Certification of a company which Supplies Gases

[mjones2]

Hi there,

Is it typical to have your vendors who supply Equipment Gases to be 17025 Certified or is ISO 9001 sufficient?

We have Leco, OES and XRF that use various gases supplied by ISO 9001 certified vendor. Do they need to be 17025?

Thanks so much

 

[AndyN]

ISO/IEC 17025 isn't applicable for gas suppliers. It's for LABS which either test or calibrate. Since the gas is a product, ISO 9001 is appropriate. The gas producer may have a LAB accredited which is testing the gas for some reason, of course.

 

[Hanr3]

The answer depends on the use of the gas.

IF the gas is part of your 17025 accredited test result (MUA chain), or part of calibration for instrumentation that is a 17025 accreditation (MUA chain), then yes it must be accredited to ISO 17025.

ISO 9001 certified gas is sufficient for safety monitors that are not part of your test/calibration process, and is sufficient for any testing/calibration that is not part of your ISO 17025 accreditation.

Yes, we have ISO 17025 accredited gas we use in our testing process.

 

[mjones2]

Hi- Thanks for your reply but I am not familiar with the term MUA Chain. Can you tell me what MUA stands for?

Thanks,

 

[AndyN]

Yes, we have ISO 17025 accredited gas we use in our testing process.

There is no such thing.

 

[Ajit Basrur]

The answer depends on the use of the gas.

IF the gas is part of your 17025 accredited test result (MUA chain), or part of calibration for instrumentation that is a 17025 accreditation (MUA chain), then yes it must be accredited to ISO 17025.

ISO 9001 certified gas is sufficient for safety monitors that are not part of your test/calibration process, and is sufficient for any testing/calibration that is not part of your ISO 17025 accreditation.

Yes, we have ISO 17025 accredited gas we use in our testing process.

As highlighted by Andy, the "gas" can not be "accreditated" but the gas laboratory could be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, where both the testing and calibration of gas mixtures are performed.

Thus the gas supplier may be testing the "gas" in an accreditated laboratory.

 

[Hanr3]

Hi- Thanks for your reply but I am not familiar with the term MUA Chain. Can you tell me what MUA stands for?

Thanks,

Measurement uncertainty analysis or referred to in the standard as estimation of uncertainty of measurement.

 

[Hanr3]

Regardless, the point is still the same. Depends on the use of the gas. If you need accredited gas, you need accredited gas... Just like you need an accredited cal. Call it what you will.

 

[AndyN]

Regardless, the point is still the same. Depends on the use of the gas. If you need accredited gas, you need accredited gas... Just like you need an accredited cal. Call it what you will.

Incorrect use of terminology is what causes misunderstanding. Quality professionals should be precise and accurate with their terminology otherwise we cause confusion. There is no such thing as an "accredited gas". The lab which performs the calibration/test is accredited.

 

[Hanr3]

Is it not an accredited calibration?

What would you call accredited gas?