News
IAS Becomes Accreditation Body Member of IAF
Increases Global Acceptance of IAS Accredited Product Certification Agencies
International Accreditation Service (IAS) has been accepted as an accreditation body member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). IAS membership in the IAF will increase recognition and facilitate acceptance of IAS accredited product certification agencies’ reports in over 50 countries.
“In becoming a member of IAF, IAS is signaling a continuation of its on-going commitment to the highest standards of conformity assessment that meet the changing needs of the global marketplace,” said Chuck Ramani, President of IAS. “The value that IAF membership brings to the market is important for IAS and the organizations that we accredit. Increasingly regulatory agencies, specifiers, and manufacturers recognize the value of IAF membership as a key indicator of an accreditation body’s commitment to highest levels of professionalism and credibility," continued Ramani.
Membership in IAF reflects IAS's commitment to the further development and implementation of accreditation programs that meet the international standards and guides, which are endorsed by IAF. As part of membership, accreditation bodies must declare their intention to join the IAF Multilateral Recognition Agreement (MLA), recognizing the equivalence of other members' accreditations to their own.
Accreditation body membership of IAF is open to organizations that accredit certification programs for products, services, quality programs, environmental management systems, personnel, and other similar forms of conformity assessment.
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) is a nonprofit, full-service accreditation body and a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC). IAS accredits product certification agencies, building departments, third-party building department service providers, special inspection agencies, inspection programs for metal building manufacturers, fabricator inspection programs, testing and calibration laboratories, inspection agencies, training agencies, curriculum developers, and field evaluation bodies. IAS is signatory to several international mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs), which facilitates acceptance of its accreditation certificates around the world.
The International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel, and other similar programs. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment that reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited. IAF members accredit certification or registration bodies that issue certificates attesting that an organization's management, products, or personnel comply with a specified standard (called conformity assessment). More information concerning IAF can be found at http://www.iaf.nu/.
For more information about the IAS Product Certification Agency Accreditation Program, visit the IAS website at www.iasonline.org.
View Memorandum of Understanding.