SEFA Product Certification
September 2008
Why Product Certification?
Why Product Certification?
SEFA Strategic Plan (November 1997)
Strategic Initiative #3/ Certification
“Certification should become the standard for the
industry, particularly as the industry changes. This
will require education to specifier and owner. In,
addition, it will require expansion of certification
to the international arena. ”
What are the Goals?
Establish worldwide recognition of the significance of the Certification. Work with
relevant trade publications and professional journals to get the message
published.
Promote the “VALUE” of the certification process as a method of obtaining
professional, high quality labs in an environment that is often controlled by
channel customers such as General Contractors without full accountability to
the process or the owner.
Establish a clear expectation of the role of the various parties that influence the
process of the building quality laboratories through the concerted marketing
effort by SEFA and individual members.
Recruit and certify manufacturers that derive the majority of their business from
supplying “Laboratory Grade” furniture and equipment to the laboratory
environment. The certification program would be open to all manufacturers and
would be non-resistive.
Establish fair and reasonable criteria for certification. SEFA will establish
requirements that have “benchmarks” that are obtainable and with reasonable
restrictions. The certification standards will not eliminate and/or harm any
competitors within the marketplace.
SEFA certification needs to be a voluntary process by which the organization grants
recognition to a company who has met the established qualifications.
Mission
Establish a “voluntary” SEFA-based program of
product certification. SEFA would develop a
protocol/procedure in which an independent
testing organization, using criteria set by SEFA,
would evaluate a candidates product for
compliance.
Mission
A “SEFA Certified” product would bear a
certification seal and would be recognized in the
marketplace as a quality manufacturer able to meet
established performance standards as stated in
SEFA's Recommended Practices.
Mission
These standards would be recognized by
international government agencies, architects,
specifiers, general contractors/construction
managers and end users.
Mission
“Recommended Practices” would evaluate a
candidates product to measure whether or not the
organization’s product meets the established
performance criteria set forth.
Mission
Tests would be performed by an approved thirdparty independent certifier. The ensuing result
would, if the candidate passes the established
criteria, would earn the company a “SEFA
Certified” rating and would carry the certification
seal for that product group.
Mission
Companies not approved by SEFA product
certification process may not claim or imply
conformance with these standards. SEFA would
reserve the right to question any claims of
conformance (enforcement) and request SEFA
third-party, independent test reports of any
company stating they are certified.
What are the Objectives?
Objectives
SEFA product certification needs to be a voluntary
process by which the SEFA organization grants
recognition to a company’s product which has met
the established qualifications.
Objectives
Certification is the best vehicle for accomplishing
SEFA’s mission and strategic goals. SEFA will
need to sell the value of an independent, industrydriven product certification program that
recognizes quality “SEFA Certified Product” .
Objectives
The certification program would be open to all
SEFA Executive Members.
Objectives
The certification program must have both
perceived and real value to the supporting market
to which it serves.
Additionally, the certification program must be
marketed and have real value to memberships of
other professional organizations that are
“influencers” within the market (i.e. AIA, AWI,
CSI, IFMA, etc.)
Objectives
Once a company gains “SEFA Product
Certification” and has been verified to fabricate
products according to these high quality and
performance standards,
they in effect, would be pre-qualified to perform
work when SEFA Recommended Practices have
been incorporated into the project specifications.
Deliverables
Approved by the SEFA executive membership
November 18, 2004
by a vote (25 yes, 2 no)
1.
Establish protocol for voluntary product testing, submission, duration
and/or modifications.
2.
Identify and establish SEFA approved 3rd party, independent testing
facilities, (including international locations) to perform testing.
3.
Begin with SEAF 8 certification and possibly follow as standards are
desired by the other product groups.
4.
Third-party testing documentation and report results will be submitted
to the Board of Directors for review and approval.
5.
Board of Directors will either approval or reject the use of the SEFA 8
certification logo.
Deliverables
1. Establish protocol for voluntary product testing, submission,
duration and/or modifications.
•
Submit production cabinets defined in SEFA 8 for third party testing,
independent testing
•
Production cabinets and tables will be considered a standard company product
with assigned product numbers, bill of materials and cataloged
•
Self testing will not be recognized as SEFA approved
•
If all product submittals pass the SEFA 8 test, final report will be sent to said
manufacturer and SEFA HQ.
•
All final report documents will be held at the SEFA office for future reference
Deliverables
1. Establish protocol for voluntary product testing, submission, duration
and/or modifications.
•
After the Board approval, the product line would receive the SEFA 8 certification
logo approval
•
Certification logo would be displayed on products, printed and electronic
communications
(optional)
•
There would be no terms duration on the said report as long as the cabinet
construction remains as tested (open for discussion).
•
All SEFA 8 certified product manufacturers would be required to pay an annual $100
renewal fee to keep SEFA HQ files current
•
Any new construction and/or hybrids product engineered and manufactured would be
required for resubmittal
Deliverables
2. Identify and establish SEFA approved 3rd party, independent testing
facilities, (including international locations) to perform testing.
•
Certification committee to draft RFP for testing agencies. All testing agencies
will be open for consideration - complete
•
Testing and approvals will only valid by testing agencies recognized and
approved by the Board of Directors. Self testing will not recognized as SEFA
8 approved
•
9 (nine) domestic and international testing agencies have been approved.
Agencies have been posted on the SEFA website
Other Deliverables
Begin with SEAF 8 certification and possibly follow as
standards are desired by the other product groups
Product Certification
• Questions and Discussions