Safety Equipment Institute to Become ASTM Subsidiary
ASTM said its existing certification activities will transfer to SEI, which holds accreditations to ISO 17065 for product certification. SEI employees will come under the ASTM International umbrella on July 1 and Pat Gleason will retain the title of president of SEI while also becoming vice president of Certification for ASTM International.
The Safety Equipment Institute has become a subsidiary of ASTM International as a result of a unanimous vote April 19 by ASTM International's board of directors. The move broadens ASTM's overall certification capabilities; SEI, a top certification provider founded in 1981, will remain a separate entity.
"Bringing SEI into the ASTM family is a clear win-win," said James Thomas, president of ASTM International. "This will blend the strengths of two well-positioned organizations that share a common goal of improving public health, product safety, and consumer confidence."
"This exciting step will bring benefits to SEI and to all of our stakeholders, including end users of certified products, clients, government agencies, associations, and more. We look forward to building on our two organizations' track record of cooperation," said SEI President Patricia Gleason.
SEI provides third-party certification for sports and athletic equipment, safety and protective products used by firefighters and emergency responders, and eye and face protection for industrial workers. The organization bases its programs on technical standards from a variety of standards-developing organizations, such as ASTM, which said its existing certification activities will transfer to SEI, which holds accreditations to ISO 17065 for product certification. SEI employees will come under the ASTM International umbrella on July 1 and Gleason will retain the title of president of SEI while also becoming vice president of Certification for ASTM International.