A plain-language guide to how KwikSafety talks about testing, certification, and standards compliance — so you know exactly what’s behind every claim on our gear.
When you're buying safety equipment, words like "tested," "meets," "complies with," and "third-party tested" can sound interchangeable. They're not. Our goal is simple: match the strength of every claim to the proof we actually have.
Safety equipment isn't a commodity product — the standard behind it defines the performance it's expected to deliver. For procurement teams and safety professionals, the gap between a test claim and a compliance claim can be the difference between gear that's documented and gear that just sounds documented.
Particular tests from a standard were performed on the product or its materials. That doesn't automatically mean the product satisfies every requirement in the full standard.
We're stating the product satisfies the applicable requirements of that standard — supported by testing, material data, or documentation.
The more specific the claim, the more defensible it is. Before we say a product is "tested," we identify four things:
Test results carry different weight depending on who ran them.
Performed by our own team or lab. Useful for supporting performance claims, but because it isn't independent, it carries less weight on its own.
Performed by an outside laboratory. An ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab provides particularly strong backing — especially important for higher-risk products.
Standards get revised over time, so naming a standard without its year leaves out the part that actually defines the requirement.
The right claim depends on what happens if the product fails.
Failure can mean catastrophic injury. Where third-party testing exists, it's the preferred and strongest form of support.
A claim like "Meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2020" is appropriate when backed by our in-house material and reflectivity data. We don't call it "third-party tested" unless it actually was.
Life-safety garments get a higher level of scrutiny. Third-party testing and formal certification are required — in-house data alone isn't enough.
Regardless of which mark or standard is involved, the approach is the same: identify the specific standard and edition rather than leaning on a vague reference. Note that CE and UL are certification marks, not test standards — the applicable standard behind the mark should always be identified too.
Four terms, four distinct meanings. We never use them interchangeably.
Specific tests were performed.
We're declaring the product satisfies the standard's requirements.
An independent lab performed the testing.
Tells you exactly which version of the standard applies.
Check the product's documentation, or reach out to our team — we'll tell you exactly what's been tested, by whom, and what it means.
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