IAS March 2021 Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 3
IAS NEWSLETTER March 2021
2020 RECAP
NEW IAS
ACCREDITATION
OFFERINGS
Customer Survey Results for 2020
We redesigned our customer service survey in early 2020 to help us better serve our
customers. IAS customers are emailed a link to the survey when they are first accredited
or renew their accreditation.
U.S. FDA ASCA Program
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has recognized IAS under the
Accreditation Scheme for Conformity
Assessment (ASCA) pilot program to accredit
testing laboratories that perform premarket
testing for medical device companies.
In this program, IAS will accredit testing
laboratories using the standard ISO/IEC
17025 and the ASCA program specifications.
IAS appreciates customers taking the
time to give such thoughtful and thorough
feedback in these surveys. The question
ratings and comments in the open-ended
questions are helping IAS determine what
we are doing right and where we need to
improve.
Relying upon international conformity
assessment standards and a set of FDAidentified ASCA program specifications, the
pilot is intended to increase consistency
and predictability in the FDA’s approach
to assessing conformance with FDArecognized consensus standards and test
methods eligible for inclusion in the ASCA
Pilot in medical device premarket reviews.
Ultimately, the ASCA Pilot is intended to
help the FDA ensure patients have timely
and continued access to safe, effective, and
high-quality medical devices.
IAS Accreditation Committee Hearings- October and December 2020
The IAS Accreditation Committee (AC) met twice in the past year to review several significant criteria revisions as well as new criteria
to support the roll-out of new conformity assessment programs. The IAS AC is appointed by the IAS Board of Directors. The committee
Chairperson is Mr. Neville Pereira, P.E., CBO., County of Santa Clara, San Jose, California, and the Vice Chairperson is Ms. Linda Anguish,
Institute for Credentialing Excellence, Washington D.C. The membership of the committee includes individuals from our global conformity
assessment community as well as experts from varied backgrounds.
During the two 2020 hearings of the AC held on October 22, 2020, and December 14, 2020, the members reviewed several criteria. Salient
among the technical documents is: AC251, Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments, Code Enforcement, and Third-Parties Providing
Building and/or Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Services, which is intended to bring the ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading
Schedule (BCEGS) Program into the IAS accreditation process. Also, revision and amalgamation of Accreditation Criteria for Training
Agencies for Workforce Qualification Programs, AC371 and Accreditation Criteria for Curriculum Development for Workforce Qualification
Programs, AC372 into a single document titled Accreditation Criteria for Training Providers and Training Course Developers to allow for
a harmonized approach to training providers. Accreditation Criteria for Approval Program of Fabricators of Container-Based Structures,
AC786 is intended to extend the fabrication program to include approval of container-based structures and Registration Criteria for
Building Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies, RC418, a new program designed to provide a pathway to jurisdictions towards formal
accreditation.
As a result of COVID, these hearings which are usually held in-person switched to virtual format and for the first time provided a wonderful
opportunity for our global members to join in and contribute to the technical discussions. As in so many other instances, the COVID situation
provided a significant opportunity to showcase IAS’ activities, which are generally confined to the United States, to our global family. We
expect that future accreditation committees will continue to see enhanced interest in our technical activities. Please check the IAS website
for future notices of our AC hearings.
Read more
EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation
Program (NLLAP)
IAS accredits laboratories for recognition by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) National Lead Laboratory Accreditation
Program (NLLAP) as being capable of performing adequate
analyses for lead in paint films (chips), dust and soil samples.
The NLLAP is an EPA program that defines the minimum
requirements and abilities that a laboratory must meet to attain
EPA recognition as an accredited lead testing laboratory. EPA
established NLLAP to recognize laboratories that demonstrate
the ability to accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples
for lead.
NLLAP ensures that participating laboratories have met EPA
requirements and demonstrated the capability to accurately
analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples for lead. All laboratories
recognized by EPA under NLLAP are required to undergo on-site
assessments conducted by an Accreditation Body participating in
NLLAP (like IAS), and to successfully perform on a continual basis
in the Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (ELPAT)
Program. The ELPAT is the EPA-approved laboratory performance
proficiency testing program administered by the American Industrial
Hygiene Association to ensure that laboratories continue to
accurately analyze samples for lead.
Read more
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IAS External Newsletter
www.iasonline.org
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