- Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SSAIB, the certification process and a range of other issues. If you any comments, suggestions or questions please submit an enquiry form and will be happy to provide response and we may add your question to the list

What is an Inspectorate/Inspection Board?

The term Inspectorate and Inspection Board are historical terms which were given to independent Third Party Organisations carrying out inspections of ‘security installations’, which might include intruder alarm systems, manned services etc. Whilst these terms are still used colloquially, more recently the inspection/assessment process has been formalised as product certification.

What is Product Certification?

It is the third party assessment of the competence and procedures of service providers, against an industry agreed certification scheme e.g. The ACPO/ABI Security Systems Policy which describes the basis upon which a police response to security systems will be provided or the Chief Fire Officers Association model agreement between Fire and Rescue Authorities and Users of Remotely Monitored Fire Alarm Systems

This assessment will include an appraisal of the management systems of the company to ensure that adequate business process controls are in place. The assessment undertaken will be detailed in the certification scheme documentation.

The neither the ACPO Security Systems Policy or the Chief Fire Officers Association model agreement require, for example, certification of a company’s management system against the requirements of ISO 9001: 2000.

Certification is carried out by bodies such as SSAIB, who are independent of both service provider and customer. These bodies are now more commonly referred to as a Certification Bodies. Certification schemes generally carry UKAS accreditation (see below).

What is Approval?

An approval scheme is similar to a certification scheme but does not yet carry UKAS accreditation. Approval schemes will still call upon British or European standards, but may be a scheme for which stakeholders have not generally required UKAS accreditation.

Who are UKAS?

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) operates on behalf of the Government under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and accredits (approves) Certification Bodies, test laboratories and inspection bodies as conforming to European or International standards.

What purpose does UKAS serve?

Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of the Certification Body. It ensures that organisations like SSAIB operate in an appropriate manner, promoting quality and improving competitiveness. In essence, UKAS is the body that ‘checks the checkers’.
Certification Bodies accredited by UKAS must have in place a structure which allows the involvement of all significantly concerned parties and which ensures the impartiality of the certification process. This is usually through some kind of Committee or Board, where the stakeholders are represented in such a way that no single interest predominates.

SSAIB is managed by Boards comprising significantly interested stakeholders.

What is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation?

An organisation established to provide beneficial services (for example, charitable, humanitarian or educational purposes etc) in which no one shares in profit or loss. Any profits made are reinvested in the organisation.

SSAIB is not-for-profit organisations.

What are the benefits of Third Party Certification?

The fundamental benefit of Third Party product Certification – put simply – is seated in giving the specifier, customer, end user, regulator or any combination of these an informed choice when purchasing or selecting a product or service.

The service carrying the badge or mark of a reputable Third Party Certification Body (like SSAIB), will give safeguards as to its performance. Third Party Certification enables providers to present their credentials to potential clients and demonstrate that they are subject to independent scrutiny and will deliver a quality product or service which can be relied upon.

Additionally in the rare event of a dispute arising between a certificated or approved service provider, which it has not been possibly to resolve between the parties directly, SSAIB will seek to resolve the matter by initially providing an arbitration services. In the event of the dispute being proved to be due to the failure of a certificated or approved organisation failing to comply with SSAIB rules and/or scheme criteria, the organisation will be expected to carry out remedial work to resolve the issue. Failure of a certificated or approved firm to do so will jeopardise the registration of the organisation.

Do I need to specify ISO 9001?

Some product certification schemes – such as that based upon the ACPO Security Systems Policy do not require ISO 9001:2000 management systems certification.

A product certification scheme will assess and evaluate the service provided by a company and this will include an appraisal of the management system, as required by the particular scheme or as specified in British or European standards applicable to the particular scheme, to ensure the appropriate business process controls are in place. The appraisal of the management system does not necessarily need to be against ISO 9001 standards.

Small companies tend to have perfectly adequate bespoke management systems relevant to their organisational needs and activities. Larger companies, by necessity, have more formal procedures in place, which may more readily relate to a standardised approach to business control. Certification of these systems to ISO 9001 is often appropriate.

However it should not automatically be assumed that a small company bespoke system is inferior to a larger company’s more formally structured system, which may match the requirements of ISO 9001

SSAIB’s approach is to evaluate the management system with respect to its suitability to the operation of the business. In this instance size does matter. A company of, say, 4 employees operating to ISO 9001 requirements may find the approach cumbersome, but not so a company with 100 employees operating a multi-site organisation. It’s all about working practices.

Notwithstanding the above, as small companies grow they will need to adopt more formal business practices which may be suitable for certification against ISO 9001. Their size and method of working will dictate how they approach certification.

Is SSAIB a Trade Association?

No. SSAIB is a Certification Body. Certification Bodies do not have ‘members’. Companies cannot simply join these organisations by paying a fee. SSAIB has rigorous standards of assessment that ensure quality and reliability, thus only reputable companies will be listed. For clarity some of the checks undertaken are tabled below.

SSAIB Registered Companies must:
Install and maintain equipment to relevant British or Irish or European Standards.
Comply with SSAIB’s Code of Conduct
Meet financial criteria and establish financial viability
Have a reasonable trading history
Subject personnel to security vetting to BS 7858
Have suitable premises and vehicles
Employ individuals with relevant training
Provide 24 hour emergency cover (if applicable)
Have company procedures and be protocol inspected/assessed

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