IQIPS and Calibration

In discussion with UKAS, we have now gained a clearer understanding around standard FR5.1 and FR5.3 of the IQIPS standard.

As a UKAS customer, you need to gain assurance for yourselves, and then to demonstrate through accreditation assessment that the calibration service you procure has authority and therefore competence to perform their calibration procedures for you, and that the certificates they provide assure you that they have performed this calibration activity using traceable equipment. To ensure calibration services meet the authority and traceability requirements, sites undergoing accreditation should ensure their calibration provider can provide either:

• Evidence of ISO 17025 accreditation through an accreditation body – demonstrated by accreditation status on the UKAS or other accreditation body website or their accreditation body/UKAS certificate, and evidence of your calibration certificates showing the appropriate statement of traceability and Uncertainty of Measurement data that confirms this for you.

or

• Evidence of ISO 13485 certification through an accredited certification body, together with evidence of appropriate training for the person performing the calibration, and again the certificates of calibration of your equipment, providing the relevant traceability and UoM data

or

• An in-date calibration certificate for their calibration equipment, together with externally certified compliance with a quality management system (such as ISO 9001) and again the certificates of calibration of your equipment providing the relevant traceability and UoM data. The certification body providing this external verification of compliance with ISO 9001 must have accreditation with an accreditation body such as UKAS.

or

• An in-date calibration certificate for their calibration equipment together with documented peer review evidence, using an ISO 17025 accredited provider

It would also be good practice, if not using an ISO17025 accredited provider, for the calibration service to have a piece of equipment they calibrate also calibrated by an accredited service to show comparison of results, thus assuring you of their accuracy and competence.

 This is seen as good practice for all sites, not just those undergoing UKAS accreditation, and BAA will work with calibration providers to ensure this information is available more easily. BAA will also develop some tools for services to understand their calibration and the required standards in the next few months.