Should a lab with ISO 17025 accreditation get ISO 17020 accreditation?
I have had a significant response to my recent blogs regarding the difference between ISO accreditations 17020 and 17025. One of the recurring questions is people asking whether Labs who are 17025 accredited should also apply for 17020 accreditation?
The answer depends on what fields the companies with 17025 accreditation want to work in. If they are happy to just do analysis work and issue reports with analysis results - then no, there is no point in seeking 17020 accreditation. However, if they want to do make up inspection and sampling plans (e.g. for asbestos or meth), want to perform inspections and sampling, write reports recommending remedial or decontamination actions, then do the same post remedial / removal or decontamination, then the message is that they must apply for 17020 or they will be a non-accredited body when they do this work. In many cases they will not be able to perform this work if they are not accredited.
This is important for those companies who want to comply with the new standard NZS 8510:2017 Testing and Decontamination of Methamphetamine-Contaminated Properties, and the WorkSafe Good Practice Guidelines: Conducting Asbestos Surveys, Oct 2016.
If there is still doubt about this issue, please contact IANZ and discuss your requirements with them.