Apr 19, 2016

Today, the ASTM International Board of Directors unanimously voted to make the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) a subsidiary of ASTM International.

This broadens ASTM’s overall certification capabilities while also bolstering SEI, a top certification provider founded in 1981. SEI will remain a separate entity. 

“Bringing SEI into the ASTM family is a clear win-win,” said James Thomas, President, 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.”

SEI President Patricia Gleason added, “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.”

SEI provides third-party certification for a wide range of products such as sports and athletic equipment, safety and protective products used by firefighters and emergency responders, eye and face protection for industrial workers, and more.

SEI bases its programs on technical standards from a variety of standards development organizations. For example, SEI’s certification program for equestrian headgear is built on one of more than 12,000 standards ASTM has developed through its 30,000 members in more than 90 industries, including consumer products.

ASTM’s 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. Gleason will retain the title of President of SEI while also becoming Vice President of Certification for ASTM International.

ASTM media inquiries: Nathan Osburn, director, corporate communications, tel. +1.610.832.9603, nosburn@astm.org
SEI staff contact: Patricia Gleason, president, +1.703.442.5732, pgleason@seinet.org

Release #10057