The Irish National Accreditation Board

Pat O’Brien – Accreditation Officer

INAB

EPA Stack Emissions Workshop 1st June 2011

Content Overview

• What is Accreditation? • INAB - Roles and Function• Accreditation Process• Requirements for Accreditation for

Stack Emission Sampling and Testing

• Timescales and costs

Accreditation

Third party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal

demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks

(scope)

taken from ISO 17011 - Conformity assessment, general requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies

INAB

• The Irish National Accreditation Board provides accreditation to international standards to: Laboratories (ISO 17025, ISO 15189) Certification Bodies (ISO 17021, ISO 17024, ISO Guide 65) Inspection Bodies (ISO 17020)

• Statutory Functions Statutory monitoring body for OECD/EU GLP (Good

Laboratory Practice) Regulations- S.I No.4 of 1991 and S.I No.294 of 1999

Competent Authority for the registration of EMAS sites Other statutory functions

INAB

• Established in 1985• INAB is a Division of Forfás• Independent Board of 12 members• Executive of 12 • External contracted expertise (>120

assessors/experts)• Approx. 170 Accredited organisations• Signatory to EA Multi-lateral agreements (MLA)• Peer evaluated to assess compliance to ISO 17011

Accreditation Process

• Application to particular standard & scope• Pre-assessment• Assessment• Decision on award of accreditation (Board)• Surveillance / ongoing monitoring / extend

scope• Re-assessment after 5 years• Surprise / unannounced visits• Additional visits

Accreditation for Stack Emission Sampling and Testing• Accreditation Standard, ISO 17025• CEN/TS 15675:2007 and EN 15259:2007• INAB Regulations and Terms & Conditions• INAB policies, in particular

• PS1 Proficiency testing• PS5 Traceability• PS17 Sampling methods

• Applicable EA and ILAC documents• Application forms AF1A (new applicant) or

AF2A if already accredited

INAB Scopes

Detail included:

• Reference to ISO 17025 and CEN/TS• Test and/or sampling method• Individual constituents• Range of measurement• Equipment

Time Scales

• From receipt of (new) application, following timeline applies:• Pre-assessment within 3 months• Assessment usually 6 months thereafter• 3 months to address issues• Decision on accreditation (by INAB Board)• 1st surveillance 6 months after decision and

annually thereafter (to maintain accreditation)• Re-assessment after 5 years

Time Scales – cont’d

• Existing accredited clients – ext. to scope application

• Can be incorporated into surveillance visit BUT

• Additional assessor time needed on site• Decision by INAB Board

Costs – ISO 17025 accreditation• Approx. €7000 – €10,000 (excl VAT) to get

accredited BUT depends on scope of activity• Individual quotations provided on receipt of

application and review by INAB team• Annual fee which includes on site visit,

approx. €8000 (excl VAT) BUT depends on scope of application

More Information at:www.inab.ie

www.european-accreditation.org

Questions?

Thank you for your attention