WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ISO/IEC 17025 ACCREDITED TESTING LABORATORY?
Accredited test and calibration laboratories can offer the market guarantees on the reliability of the results of the conformity assessment services provided - tests, measurements and calibrations - precisely by virtue of the accreditation.
Being in compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 therefore means that the laboratory meets both the technical requirements and those related to the management system necessary to offer technically valid test and calibration results.
With regard to the accreditation of laboratory services in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, this standard defines the requirements that a laboratory must meet in order to demonstrate:
- The technical competence of its staff
- The availability of all technical resources, such as to guarantee data and results that are accurate and reliable for specific tests, measurements and calibrations.
ACCREDIA QUALITY AUDIT INSPECTIONS
The accreditation process involves the evaluation of expert technical inspectors, capable of conducting an accurate assessment of all the fundamental elements for the production of correct technical data, including:
- Technical competence of the staff.
- Validity and suitability of the applied methods.
- Metrological traceability of measurements and calibrations to national and international standards of the system of units of measurement
- Appropriate application of measurement uncertainty.
- Suitability, calibration and maintenance of test equipment
- Environmental conditions in which the tests take place
- Sampling, handling and transport of test items.
- Quality assurance of test and calibration data
Standard ISO/IEC 17025 also requires that the management system comply with the principles of the ISO 9001 standard.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISO 9001 QUALITY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION AND ISO/IEC 17025 ACCREDITATION?
Certification of a laboratory to ISO 9001 by an accredited body and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 give confidence in the laboratory's services, but they are not the same thing.
There are crucial differences between the scope, criteria and salient elements of ISO 9001 for quality management systems and those of ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory accreditation.
Certification under ISO 9001 does not constitute evidence that the laboratory is able to provide accurate and reliable tests or calibrations.
To be eligible, the laboratory must be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, which contains more specific requirements for technical competence and impartiality, while also including quality system management requirements to ensure that the laboratory provides reliable services.
The test laboratories accredited by ACCREDIA, signatory of the international mutual recognition agreements EA MLA and ILAC MRA, guarantee competence in carrying out tests and calibrations in compliance with international standards.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DOES ITALSABI CARRY OUT UNDER ACCREDITATION?
The activities of the Italsabi Laboratory are carried out both inside and outside the same and consist in carrying out tests with non-destructive tests and drafting the related reports.
The complete list of accredited tests, test method and control technique at the following link:
ITALSABI ACCREDITATION CERTIFICATE AND TEST LIST
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN ISO/IEC 17020 ACCREDITED LABORATORY AND ONE WITH ISO/IEC 17025 ACCREDITATION?
The two standards define the differences between inspection activities and testing activities.
ISO/IEC 17020 - Requirements for the functioning of various types of bodies carrying out inspection activities
ISO/IEC 17025 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
The issue of Accreditation is managed in Italy by Accredia, the only body authorized by the state to grant such certifications.
The application of these rules guarantees to the inspected subjects the maximum competence, impartiality and confidentiality of the Bodies in their inspection activities.
WHY DO I NEED A CERTIFICATE UNDER ACCREDITATION?
The accreditation confirms the reliability, independence, impartiality and technical competence of the laboratory regarding the entire certification process, the certified standard and the field of activity.
Accredited certification is therefore a tool in which all actors (certificate providers, certification bodies, regulators and other interested parties) work together to ensure quality and reliability.
To know more:
https://laboratoriaccreditatiiso17025.it/
https://iaf.nu/en/home/