SSAIB is the second of the two major UK certification bodies for the security and fire industries (the other being NSI). Like NSI, SSAIB runs a layered scheme — full members are audited annually against the relevant technical standards (BS EN 50131 for intruder alarms, BS 5839 for fire, BS 5979 / Cat II for ARCs), plus operational and customer service criteria. SSAIB certification is widely accepted by UK insurers and police forces as equivalent to NSI for purposes of confirmed-alarm response and insurance compliance.
Issued by
Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), independent UKAS-accredited certification body.
Why it matters
Most insurers and police URN schemes accept SSAIB certification interchangeably with NSI Gold. Choosing between an NSI Gold and SSAIB-certified provider is rarely about the certification — it's about which company, what they install, and what their service contract looks like.
Questions to ask a provider
- Which SSAIB scheme are you certified to?
- When was your last audit and what was the outcome?
- Are you signed up to the police-supported confirmed-alarm scheme?
Related terms
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