Short answer
Certificates show how a company manages its work; on their own they do not prove that it will do a good installation. ISO 9001 relates to a quality management system, ISO 14001 to an environmental management system and ISO 45001 to an occupational health and safety management system. A manufacturer authorization certificate shows that the company is authorized to sell and support that brand. Checking a certificate's validity and scope is as important as asking for it.
What do ISO certificates tell you?
ISO management system standards measure how a company defines, records and reviews its processes. The certificate is issued by an independent certification body after an audit and is re-audited at set intervals.
These certificates are not product quality certificates. A company with ISO 9001 will not make every installation flawless; but when a mistake occurs, it is expected to have a system that records it, investigates the cause and corrects it.
In practice you see the difference like this: when you ask a certified company for a quote, the quote has a number, a date and a scope. When you submit a complaint after installation, the complaint is logged and you get a reply. Companies without certificates can do this too; in a certified company there is a written procedure and an audit for it.
- ISO 9001: quality management system. Defined processes for quotes, installation, delivery and complaints.
- ISO 14001: environmental management system. Management of waste such as packaging, old devices and batteries.
- ISO 45001: occupational health and safety management system. Management of risks such as working at height and working with electricity.
Why is ISO 45001 especially important for an institution?
Camera installation is often done on a ladder, scaffolding or a roof. If a team working at a school, hospital or factory has an accident, a process that concerns you starts because the work is in your building.
From a company with an occupational health and safety management system, you can ask for a risk assessment, a team list and information about the equipment to be used before work on site begins. How quickly these documents are prepared also shows that the company really applies its system.
The safety of the institution's staff and students should also be discussed during installation. Closing off the corridor where a ladder will be set up, collecting material removed from the ceiling and the precautions to take when working in the electrical panel can be planned together before the work starts.
Expert note: Instead of a photocopy of the certificate, check whether the certificate is valid on the certification body's verification page or by writing to the body. Also read the scope line of the certificate; the company's work should be written there.
Certificate scope and accreditation
An ISO certificate has a scope written on it: for example, "sale, installation and service of security systems." A certificate whose scope is only "trade" may not cover the processes of installation work.
The accreditation of the issuing body is also an indicator. In Türkiye, accreditation is carried out by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK); there are also international accreditation bodies. You may come across certificates issued by bodies without accreditation. Check which body issued the certificate and that body's accreditation status.
Also look at the certificate's validity date. ISO certificates are subject to surveillance audits at set intervals, and if audits are not carried out, the certificate can be suspended. A photocopy of a certificate from a few years ago does not show the company's situation today.
- Check the certificate validity date
- The scope line includes installation service
- Is the certification body accredited
- Verify validity with the issuing body
- The brand on the authorization certificate matches the quote
- See a similar installation on site
- Ask for a sample handover file
What does a manufacturer authorization certificate show?
An authorized dealer certificate shows that the company buys that brand's products through the official channel and has a relationship with the manufacturer or distributor. This makes a difference in software updates, technical support and replacement processes in case of failure.
The certificate contains a date and a brand. An authorization certificate that has expired or belongs to a brand different from the one in the quote has no meaning for that quote. Check whether the brand in the quote and the brand on the certificate are the same.
An authorization certificate shows that the company has an official link with that brand. Installation quality can differ between two authorized dealers selling the same brand. That is why you should evaluate the authorization certificate together with the company's similar projects and handover file.
What certificates cannot show
A certificate does not show the experience of the team in the field, the neatness of the cabling or who picks up the phone when there is a fault. To understand these, ask about the similar projects the company has done before, talk to a reference institution if possible, or see a completed installation on site.
The layout inside the cabinet, the cable labels and the handover file tell you how a company approaches its work more clearly than a certificate. That is why asking for a sample handover file to be added to the quote file is useful in institutional purchases.
The continuity of the team also matters. You cannot know whether the technician who does the installation will still be at the same company in a few years, but you can ask whether the company keeps installation information on record. If the camera layout plan and device list are also kept at the company, the new technician who comes for a fault does not have to learn the system from scratch.
Which certificates should you ask for at the quote stage?
In an institutional purchase, asking for the certificate file from the start makes it easier to compare companies. Not all certificates are needed for every job; choose according to the size and risk of the work.
A short list may be enough for a school's entrance camera. The list gets longer for a hospital's fire detection system or a factory's perimeter security. In fire detection work, certificates showing that products comply with the TS EN 54 standard family are asked for separately.
- Valid ISO certificates and scope pages
- Authorization certificate for the quoted brand
- Conformity certificates and technical datasheets of the products
- List of the team that will work on site
- List of similar projects and reference institution contacts
- A sample handover file
Asking for certificates in public procurement
Public institutions may ask for certificates in tender and direct procurement processes. However, which certificate can be requested as a qualification criterion, how it will be evaluated and whether it narrows competition depend on legislation. Talk to your purchasing department before adding a certificate to the specification.
Desa Bilişim holds ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certificates and is an authorized dealer of Cede, Westa, Decon, Fujitron and Dahua. You can find the current list of our certificates on the certificates page.
Expert note: Consult your institution's legal department or someone who specializes in public procurement legislation about which certificate can be requested in a public purchase and how it will be evaluated.
Frequently asked
Does an ISO 9001 certified company do better installations?
The certificate shows that the company has defined its processes and had them audited; it does not guarantee that every installation will be good. Evaluate the certificate together with the company's similar projects and handover file.
How can I tell whether an ISO certificate is fake?
Check it with the certificate number on the issuing body's verification service and look at the body's accreditation status. If you are not sure, ask the body directly in writing.
Is it necessary to ask for certificates for a small job?
It is not mandatory to ask for certificates for a shop or home installation. Still, asking whether the company is an authorized dealer and about its similar projects gives you an idea about after-sales support.
Review our certificates
You can ask us for the certificates you need for your institution's purchase and a sample handover file.
