Jon Murthy, marketing manager at The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), explains why manufacturers should always look for UKAS accreditation from their testing and calibration partners.
Accreditation is internationally recognised as a robust, independent declaration of an organisation’s competence; the validity and suitability of methods; the appropriateness of equipment and facilities; and ongoing assurance through internal quality control. Rather than being a one off ‘congratulations, you’ve passed’ test, accreditation is a continuous activity operated on a four yearly cycle of annual assessment visits. The assessment process itself is rigorous and measured against internationally recognised standards and industry-established best practices.
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body for the UK. Its role is to check that organisations providing certification, testing, inspection and calibration services are meeting a required standard of performance. In 2016 UKAS conducted over 20,000 assessment days for nearly 3,000 customers, the majority of which are laboratories. Using accredited services helps to maintain the public’s confidence that products and services will perform as specified.
Unlike general quality management certification, which relates to the organisation as a whole, organisations receive accreditation for specific activities. Testing and calibration laboratories are accredited by UKAS against ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. The testing activities themselves are tightly defined, so it is advisable to check a laboratory’s schedule of accreditation (freely searchable on the UKAS website) to make sure it is accredited for the relevant test.
In addition to providing customers with the necessary confidence in the goods and services they procure, using accredited services can open doors to previously closed markets; many organisations, in both the public and private sectors, are specifying accreditation (or the use of) as a precondition to tendering for contracts. The potentially expanded market reaches across international borders, as over 90 different economies throughout the world are signatories to mutual recognition agreements. This ‘accredited once, accepted everywhere’ approach reduces barriers to trade for UK companies that either source or sell their services abroad. Not only is this good for business, but it also provides an element of certainty in uncertain political and economic times.
Test Lab | Standard/Specifications/Techniques Used as listed on Schedules of Accreditation | ||||||||||||
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BS 6807 | BS 7177:2008 + A1 2011 | BS EN 597-1/-2:1995 | BS 7176:2007 + A1: 2011 | BS7171:1989 (1994) | BS EN ISO 12952 | Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations: 1988 | BS 5852 | BS EN 1021-1/02 | BS 5651 | BS1425 | IMO FTP Code | BS 7175:1989 | |
John Cotton Group Ltd UKAS accreditation: 2135 Nature of business (SIC) 13950: Manufacture of non-wovens and articles made from non-wovens, except apparel. Address: Nunbrook Mills, Mirfield,West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, WF14 0EH Telephone: +44 (0)1924 496571 Website: www.johncotton.co.uk |
2006 (Except Section 3) | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | Schedule 1, Parts 1-3; Schedule 2, Parts 1-4; Schedules 3, 4 and 5; SI 1324:1988; and SI 207:1993 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 2006 Annexe E | 2006: Both | 1978: Clause 4.5 as amended by Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regs 1988 |
Part 1: 1991 | ||
TFT (Ilkley) Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 1801 Nature of business (SIC) 74909: Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified. Address: The Sidings Business Park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, BD23 1TB Telephone: +44 (0)1756 792525 Website: www.testingfortextiles.co.uk |
2006; 1986, Sections 2 and 4 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | SI 1324:1988; SI 2358:1989 (Amd) | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 2006 Annexe E | 2006: Both | 1979: Clause 4 | 2010: Parts 7 & 8 | Yes | ||
FIRA International Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 0174 Nature of business (SIC): 71122 - Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities; 71200 - Technical testing and analysis Address: Maxwell Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, SG1 2EW Telephone: +44 (0)1438 777700 Website: www.fira.co.uk |
2006 (Except Section 3 Full Size) | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Shedule 1, Parts 1-3; Schedule 2, Parts 1-4; Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Parts 1-2; Schedule 5, Parts 1-3; SI 1324:1988; and SI 207:1993 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 2006 Annexe E | 2006: Both; 2014: Both | Section 4 | |||||
SGS Leicester UKAS accreditation number: 2001 Nature of business (SIC): 71200 - Technical testing and analysis Address: Cambridge Road, Whetstone, Leicester, United Kingdom, LE8 6LH Telephone: +44 (0)116 284 6780 Website: www.sgsleicester.com |
2006 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Part 1: 2010; Part 2 2011 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | Yes | ||||||
UL VS Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 0616 Nature of business (SIC): 71200 - Technical testing and analysis Address: Eskdale Road, Winnersh, 530/535, Reading , United Kingdom, RG41 5TS Telephone: +44(0)118 927 3340 Website: www.ul.com/consumer.products |
Schedules 1-5 | Clause 4.5 as amended by Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regs 1988 |
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ITS Testing Services (UK) Limited (Leigh) UKAS accreditation number: 1516 Nature of business (SIC): 71200 - Technical testing and analysis Address: The Warehouse, Brewery Lane, Leigh, Lancashire, , United Kingdom, WN7 2RJ Telephone: +44 (0)1942 265700 Website: www.intertek.com |
1996; 2006 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2; 2015: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | 1999: Parts 1,4; Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | SL 1324: 1988 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 2006 Annexe E | 2006: Both; 2014: Both | 1978; 1989 | Part1 Appendix B :1991 (excluding disintigrating filters) |
2010: Parts 7, 8 & 9 | Yes | |
Textiles F.R. Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 1413 Nature of business (SIC): 13300 - Finishing of textiles Address: Unit 4B (30), Wharfedale Road, Euroway Trading Estate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, BD4 6SG Telephone: +44 (0)1274 651230 Website: www.textilesfr.co.uk |
Part 1: 1979; 2006 Annexe E | 1978; 1989 | 2010: Part 8 | Section 3 (Sources 0, 1 and 5 only) | |||||||||
SGS CSTC Standards Technical Services Co Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 4417 Address: 301# Sunlight Road, 2 Block, Sunlight Industrial Zone, Anji County, Zhejiang Province, China, 313300 (Various UK branches) Telephone: +86 572 501 8828 Website: www.sgsgroup.com.cn/en |
1996; 2006; (Clause 9, Sources 5 & 7) |
Yes | 2015: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | Shedule 1, Parts 1-3; Schedule 2, Parts 1-4; Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Parts 1-2; Schedule 5, Parts 1-3; SI 1324:1988; and SI 207:1993 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 2006 Annexe E | 2014: Both | 1978: Clause 4.5 as amended by Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regs 1988 |
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Solvay Solutions UK Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 1154 Nature of business (SIC): 20590 - Manufacture of other chemical products not elsewhere classified Address: Flame Retardants, PO Box 7870,FADP Building, Oldbury, West Midlands, United Kingdom, B69 4HX Telephone: +44 (0)121 541 3368 Website: www.solvay.com |
2006 (Except Section 3) | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | ||||||||
Bureau Veritas Shenzhen Co., Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 4732 Address: Bureau Veritas, Consumer Products Services (Shenzhen),4th Floor, Block B, Minlida Industrial Building,4th Zone of Honghualing Industrial Park, Xili Town, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China. (Various UK branches) Telephone: +86 00 755 86000151 Website: www.cps.bureauveritas.com |
2006 (Section 2: Sources 5 & 7) | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2; 2015: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Shedule 1, Parts 1-3; Schedule 2, Parts 1-4; Schedule 3, Part 2; Schedule 4, Parts 1-2; Schedule 5, Parts 1-3 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | 2006: Both; 2014: Both | ||||||
West Yorkshire Materials Testing Service (a part of West Yorkshire Joint Services) UKAS accreditation number: 1104 Nature of business (SIC): 96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified Address: Nepshaw Lane South, Morley, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS27 7JQ Telephone: +44 (0)113 393 9790 Website: www.mat.wyjs.org.uk |
2006; 1986, Section 4 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | 1988 and Amendment Regulations 1989, 1993, 2010 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | 2014: Both | 1978; 1989 | 2010: Parts 7, 8, 9 | Yes | ||
Shirley Technologies Limited UKAS accreditation number: 1066 Nature of business (SIC): 74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified Address: Wira House, West Park Ring Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, , United Kingdom, LS16 6QL Telephone: +44 (0)161 869 1610 Website: www.shirleytech.co.uk |
2006 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | 2014: Both | 1978; 1989 | 1991: Parts 1 & 2 | 2010: Parts 5, 7, 8, 9 | Yes | |||
Intertek Testing Services Ltd, Shanghai UKAS accreditation number: 2710 Nature of business (SIC): 70100 - Activities of head offices Address: 2nd Floor, Building No 4,Shanghai Comalong Industrial Park,889 Yi Shan Road, Shanghai, CHINA, 200233 Telephone: +88 21 6091 7064 Website: www.intertek-labtest.com/ |
Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | ||||||||||||
Interscience Communications Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 2294 Nature of business (SIC): 72190 - Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering Address: Building 63,Haslar Marine Technology Park,Haslar Road,Gosport, Hampshire, United Kingdom, PO12 2AG Telephone: +44 (0)208 692 5050 Website: www.intercomm.dial.pipex.com |
1990; 1996; 2006 | Yes | SI: 1324: 1988 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982; 1990; 2006 | 2006: Both | 2010: Parts 5, 6 | Yes | ||||||
SATRA Technology Centre Ltd UKAS accreditation number: 0248 Nature of business (SIC): 72190 - Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering; 74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified Address: Wyndham Way, Telford Way Industrial Estate, Kettering, United Kingdom, NN16 8SD Telephone: +44 (0)1536 410000 | Website: http://http://www.satra.co.uk |
2006: Section 9 | Yes | 1995: Parts 1 & 2; 2015: Parts 1 & 2 | Yes | Parts 1 & 2: 2010 | Shedule 1, Parts 1-3; Schedule 2, Parts 1-4; Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Parts 1-2; Schedule 5, Parts 1-3 | Part 1: 1979; Part 2:1982 | 2006: Both; 2014: Both | 1978: Clause 4.5 | 05/05/17 |
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