FAQ1

An inspection body applying for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 uses measurement equipment in performing its inspection activities. It has a non-accredited, in-house calibration department which provides the necessary calibration services for the measurement equipment used in the field. Is the in-house calibration of the measurement equipment used in the field allowed or not?

STANDARD: ISO/IEC 17020  ·  CLAUSE: 6.2.7  ·  TOPIC: Calibration of measurement equipment

Answer:

ISO/IEC 17020 does not specify that calibration should be provided externally or in- house. The requirement is that any equipment that has a significant influence on the on the results of inspection shall be calibrated before being put into service and there after calibrated to an established programme. Also, the requirement is for the equipment to be calibrated for measurements to be traceable to national or international standards, where available. If an inspection body has its own in- house calibration facility then the inspection body should demonstrate its competence to perform such calibration using the relevant clauses of ISO/IEC 17025.