Knowledge base · Technical note
ISO, CE and RoHS vs US standards
A CE certificate is not a US approval, and ISO 9001 does not certify a product's performance. Knowing the difference stops a specification problem at the quotation stage.
What each one actually certifies
| Credential | Certifies | Does not certify |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | The company's quality management system | The performance of any specific product |
| CE | Conformity with applicable EU directives for the product family | US compliance of any kind |
| RoHS / REACH | Restricted-substance compliance | Mechanical performance or security rating |
| SGS supplier verification | That the factory was assessed on site | That any product meets a standard |
What a US project usually asks for instead
Depending on the project and the authority having jurisdiction, you may be asked for ANSI/BHMA performance evidence, UL listings, fire-door assembly requirements, or state and local building-code documentation. These are product- and project-specific.
Some are simply not applicable to a padlock or a cylinder. Others are, and require testing that a supplier either has or does not.
The question to ask your supplier
Not 'are your products certified?' — that invites a yes. Ask:
Which certifications apply to this specific model, and can you send the documentation?
A supplier who answers specifically is telling you they know which documents exist. A supplier who answers generally is telling you they have a folder.
Our position
Our factory is an SGS-verified supplier holding ISO 9001:2015, CE, UKCA, RoHS, REACH and CPR documentation, with ISO 9227 salt-spray testing on file. Those documents are available on request.
They are not equivalent to US ANSI/BHMA, UL, fire, electrical or local building-code approvals. Where your project requires a standard we do not have a report for, we will say so — and we would rather do that at quotation stage than after the goods land.
Why saying this is in your interest
A supplier who implies US compliance from a CE certificate is transferring the risk to you. The point of asking is not to disqualify suppliers; it is to know exactly which documentation you will be holding when the inspector asks.
Confirm it on your own doors
Send a door photo, the cylinder size or the mounting dimensions. We confirm fit with a physical sample before you commit to a quantity.
What readers ask next
Separating the standards raises a second round of questions.
What if our specification names ANSI/BHMA or UL?
Send the clause you are working to and we will confirm what documentation exists for the specific model. Where no report exists we say so rather than claiming an approval we cannot evidence.
Which documents can you send with a quotation?
The SGS supplier verification report, the ISO 9001:2015 certificate, and the CE, UKCA, RoHS, REACH and CPR declarations dated 30 October 2025. Product-specific test records are issued for the model you are ordering.
Does CE marking cover a US installation?
No, and treating it as though it does is the mistake this guide is about. CE addresses European requirements while a US project follows US standards. Tell us which one applies and the quotation is built around it.