IAS Newsletter December 2023 - Magazine - Page 8
ELAP Program Continues to
Strengthen at IAS
IAS holds a crucial role in assessing water testing laboratories
seeking accreditation under the State of California
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).
Since its launch in May 2020, the ELAP program at IAS has
seen substantial growth in engagement, attracting over 240
new laboratory customers, including most of California’s
largest utilities and private laboratories. This demonstrates the
tangible impact of IAS in the accreditation landscape.
Throughout 2023, IAS actively participated in several events
to contribute to knowledge exchange and accreditation
standards. These events included the Forum on Environmental
Accreditation in San Antonio, Texas, in January 2023, and
the Environmental Measurement Symposium in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, in July 2023. These platforms provided
opportunities for IAS to share insights on environmental
laboratory practices and accreditation standards.
Emphasizing a commitment to collaboration, IAS marked its
third consecutive year presenting at ELAP’s annual conference,
showcasing its dedication to staying informed about the latest
developments in environmental laboratory accreditation.
Further outreach efforts took place at the California Water
Environment Association (CWEA) conference in San Diego,
California, in April 2023, where IAS exhibited and presented.
This engagement allowed IAS to highlight its expertise and
connect with professionals in the water testing 昀椀eld.
Additionally, IAS actively participated in the Department
of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program/Department
of Defense (DOECAP/DoD) Accreditation Body meeting in
Orlando, Florida, in August 2023. This meeting served as a
platform for accreditation bodies to engage in discussions
aimed at enhancing accreditation processes.
Recognizing the importance of virtual communication, IAS
continued its series of webinars on ELAP-related topics,
attracting an average of around 200 laboratory staff from
across California. This virtual approach enables IAS to
e昀케ciently share knowledge with a broader audience.
Validation and Veri昀椀cation Body
(VVB)
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are increasingly pivotal
in discussions regarding global climate control. To address
the reduction of GHGs in product manufacturing, services,
construction, and conformity activities, efforts have focused
on establishing standards. The publication of the ISO
Greenhouse Gas series in 2006 necessitated emission impact
statements to support global climate change initiatives.
This progression culminated in the issuance of ISO/IEC
17029:2019, Conformity assessment — General principles
and requirements for validation and veri昀椀cation bodies. This
international standard aims to encompass and harmonize
various other types of “validation and veri昀椀cation bodies”
(VVB) for use by entities worldwide, whether legal, non-legal,
private, public, or others.
Like other IAS program standards, ISO/IEC 17029 accredited
VVBs can provide third-party audits for customers engaged in
validation, veri昀椀cation, or both activities.
For more information about the IAS Validation and Veri昀椀cation
Body accreditation program, please browse Validation and
Veri昀椀cation Bodies - International Accreditation Service, Inc.
(iasonline.org). The “Important Documents” section provides
additional application and policy details on the program.
In summary, IAS's involvement in various events, both
physical and virtual, re昀氀ects its commitment to advancing
environmental laboratory accreditation in California. The
organization plays a pivotal role in shaping accreditation
practices and fostering collaboration within the state.
Logos, Symbols and Marks
Customers of IAS are encouraged to use the IAS Symbols, also
known as Marks, to promote their accreditation to customers,
regulators, and the general public. Click here for more
Get Training from IAS
IAS offers a variety of complimentary and for-cost training
programs designed for the conformity assessment industry.
Find out more here
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IAS External Newsletter