The importance of gaining accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020

This is where ISO/IEC 17020 comes in. This is an accreditation awarded by UKAS, the Government appointed national accreditation body and it’s the gold standard for inspection bodies. FMs should ideally partner with organisations who possess UKAS ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation versus other alternatives.

By gaining accreditation which has been approved to ISO/IEC 17020, inspection bodies of types A, B, or C can demonstrate their impeccable credentials. Put simply, it’s a must-have for all organisations that perform inspections, whether for private clients or for public authorities.

WHAT IS THE ISO/IEC 17020 STANDARD?

The ISO/IEC 17020 is a conformity assessment designed for organisations that conduct inspections, surveys, and risk assessments. It applies to types A, B, and C inspection bodies, which are classified as follows:

• The inspection body is fully independent of the parties involved and doesn’t engage in activities that might negatively affect their independence of judgement and the integrity of their inspections.
• The inspection body has some business activities that could potentially affect their independence of judgement/the integrity of their inspection decisions. For example, perhaps they own, design, manufacture, install, or maintain some of the items that fall within the inspection body’s scope of accreditation.
• The inspection body is an identifiable part of an organisation directly involved in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, ownership, use, or maintenance of items that fall within the inspection body’s scope of accreditation.

The ISO/IEC 17020 standard covers a wide range of activities. For example, these include examining materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures, or services; determining how the examined services and products match up against the respective inspection requirements; and reporting the results of their inspection to both their clients and the relevant authorities.

Accreditation covers five major categories of requirements:

• General requirements: impartiality, independence, and confidentiality.
• Structural requirements: administrative needs, organisation and management.
• Resource requirements: personnel, facilities and equipment, and subcontracting.
• Process requirements: inspection methods and procedures, handling inspection items and samples, inspection records, inspection reports and inspection certificates, complaints and appeals, complaints and appeals processes.
• Management system requirements: management system documentation, control of documents, control of records, management review and internal audits, corrective and preventative actions.

HOW DOES GAINING ISO/IEC 17020 ACCREDITATION BENEFIT INSPECTION BODIES?

The ISO/IEC 17020 conformity assessment demonstrates inspection bodies’ competence, proving their inspections are reliable, consistent, and trustworthy. As such, it’s a key competitive advantage—inspection bodies that demonstrate ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation set themselves apart from the competition.

ISO/IEC 17020 is globally renowned and recognised by both the ILAC and IAF, meaning it has a reputation for quality. This makes it perfect for bodies seeking to conduct inspections for international clients. It guarantees they operate to the highest possible standards while also confirming the technical competence of their quality management systems.

Additionally, ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation boosts organisations’ wider reputation, helping to develop mutual trust between the inspection body and its clients. Clients know that their inspectors use the appropriate methods, equipment, and safeguards to guarantee impartiality and confidentiality. In turn, this means that the ISO/IEC 1702-accredited inspection body will produce unbiased, impartial, and reliable results. It’s a win-win for both parties.

By adhering to the ISO/IEC 17020 standard, inspection bodies will also greatly reduce the likelihood of having to complete re-inspections/re-work due. They will follow the latest inspection best practices at all times, meaning standards will never slip and they won’t have to waste time, money, and clients’ patience completing the same inspection twice (or more). They’ll carve out a reputation for quality, further enhancing their reputation in the market.

Reputational benefits are valuable, but staying compliant is critical. ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation shores up compliance. For example, consider that the ‘Managing health and safety in construction’ guidelines, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), states:

• Contractors must be able to demonstrate they have skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability to manage health and safety;
• Clients who appoint contractors must take steps to ensure that the designer or contractor has enough experience and a good record in managing the risks involved in projects.

By working with an ISO/IEC 17020-accredited inspection body, facilities management organisations can bring contractors on board, safe in the knowledge they can demonstrate their health and safety credentials. In other words, that they’re capable of to managing projects safely.

Last but certainly not least, ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation increases trust. This is crucial trust underpins all inspection activities. ISO/IEC 17020-accredited inspection bodies trust their inspectors will operate according to the highest standards. Meanwhile, customers will trust the inspectors’ judgments, consistency, and the reliability of their results.

The takeaway is clear: make sure you partner with inspection bodies who boast government-backed, UKAS-governed credentials, when choosing ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation.