The new ISO/IEC 17020 2nd Edition, “Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection,” has just been released and is available from Document Center Inc. now. This International Standard contains requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities.
ISO/IEC-17020:2012 covers the activities of inspection bodies that provide the examination of materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures, software or services, then determine the conformity with predefined requirements, and finally report the results of these activities to clients and authorities.
The stages of inspection include design stage, type examination, initial inspection, in-service inspection or surveillance. Assessments are aimed at providing information about the conformity of inspected items with regulations, standards, specifications, inspection schemes or contracts.
The types of inspection bodies covered are types A, B and C, designations based on the degree of independence (third-party, in-house, or a combination).
Inspection parameters include matters of quantity, quality, safety, fitness for purpose, and continued safety compliance of installations or systems in operation.
The general requirements with which these bodies are required to comply in order that their services are accepted by clients and by supervisory authorities are harmonized in this International Standard.
The second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 17020:1998), which has been technically revised. The 24-page standard is a joint publication of both ISO and IEC. The objective in developing the standard was to promote confidence in bodies performing inspection.
Both ISO and IEC standards are available from Document Center Inc.’s website, www.document-center.com, in paper and single user pdf format (U.S. companies only). Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com) either to order or for more information. We have been providing these documents to customers since our founding in 1982.
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