ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity assessment — requirements for the operation of bodies performing inspection

ISO/IEC 17020 specifies the requirements for competent bodies performing inspection activities.

Inspection bodies conduct their activities for the purpose of providing information to their clients, whether internal or external, on compliance with regulatory and/or contractual obligations.

Governments and industries around the world are increasingly requiring the use of accredited inspection services. Inspection findings and outcomes contribute to product and asset management decisions and it is essential they are reliable. To ensure confidence, interested parties including clients, regulators and users, often ask that inspection bodies meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020.

Asset-critical information demands more than ‘trust us’ assurances. Accreditation is a statement by an independent accreditation body, such as NATA, that an inspection body has formally demonstrated its competence to carry out specific inspections.

NATA accreditation means that an inspection body has shown to an independent team of industry peers that it meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020 and competently performs the inspections as covered by the accreditation.

ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation is accepted both nationally and internationally as a reliable indicator of technical competence.

Accredited inspection bodies benefit from:

• The peer interaction of the assessment
• A third party confirming their fulfilment of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020
• Public recognition of their accreditation
• Enhanced acceptance (domestically and internationally), of their reports and findings from the accreditation
• Access to some prequalification listings and tenders because of the accreditation.

Clients, asset owners and specifiers benefit from:

• A third party has assessed accredited bodies for fulfilment of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020 and the technical standards on the scope of accreditation, reducing the effort needed to qualify these suppliers
• Accreditation can be confirmed through a public website
• Accredited bodies can endorse reports, providing a mark of credibility to enhance acceptance of reports
• Accreditation includes domestic and international acceptance of endorsed reports.

Regulators and scheme owners benefit from:

• Accreditation can include industry guides and regulations in the scope of accreditation, allowing specific identification of the competencies of the inspection body
• NATA will work with regulators and scheme owners to deliver tailored assessment of the inspection bodies supporting the scheme or regulation.

ISO/IEC 17020 ensures that inspection bodies are independent and their staff act impartially in delivery of their inspection activities. 

The Standard categorises inspection bodies (as type A, B or C) dependent on their independence.

The criteria contained in the ISO/IEC 17020 Standard include:

• General requirements, including impartiality and independence
• Structural requirements, including administrative requirements and organisational management
• Resource requirements, including personnel, facilities and equipment, and subcontracting
• Process requirements including inspection methods and procedures, handling inspection items and samples, inspection records, inspection reports and inspection certificates, complaints and appeals
• Management system requirements

NATA’s inspection accreditation program currently recognises inspection bodies across agriculture and abattoirs, mining, construction and industrial applications, electrical and electromagnetic safety, medical devices, occupational hygiene and commercial building. New areas of inspection are always being offered and NATA is ever expanding its service to accredit these.

Accredited inspection bodies support Australian industry in design verification, fabrication inspection, in-service inspection, survey of sites and installations as well as grading of product. They also offer cargo and safety inspections, check lifting equipment and coatings application.

Among the bodies accredited by NATA to ISO/IEC 17020 are private and government inspection bodies, single-person companies, family businesses, industry associations and multinational entities.

NATA also works with inspection scheme owners and regulators, who rely on inspection services, to determine and deliver accreditation solutions which satisfy their needs.