the full story. I have an old-style non-needle bearing York barbell, which is very nice by the way, that was once a certified IWF barbell but which I know is not a certified barbell now. So, what once was a certified barbell is not necessarily a IWF certified barbell now.

My 1990? model Eleiko barbell is IWF certified. Is this a better barbell than my 2005 Eleiko training bars? No, not necessarily. I have three Eleiko mens training bars and one is the best bar I have ever touched save one and thats because of the grip pattern which is awesome and almost exactly the same on these two different new Eleiko models. The 2005 superior Eleiko training bar is better than my 1990 Eleiko competition bar. But, the other two Eleiko training bars are not as nice as the 1990 competition bar.

They are all Eleiko. The rules are my concern, not the bars. I know who makes the best. It is basically a financial question. It appears to me, having a variety of Eleiko barbells, that it is hard to distinguish which are certified and which are not. You have to line them up and compare the width/thickness of the inside "blocker" part of the barbell. This "blocker" part, whatever it is supposed to be called, keeps the weight from sliding in toward the lifters hands. If it is thick, it is certified? If it is not thick, then it is not certified?

I've checked and they all seem to weigh the same weight and they all spin equally awesome. The grip pattern is the important difference, at least to me.

It seems to me that we need a certified metal-impressed stamp in the metal of the barbell, not a sticker that peels off the weight. And, I would like to know the rules detailing what is a certified barbell and how long is it certified for, or as it appears, can I just say that all my Eleiko bars ARE certified?

[Joe Roark]

I emailed the IWF asking for the rules regarding certification of a barbell. It has been about three weeks now and no answer.
Perhaps I should have sent them a 'certified' letter?

[Roger Sadecki]

Certification is a quadrennial thing. 5 or 6 companies are certified this quad: Eleiko, Uesaka, 2 Chinese, a Turk I think and maybe one other. York probably didn't want to pay the high fee for certification. To put the certification sticker on the barbell, the set must conform to the specs in the rule book. Certification is basically for IWF calendared meets. The meet must use a certified set this quad so in effect certification lasts one quad. I'm sure no one will use an older set where the IWF will be there. For national meets the competition secretary checks to see if the competition set is within specs no matter what the brand. It would be best if local meets would do the same.

[Joe Roark]

Certification is a quadrennial thing. 5 or 6 companies are certified this quad: Eleiko, Uesaka, 2 Chinese, a Turk I think and maybe one other. York probably didn't want to pay the high fee for certification. To put the certification sticker on the barbell, the set must conform to the specs in the rule book. Certification is basically for IWF calendared meets. The meet must use a certified set this quad so in effect certification lasts one quad. I'm sure no one will use an older set where the IWF will be there. For national meets the competition secretary checks to see if the competition set is within specs no matter what the brand. It would be best if local meets would do the same.

So, a company can have a brand that meets certification standards, but if that company does not choose to pay the fee, then the set will remain uncertified? So it is a qualified/unqualified set, money being the tranistion factor.

What does the barbell company receive in exchange for having their sets certified? I suspect they have the right to donate several sets? If so, what a bargain    

How much is the fee?
Again, what are the standards

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Roger, thanks. Gosh, I sure spent a lot of money to get a certified set back in 1990 for nothing, I guess. I had no idea the certification is only good for four years, obviously, or I would have bought a training set.

Joe, I know the specifications are listed in the IWF technical rules (their link is in our web links forum in the associations, committees, and federations list). There is a fee. I think at one time it was $50,000 to get a barbell that meets specs certified, but I know the fee was raised recently and I don't know what it is now.

Regards

[Joe Roark]

Roger, thanks. Gosh, I sure spent a lot of money to get a certified set back in 1990 for nothing, I guess. I had no idea the certification is only good for four years, obviously, or I would have bought a training set.

Joe, I know the specifications are listed in the IWF technical rules (their link is in our web links forum in the associations, committees, and federations list). There is a fee. I think at one time it was $50,000 to get a barbell that meets specs certified, but I know the fee was raised recently and I don't know what it is now.

Regards

$50,000 to get someone's approval for all your technical work. Sounds like a deal cast in iron.

Anyone know what year this certification, income-producing, process began?