Why become a Member Company?

This SBD scheme will show that your products reach a high level of security. Our logo shows that SBD products have been tested and certified to a high standard and will reduce the opportunity for crime.

In addition our licensee agreement states a licensed SBD member company will receive the following benefits:

• The right to use agreed phrases and an approved logo
• Entry on our SBD website as a licensed member company
• SBD e-newsletter subscription
• Updates about changes in the SBD specification, test standards and guidance
• The opportunity to exhibit at SBD events nationwide, including ATLAS our National Training Event

Membership is subject to an annual fee. Only member companies are entitled to use the SBD logo and promote the term 'Police Preferred Specification' on tested products.

We police the use of our logo so that only members and those re-selling their SBD products can use the logo. SBD provides full guidance documents and support on how to promote your status.

SBD Standards Explained

How To Become a Member

SBD requires testing and certification for many product categories. The differences between the two are as follows:

Tested Products

A manufacturer can submit a product for testing to a recognised security standard at a test laboratory, often accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), and pass. However, this does not ensure that the product tested is the same as the mainstream manufactured item nor is representative of the range of products.

Certified Products

Certification gives quality assurance. When a manufacturer wishes to comply with the requirements of SBD they must now submit the product range for certification. This involves submission to a test house, which may or may not be the Certification Authority (CA).

A number of products, representing the whole range, are selected for testing and if they all pass they can be accepted into the certification scheme. The CA visits the production facility to ensure that the products tested are representative of the products supplied to the end user. This is followed by a programme of regular visits to ensure continued quality standards are met and that components have not been altered without informing the CA.

During the course of a year the CA will remove a small number of products for re-testing. This is dependent on the number of products being produced or a number agreed with the manufacturer. Should any part of the security standard be changed/up-dated the manufacturer is expected to upgrade products to retain certification.