"SEMA Approved" — What It Actually Means (And What We Say Instead)

"SEMA approved" is one of the most common phrases customers type into Google when looking for a racking inspector or an inspection company. It usually means: someone officially certified or endorsed by SEMA. The honest reality is more nuanced — and it matters, because using the phrase loosely can mislead customers and expose inspection providers to trading standards risk. This page explains, factually, what "SEMA approved" does and does not mean, what SARI accreditation actually is, and how you can verify any inspector for yourself.

What Searchers Mean by "SEMA Approved"

When a warehouse manager, health & safety officer or facilities buyer searches for a "SEMA approved racking inspector" or a "SEMA approved company", they generally mean one thing: a provider that is officially recognised by SEMA (the Storage Equipment Manufacturers' Association) as competent to inspect industrial pallet racking. It's shorthand for "the real thing — not somebody claiming competence they don't have."

The problem is that "SEMA approved" is a plain-English phrase, not an official SEMA scheme name. Many companies use it loosely on their websites, and some use it in ways that could mislead buyers. Understanding what SEMA actually runs — and what it doesn't — puts you in a much stronger position when you're commissioning an inspection.

The Factual Reality: SEMA Does Not "Approve" Companies

SEMA does not run a formal approval or certification scheme for inspection companies. There is no public "SEMA approved company" register you can look a business up in. What SEMA does run, in this space, is the SARI scheme — SEMA Approved Rack Inspector — which accredits individual people, not the businesses they work for.

That distinction matters. A company can advertise itself as "SEMA approved" without a single person on staff holding SARI accreditation. Equally, a SARI accredited inspector can work independently or through a company that has no corporate relationship with SEMA at all. The meaningful question is always: is the individual person attending your site SARI accredited?

There is also a separate SEMA corporate membership — companies that manufacture, supply or install storage equipment pay to become SEMA members. Membership is a trade-body relationship; it is not an inspector qualification and it does not mean any inspector at that company holds SARI accreditation.

What SARI Accreditation Actually Requires

SARI — SEMA Approved Rack Inspector — is a rigorous individual accreditation. To achieve and hold SARI accreditation an inspector must:

1. Complete the SEMA training course covering racking design principles, damage assessment, remedial action and the SEMA Code of Practice.
2. Pass the SEMA written technical examination — a formal exam covering the technical and regulatory content of the course.
3. Pass a practical on-site assessment demonstrating live competence in classifying damage against SEMA red / amber / green limits.
4. Maintain annual CPD — ongoing Continuing Professional Development each year to stay current with standards, changes to guidance, and new racking systems.
5. Renew accreditation periodically to remain on the public SARI register.

If an inspector cannot give you a personal SARI number, they do not hold SARI accreditation — irrespective of what their company website says.

Rackstor's Position — What We Actually Say

We deliberately do not describe Rackstor UK Ltd as "SEMA approved" as a company, because SEMA does not run a corporate approval scheme and it would be misleading to imply otherwise. What we do say — and what is factually accurate — is:

• Rackstor inspections are carried out following SEMA guidelines and the SEMA Code of Practice for the inspection of pallet racking.
• Our lead inspector Mr G. Thelwell holds genuine SARI accreditation under SARI No. 0100.
• His SARI status is independently verifiable on SEMA's public register at sari.sema.org.uk.
• Every report we issue is signed by the named individual inspector and records their SARI number, so the "competent person" requirement of PUWER 1998 Regulation 6 is documented and traceable.

How to Verify Any Inspector's SARI Status

Whether you're considering Rackstor or any other provider, you can and should verify an inspector's SARI accreditation before you book. It takes about a minute:

1. Ask the provider for the individual inspector's name and SARI number in writing.
2. Go to the public SARI register at sari.sema.org.uk .
3. Confirm the inspector's name and SARI number appear on the register.
4. When the report arrives, confirm it is signed by that named individual (not the company generically), references the SEMA Code of Practice, and uses the SEMA red / amber / green classification.

If a provider will not name the individual inspector, or will not put a SARI number in writing before you book, that is a red flag.

"SEMA Approved" — FAQs