This document discusses using the ISO 17020 approach for greenhouse gas inventory quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). Key points include: - ISO 17020 provides general criteria for inspection bodies and includes requirements for independence, competence, and quality systems. - Accreditation involves a third party evaluation to verify an inspection body's competence, while certification verifies an organization's quality management system meets ISO 9001. - Start-up QA/QC procedures involve validating methods, setting up documentation, and initial audits. - Maintenance includes regular quality control checks by inventory preparers and quality assurance reviews by independent personnel. - Implementing the full system requires around 2.5 person-years initially and then 10-

1. 12.04.2005 | Folie 1

2. 12.04.2005 | Folie 2
ISO 17020 approach to GHG-inventory QA/QC
UNFCCC Workshop on National Systems
11-12 April 2005, Bonn
Doris Halper

3. 12.04.2005 | Folie 3
 features of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

4. 12.04.2005 | Folie 4
 features of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

5. 12.04.2005 | Folie 5
features of the approach taken

6. 12.04.2005 | Folie 6
features of the approach taken
17000-series: conformity assessment
ISO 17020 supersedes EN 45004, no modifications in text
Accreditation Body
ISO 17011
Laboratories
ISO 17025
Inspection bodies
ISO 17020
Certification
Personnel
ISO 17024
Management Systems
ISO 17021
Products
EN 45011

7. 12.04.2005 | Folie 7
features of the approach taken

8. 12.04.2005 | Folie 8
features of the approach taken
ISO 17020
Title: “General Criteria for the operation of
various types of bodies performing
inspection”
in addition to ISO 9001 relevant requirements are:
 evaluation of technical competence
 independence, impartiality and integrity
 confidentiality, co-operation
ISO 9001 is specific to quality management systems
relevant requirements of the EN/ISO 9000 series of standards applying to the quality systems for inspection bodies are incorporated in ISO 17020
Inspection
Examination of a product design, product, service, process or plant and determination of their conformity with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional judgement, general
requirements (ISO 17020)

9. 12.04.2005 | Folie 9
ISO 17020 – IPCC-GPG – ISO 9001
ISO 17020 IPCC GPG ISO 9001
1. scope
  
2. definitions
  
3. administrative
requirements
  
4. independence,
impartiality and
integrity
 - -
5. confidentiality
 - -
6. organisation and
management
  
7. quality system
  

10. 12.04.2005 | Folie 10
ISO 17020 – IPCC-GPG – ISO 9001
ISO 17020 IPCC GPG ISO 9001
8. personnel
 () 
9. facilites and
equipment   
10. inspection
methods and
procedures
 () ()
11. handling
inspection samples
and items
  
12. records
  

11. 12.04.2005 | Folie 11
ISO 17020 – IPCC-GPG – ISO 9001
ISO 17020 IPCC GPG ISO 9001
13. reports
  
14. sub-contracting
  
15. complaints and
appeals   
16. co-operation
 - -
continual
improvement
-
 

12. 12.04.2005 | Folie 12
 features of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

13. 12.04.2005 | Folie 13
Definitions: accreditation/certification
accreditation certification
by (government appointed)
accreditation body
by (accredited) certification
body
ISO 17020 ISO 9001
3rd party attestation
competence to carry out
specific conformity
assessment tasks
relevant ISO 9001
requirements are included
in 17020
3rd party attestation
quality managements
system in conformity with
ISO 9001

14. 12.04.2005 | Folie 14
Definitions: accreditation/certification
accreditation
evaluation of technical competence (≠ ISO 9001)
“Accreditation is a 3rd party attestation related to a
conformity assessment body conveying formal
demonstration of its competence to carry out specific
conformity assessment tasks” (ISO IEC 17011)
3rd party periodic review that inspection body still
complies with all requirements as stipulated by ISO
17020

15. 12.04.2005 | Folie 15
Independence, impartiality and integrity
The personnel of the inspection body shall be free from
any commercial, financial and other pressures which
might affect their judgement.
Procedures shall be implemented to ensure that persons
or organisations external to the inspection body
cannot influence the results of inspections carried
out
Definitions: accreditation/certification

16. 12.04.2005 | Folie 16
accreditation audit in autumn 2005
witness audit by 2 auditors (experts):
Definitions: accreditation/certification
quality management system
-ISO 17020
-EA 05/01 Dec 2003 rev 3
inventory
-country specific methods
-LULUCF-GPG (2003)
-IPCC-GPG (2000)
-IPCC rev. guidelines (1996)
- CORINAIR
-UNFCCC guidelines on reporting and
review (FCCC/CP/2002/8)
-CRF tables for LULUCF
(FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add. 1)

17. 12.04.2005 | Folie 17
elements of ISO 17020
 Administrative requirements (organisation legally
identifiable)
 Independence, impartiality and integrity
 Organisation and management (clearly defined
responsibilities, training of staff)
 Quality system (QC/QA procedures, reporting,
documentation, achieving, internal and external audits,
improvement plan, management review)
 Personnel (recruitment, CPD)
 Methods (choice, applicability)
 Records (backup)
 Confidentiality, Facilities and equipment, Reports, Sub-
contracting, Complaints, Co-operation

18. 12.04.2005 | Folie 18
 feature of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

19. 12.04.2005 | Folie 19
 validation of methods (choice, applicability)
 data management
 setting up: documentation, reporting,
archiving
 organisational arrangements
- personnel (recruitment, CPD)
- defined responsibilities
- management review, audits
start-up QA/QC procedures

20. 12.04.2005 | Folie 20
start-up QA/QC procedures
standard methods
(CORINAIR/IPCC)
country specific methods
documented evidence of
correct application
validation by
publication (peer-reviewed)
(other) peer review
in-depth review (UNFCCC)
comparison with other
methods/IPCC methods/EF
initial documentation, reporting, archiving
audit trail

21. 12.04.2005 | Folie 21
 features of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

22. 12.04.2005 | Folie 22
QA/QC maintenance procedures
QC
(personnel directly involved in inventory preparation)
 documentation, reporting, achieving
 Tier 1 and Tier 2 QC checks
QA
(personnel not directly involved in inventory preparation)
 internal review of CRF, NIR

23. 12.04.2005 | Folie 23
 features of the approach taken
 accreditation/certification
 start-up QA/QC procedures
 QA/QC maintenance procedures
 human resources needed

24. 12.04.2005 | Folie 24
human resources needed
Implementation: 2,5 person-years
Maintenance: approx. 10-15% in addition to
inventory work

25. 12.04.2005 | Folie 25
Useful Links
EA: european co-operation for accreditation
http://www.european-
accreditation.org/indexdoc.html
EA-05/01: EA Guidance on the Application of EN
45004 (EA site)

26. 12.04.2005 | Folie 26
Do you have
any questions?
Doris Halper
Umweltbundesamt
Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090 Wien
Tel.: +43 (0)1-31304-5502
Fax: +43 (0)1-31304-5959
email: doris.halper@umweltbundesamt.at