Harmonisation of accreditation procedures and requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17024 (applied in the field of welding)
In 2015, the finding in the area of certification bodies certifying persons (area of welding) was identified during the EA evaluation. Specifically, it was in the field of certification of welders according to EN ISO 9606-1 and welding operators according to EN ISO 14732 respectively. These specific articles have been identified in both Standards and they are not consistent with requirements of EN ISO / IEC 17024 (full control over the certificate from the CB point of view). It is an article 9.3.c) in EN ISO 9606-1 and 5.3.c in EN ISO 14732.
It was later found that there was a variation across ABs and CBs in the way in which the specific requirements of EN ISO 9606-1, and specifically the parts of this standard that do not align with ISO/IEC 17024.
The CC was asked to consider how harmonisation can be achieved, across EA.
September 2020
Updated January 2022For this specific case, a Task Force Group including representation from the European Welding Federation, was convened to investigate and consider the issue. The consensus opinion of this group is reflected in the answer below, subsequent comments from EACC members have also been taken into account.
It is agreed that certain aspects of EN ISO 9606-1 do not align with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024, including EN 9606-1 clause 9.3c on Revalidation. The 3rd revalidation method as stated in EN ISO 9606-1 is based on continuing employment for the same employer and the measurement of ongoing competence documented by the manufacturer, and does not provide for 3rd party assessment of ongoing competence, as required by ISO/IEC 17024.
Upon investigation it was found that there are 2 methods by which Certification Bodies have dealt with this problem. In some cases, it is covered within the scheme rules that do not allow the third option clause 9.3c from EN ISO 9606-1, in other cases the actual scope of certification issued by the Accreditation Body includes an exception stating that this method cannot be used. As an example of the first method is, for purposes of European Regulation, Annex ZA of EN ISO 9606-1 that does not allow this method for Directive 2014/68/EU (PED).
It was agreed that EA needs to work with ISO and the EWF to harmonise the approach, in the meantime ABs should not allow certification of persons to be applied by accredited certification bodies in any case where the certification bodies do not demonstrate to the ABs compliance to all requirements of EN ISO 17024 . Either of the above methods of excluding this clause is acceptable as a method of dealing with this issue provided the Certification Bodies scope reflects that exclusion, any other method must be fully justified in terms of ensuring that the certified person continues to demonstrate the required practical and theoretical competences.
Where schemes are proposed that do not comply with ISO/IEC 17024 the NAB and/or CB concerned should feed this back to the scheme owner, requesting a change.