How do you ensure that your EMC test laboratory is competent?
How do you ensure that your EMC test laboratory is competent?
EMC equipment testing is complex and therefore time-consuming and involves significant costs. When a manufacturer invests time and money in an EMC conformity assessment test, they want to be sure that the test results are accurate and recognised both nationally and internationally. This requires a competent, independent partner to act as the testing service provider.
How can you determine the competence of your EMC testing laboratory?
Before commissioning an EMC testing laboratory, it is essential for the manufacturer/importer to know whether the laboratory possesses the competence to carry out the required tests in accordance with the applicable specifications. Accreditation provides a standardised system for independent verification of competence. Accreditation is the formal recognition by a national accreditation body that a testing laboratory demonstrably meets the applicable requirements for qualification and equipment, is therefore deemed competent, and consequently delivers valid test results.
What is your EMC test laboratory competent to do?
Accreditation by the national accreditation body – in Austria, this is Akkreditierung Austria – confirms an EMC testing laboratory’s competence for those conformity assessment activities, i.e. tests, specified within its scope of accreditation. Competence is therefore not granted in general terms, but is limited to the standards or test methods specified within the scope of accreditation. Individual test procedures may also have further restrictions, such as a limited frequency range. The scopes of all laboratories accredited in Austria are entered in the DigiDAISY accreditation database and are made publicly available via a search register: https://akkreditierung-austria.gv.at/overview
How is it ensured that your EMC testing laboratory delivers valid results?
The ISO/IEC 17025 standard requires testing laboratories to carry out regular comparative measurements with other laboratories (interlaboratory comparisons), implement measures for the internal monitoring of the validity of results, ensure the regular traceable calibration of their measuring equipment, conduct ongoing competence monitoring of staff, and much more.
Who verifies the competence of your testing laboratory?
The Austrian national accreditation body, Akkreditierung Austria, regularly commissions experts to carry out assessments, during which the competence of each testing laboratory is continuously monitored and reconfirmed by means of a formal decision. In addition, internal audits must be carried out by specialist auditors. These internal and external audits are an essential part of the continuous improvement process (CIP) in every accredited laboratory.
In which countries are the test results recognised?
Test results and test reports from accredited laboratories are recognised worldwide in all countries that have signed the multilateral agreements with the EA (European Co-operation for Accreditation) and the ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation). The Austrian accreditation body “Akkreditierung Austria” has signed the ILAC MRA for the fields of “Testing, Medical Testing, Calibration and Inspection”. Consequently, accredited testing laboratories in Austria are permitted to use the ILAC MRA mark in combination with the relevant accreditation mark on test reports to demonstrate that their accreditation is internationally recognised.
This puts the principle of “tested once, accepted everywhere” into practice, saving companies costly and time-consuming duplicate testing.
Is there an interest group representing testing laboratories?
Austrolab is the Austrian trade association for accredited conformity assessment bodies and a member of EUROLAB.
For further details, see www.austrolab.at
