Which ISO Accreditation Does Your Laboratory Actually Need?

The Rundown

• ISO 17020, ISO 17025, and ISO 17065 are completely different accreditations, although some labs have all of them.
• ISO 17025 deals with testing and laboratory analysis.
• ISO 17020 deals with inspection.
• ISO 17065 is for certification. 
• You should choose a laboratory based on your project needs.

If you need an ISO accredited laboratory, what you might not know is that there are many different types, meaning you need a laboratory that actually offers the one you need. ISO 17020, 17025, and 17065 don’t mean the same thing, so try not to assume that getting one is as good as the other.

Your search must begin with knowing the service you need. Is it lab testing? Then that will be ISO 17025. Inspection? You should be looking at ISO 17020. And if you’re looking for a formal certification of your product, process, or service, then ISO 17065 is what you need. 

For Testing and Laboratory Analysis

An ISO accredited laboratory for testing and analysis is usually what comes to mind for most companies in aerospace, government, construction, and transportation. 

However, ISO accreditation for testing labs is about generating reliable technical data under defined conditions. The role of these labs is to:

• Test the performance of materials
• Evaluate product behavior
• Analyze chemicals
• Assess thermal properties of materials
• Document how a given material responds under a specified method

This means that if your company needs any of these services, ISO 17025 is what you need for testing, not the other two.

For Inspection Work

If you’ll be needing some sort of inspection done, then you’ll need a different ISO accredited laboratory to handle this.

The focus here is not necessarily on running a lab method against a sample. Instead, inspections and evaluations are done to determine whether something meets requirements based on examination, judgment, or review.

Some areas that this applies to include structures, installed components, product condition, or a field situation. 

This means that if your company needs an inspection done on your products (like a rental building in New York that needs a parapet wall inspection), you need an ISO 17020-accredited laboratory. 

For Certification

The ISO lab standards deal with certifying that a product, process, or service conforms to defined requirements within a certification framework.

The role of certification is to formally confirm conformity against a set standard or scheme. If your project, contract, or compliance requirement must be certified, then ISO 17065 is the accreditation you should be looking for.

Find The Right ISO Accredited Laboratory For All Your Needs

While the argument for ISO inspection vs testing vs certification is a very strong one, especially when deciding which service provider to go to, compliance accreditation laboratories aren’t limited to just one. 

At VTEC Laboratories, for example, we have ISO 17025, ISO 17020, and ISO 17065 accreditations. This means that we can provide all those services to our clients in the various industries. 

When you work with us, you get clear answers, quick turnarounds, and the right ISO accredited laboratory for the job provided by highly skilled experts. Every serious inquiry receives a personalized response. Request a free quote today.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Does industry experience matter when choosing an ISO-accredited laboratory?

Of course it does. A company can be accredited but lack the right experience needed to handle some jobs.

Can one project require more than one ISO-accredited service?

Yes. That happens more often than not. Many companies begin with testing, then go for inspection, and end with certification. However, not every job fits neatly into one box from the start.

Do all ISO-accredited laboratories offer custom testing?

No. Some stick to a narrower scope and only handle the services they already run every day. Therefore, check with your specific provider on this.

Can the same ISO accredited laboratory work with different materials and products?

Yes, and we do that at VTEC Laboratories. When seeking these services, ask if that laboratory has worked with them before rather than leaving that question until later.