Accreditation for Inspection Bodies

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Accreditation for inspection bodies refers to the process of evaluating and certifying that an organization is competent to perform specific types of inspection services. Inspection bodies are organizations that perform inspections of products, processes, systems, or services in order to assess their quality, safety, or compliance with specific standards or requirements.

Inspection bodies may be accredited by a variety of organizations, including regulatory bodies, professional associations, and certification bodies. The specific accreditation standards that an inspection body must meet will depend on the types of inspection services it offers, as well as the country or region in which it operates.

One common standard for inspection bodies is ISO/IEC 17020, which is an international standard for the competence of inspection bodies. To obtain ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation, an inspection body must demonstrate that it has the necessary equipment, facilities, and personnel to perform the specific types of inspection services for which it seeks accreditation. It must also have a quality management system in place that meets the requirements of the standard.

Obtaining accreditation for inspection bodies is important for several reasons. It can help to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the inspection results, which can have significant impacts on the quality, safety, or compliance of the products, systems, or services being inspected. Accreditation can also demonstrate the inspection body's competence and credibility to customers and regulators, and may be required in order to perform certain types of inspection services.

Our Inspection Body Accreditation Program offers accreditation for the inspection and conformity of a wide variety of processes and products. The Accreditation Scheme for Inspection Bodies provides official recognition of the integrity and reliability of an inspection body services. Achieving effective inspection is important in maintaining the safety of plant machinery, equipment, structures and systems in operation.

U.S. Accreditation Inc. recognizes the very close relationship between inspection, sampling, laboratory testing and measurement, yet understands that inspection encompasses a variety of activities not covered in laboratory accreditation.

Accredited inspection provides assurance of technically competent service and consistently reliable results, reducing costs and lowering risks. It is key in demonstrating that products, equipment, structures, and systems meet required specifications. Governments and industries around the world are increasingly requiring use of accredited inspection services.

United States Accreditation Inc. offers internationally recognized accreditation programs for inspection bodies. United States Accreditation Inc. accreditation shows that an organization has met the international standard for inspection bodies and is qualified to carry out inspections.

Inspection bodies that undertake calibrations or tests themselves must meet the requirements for calibration or test laboratories. Where applicable, they also have to participate in proficiency testing. United States Accreditation Inc. accredits inspection bodies on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17020 standard.

The scope of accreditation defines the activities covered by an organization's accreditation. United States Accreditation Inc. accredits inspection bodies for the following programs:

• Electrical equipment
• Medical electrical equipment
• Medical gas piping systems
• Commercial and industrial gas-fired installations

Inspection bodies evaluate the safety of specific products and materials. They also make sure that the associated facilities, equipment and systems fit the work being done. Inspections may evaluate services as well as physical assets.

Inspection bodies from around the world seek United States Accreditation Inc. accreditation as proof that their work is in line with the most current national and international standards and regulations.

Inspection Body Programs

We also provide accreditation for:

• EMC and Telecom/Radio Equipment Inspection Bodies (Notified Body Status)
• Environmental Technology Verification
• EPEAT
• Forensic Inspection Agencies
• New York Building Code (Special Inspection Agencies)
• Philadelphia Building Code (Special Inspection Agencies)
• Verification of Fire Resistance of Fire Doors and Frames
• NFPA 790 Field Evaluation Bodies

Accreditation of Inspection Bodies provides these advantages:

• Indicates compliance with the ISO/IEC Standard 17020.
• United States Accreditation Inc. offers a personalized service to meet the needs of inspection bodies.
• Accreditation increases the international recognition of audit reports.
• Accreditation helps reduce costs for manufacturers and exporters by reducing or eliminating the need for review by the organization.

U.S. Accreditation assesses certification bodies (CBs) and accredits those that demonstrate competence to audit and certify organizations conforming with a wide variety of management systems standards.