More "Alphabet Soup", Anyone ?

The organization formed by Europe's measurement accreditation agencies, European cooperation for Accreditation of Laboratories (EAL), has combined with the European Accreditation of Certification (EAC) to produce... the EA (European cooperation for Accreditation). The new organization also covers inspection body accreditation under the EN45004 standard.

NAMAS NIS3003 Ed.8 Superseded

UKAS has published a new version of its uncertainty guide. Now a bound paperback of 76 pages in tasteful lime green color (!) which at least readily differentiates it from earlier pink paper editions. It becomes UKAS M1, Edition 1 (Dec97).

Frequency Traceability via GPS-DO -- NPL Publishes Report

Following preliminary work during 1995 and in response to continuing industry pressure, NPL formalized a project in early 1997 aimed at establishing the degree of accuracy that may be attributed to frequency standards which are controlled by the US global positioning system satellite constellation. Until now, although GPS-DO's (such as the HP58503A) demonstrate far superior performance to similar standards using radio broadcast (such as the British 60kHz "MSF" transmission), they are not yet recognized by NPL or UKAS as a means of maintaining frequency "traceability".

NPL Gains UKAS (NAMAS) Recognition

Following the achievement of  ISO9001 registration last year, NPL has now (May'97) become accredited by UKAS to issue NAMAS calibration certificates. NAMAS criteria is consistent with EN45001 (the European standard based on ISO/IEC Guide 25). UKAS' technical officers were assisted in the assessment task by scientists from several other national standards labs including the (international) BIPM, US NIST, Germany's PTB and Holland's NMI. The accreditation covers many of the capabilities of NPL's Centers for Electromagnetic Metrology and Time Metrology (formerly Division of Electrical Science) including DC/LF and microwave measurements. It is believed that they are the first national metrology institute in the world to gain such accreditation.

Meanwhile, commercial labs have expressed concern that, by gaining such certifications, NPL will become a competitor in the industrial marketplace. Others, rather tongue-in-check, are delighted that the national standards lab will now have to operate by the same rules as the rest of us !

European Accreditation Body Accepts Electronic Signature

The European Co-operation for Accreditation of Laboratories (EAL) is the forum for collaboration between the accreditation agencies. A primary objective is mutual recognition for validity of calibration/test services operated under the authority of the EAL members of each nation. These accreditation agencies base their criteria on the ISO/IEC Guide 25. At their meeting in November 1995, a resolution was made to accept electronic signatures on calibration certificates. Whilst appearing of little consequence, this move may be of great significance since it removes one of the logistical difficulties which presently challenge provision of accredited calibration high volume basis. EAL's consensus doesn't, unfortunately, mean that certificates issued under HP's accreditations can immediately be issued with facsimile authorization. Understanding is that the resolution is not binding so each agency may need to be further encouraged to implement it within their own (national) operating practice. Nevertheless, the existing multilateral agreement means they are obliged to accept the validity of certificates issued in another country that does adopt electronic signatures. HP welcomes EAL's decision as evidence of an enhanced awareness of commercial considerations and changing end-user needs. The traditional approaches have, arguably, limited the penetration of "accreditation" into industry and EAL's resolve to react should give confidence for further modernization that industry is lobbying-for. We hope that acceptance of electronic signatures is only the first stage of this development.