Inspection Bodies, Calibration & Testing Laboratories

Inspection Bodies

The accreditation scheme for Inspection Bodies is based on ISO/IEC 17020 — General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection. This scheme provides formal recognition to an inspection body for its services, for integrity and reliability.

Organizations required to conduct various types of inspections for regulatory purposes are accredited under this scheme. Regulatory bodies could make effective use of this mechanism to implement regulations. This mechanism has been adopted in Europe, North America and in many other developed countries.

Through the establishment of IACAB Accreditation Schemes, an effective mechanism is developed for regulatory authorities to have the necessary conformity assessment functions performed by other bodies, both in the public and private sector, where such bodies have been assessed for competence and credibility by IACAB.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for Inspection Bodies

ISO/IEC 17020 "Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection" is an internationally recognized standard for the competence of inspection bodies. Many people confuse ISO/IEC 17020 with ISO 9001, which is a generic quality management system. ISO/IEC 17020 requires evaluation of the technical competence of an inspection body.

IACAB Accreditation requires that Inspection Bodies must conform to the most recent version of the following:

• ISO/IEC 17020 — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
• Demonstrated technical competence specific to the field in which inspection is done
• Any additional requirements established by IACAB from time to time

Calibration & Testing Laboratories

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

ISO/IEC 17025 — General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories — specifies the requirements for competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories. It is applicable to all organizations performing laboratory activities, regardless of the number of personnel.

IACAB Accreditation requires that Laboratories must conform to the most recent version of the following:

• ISO/IEC 17025 — General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
• Participation in proficiency testing or inter-laboratory comparison where available
• Demonstrated technical competence for each test or calibration within the scope of accreditation
• Any additional requirements established by IACAB from time to time

Bodies Operating Certification of Persons

ISO/IEC 17024:2012 for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons

ISO/IEC 17024 Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. This standard provides a benchmark for certification bodies offering certification of individuals, applicable to any occupation.

IACAB Accreditation requires that the Certification Bodies must conform to the most recent version of the following:

• ISO/IEC 17024 — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons
• Any additional requirements established by IACAB from time to time

Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems

ISO/IEC 17065:2012 for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes and Services

ISO/IEC 17065 (which replaced ISO/IEC Guide 65 and EN 45011) is for those certification bodies who need to demonstrate their competence to certain regulatory authorities. Accreditation is performed against a reference standard or standards. The reference standard may be the production and processing standards of a national regulation (often a national standard), but may also be the organization's own or another organization's private standard.

IACAB Accreditation requires that Product Certification Bodies must conform to the most recent version of the following:

• ISO/IEC 17065 — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services
• Demonstrated technical competence specific to the field in which product certification is done
• Any additional requirements established by IACAB from time to time