Accreditation of certification bodies, laboratories and inspection bodies
ISO/IEC 17020:2012
Accreditation of bodies that inspect products, processes, installations and plants and assess their conformity.
Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 confirms that an inspection body performs inspections competently and impartially and that its findings can be relied on.
Independence requirements depend on the type of body: a type A body is an independent third party, while type B and C bodies may be part of an organization that designs, manufactures or uses the inspected items, with appropriate safeguards for impartiality.
Who it is for
Type A, B or C inspection bodies — for example for cleanrooms, HVAC systems and laboratory containment equipment.
What we assess
Accreditation number format
DCS-IB-0000
Fields of inspection
An inspection body's scope of accreditation lists the field, the type of inspection (initial or periodic) and the standards applied.
Ventilation and air conditioning in operating theatres, intensive care units and other hospital hygiene zones.
Inspections
Standards
Cleanrooms and laminar airflow zones in pharmaceutical and medical production and laboratories.
Inspections
Standards
Protective performance of microbiological safety cabinets in laboratories and healthcare.
Inspections
Standards
Clean workstations with unidirectional airflow.
Inspections
Standards
Extraction and operator protection in laboratory fume hoods.
Inspections
Standards
Air tightness and strength of rectangular and circular ductwork before commissioning.
Inspections
Standards
Path to accreditation
Accreditation is granted after a document assessment and an on-site assessment, and is maintained through regular surveillance.
Application and review
Document assessment
On-site assessment
Decision and certificate
ISO/IEC 17020:2012
Send us the basics about your body and the scope you are seeking — we will reply with application guidance and a quote.