| ISO 9001:2015 quality management | 15% | A current certificate showing the legal entity, covered manufacturing site, certification scope, issuer, and validity dates. | Check the certificate with the issuing certification body or its official directory. Confirm that the site and scope cover relevant manufacturing activities. ISO 9001:2015 concerns a quality management system; it is not, by itself, certification that a cabinet is chemically resistant or safe for a particular use. | Expired or unverifiable certificate, a different legal entity or site, or claims that ISO 9001 alone proves product performance. |
| Chemical compatibility and construction | 20% | Material specifications for the body, lining, shelves, joints, seals, and spill tray; chemical-compatibility information for the acids and concentrations intended for storage. | Compare all wetted or exposed components with the exact chemicals, concentrations, temperatures, and storage conditions in your application. Ask for written limitations and recommendations; compatibility can differ between materials and chemicals. | Generic “acid-proof” claims without material details, compatibility information, or stated operating limits. |
| Product testing and inspection | 20% | Test reports or inspection records identifying the tested model, test method, sample, date, results, and testing organization. Request checks relevant to the design, such as dimensional inspection, coating or material checks, load capacity, and spill-tray integrity. | Confirm that reports apply to the offered model and configuration, not merely to a different product. Where relevant, verify laboratory competence and report authenticity. ISO/IEC 17025 relates to testing and calibration laboratory competence; it is not a product approval for the cabinet. | Undated or incomplete reports, results for an unrelated model, or test claims without a defined method and scope. |
| Design, labeling, and regulatory fit | 15% | Drawings, capacity and load information, ventilation details if applicable, spill-containment details, operating instructions, and labels. Ask which standards or regulations the supplier claims the product meets. | Match the specification to the chemicals, workplace, and destination-country requirements. Ask for the exact standard and clauses claimed. Requirements for flammable-liquid cabinets should not automatically be treated as requirements or certification for acid cabinets. | Unqualified claims of universal compliance, missing technical drawings, or standards cited without explaining their relevance to acid storage. |
| Warranty and after-sales support | 10% | Written warranty terms stating duration, start date, covered parts and defects, exclusions, remedy, claims process, and responsibility for transport or labor. | Compare the terms with the intended service conditions and shipping destination. Ask who handles claims, typical response arrangements, and whether replacement parts are available. Treat warranty length as one factor, not proof of product quality. | Verbal promises, unclear exclusions, no named warranty provider, or terms that exclude the cabinet’s intended chemicals or environment. |
| Manufacturing and quality controls | 10% | Factory address, production-process overview, incoming-material checks, in-process inspections, final inspection criteria, and traceability practices. | Use a factory audit or video inspection where practical. Ask how the supplier records nonconformities and controls design or material changes between orders. | Inability to identify the production site, no documented inspection process, or unexplained changes to materials or specifications. |
| Export documentation and delivery readiness | 10% | Quotation and specification, packing details, commercial invoice and packing-list capability, shipping terms, lead time, and installation or handling instructions where needed. | Confirm responsibilities, packaging suitability, delivery milestones, and document requirements for the destination. Have relevant product and import requirements reviewed for the intended market. | Unclear product configuration, delivery terms, packaging, or responsibility for required documentation. |