National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 2002

516 Pages·2002·33.5 MB·English

by  White, Vanda R.

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NIST Special Publication 810, 2002 Edition
National
Voluntary
Laboratory
Accreditation
Program
Directory of
Accredited Laboratories
Vanda R. White, Editor
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
Office of Standards Services
Technology Services
March 2002
Supersedes NIST SP 810, 2001 Edition
U.S. Department of Commerce
Donald L. Evans, Secretary
Technology Administration
Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Special Publication 810
Supersedes SP 810, 2001 edition
497 pages (March 2002)
CODEN: NSPUE2
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 2002
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, DC 20402-9325
NVLAP AND THE NVLAP LOGO
The term NVLAP (represented by the NVLAP logo)
is a federally registered certification mark of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology and
the federal government, who retain exclusive rights
to control the use thereof. Permission to use the term
and/or logo is granted to NVLAP-accredited
laboratories for the limited purposes of announcing
their accredited status, and for use on reports that
describe only testing and calibration within the scope
of accreditation. NIST reserves the right to control
the quality of the use of the term NVLAP and of the
logo itself
FOREWORD
The 2002 edition of NiST Special Publication 810, NVLAP Directory of Accredited Laboratories, lists
laboratories that have been found competent by NVLAP to perform specific tests or calibrations, or types
of tests or calibrations. Laboratory accreditation provides formal recognition to competent laboratories, thus
providing a ready means for customers to find reliable testing and calibration services able to meet their
needs. NVLAP-accredited laboratories have the technical foundation needed to meet the requirements of
public and private sector regulators, manufacturers, and buyers. They find ready acceptance of their test
reports and calibration certificates by both domestic and foreign accrediting bodies that have Mutual
Recognition Arrangements with NVLAP.
A description of the NVLAP program is found on pages 1 through 5 of this directory, followed by a
summary of the number of current accreditations for each field of testing or calibration. Pages 7 and 8
contain instructions on how to use the directory and describe its organizational structure and content.
The 2002 edition supersedes and replaces the 2001 edition of NIST Special Publication 810.
Potential customers of the laboratories listed m this directory should verify that a laboratory has retained its
accreditation at the time its services are to be provided. Current information on the accreditation status of
a laboratory can be obtained by contacting NVLAP as follows:
(1) Mailing address: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
National Institute of Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2140
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140
(2) Phone: [phone]
(3) Fax: [phone]
(4) E-mail: [email protected]
(5) Web site: http://www.nist.gov/nvlap (updated quarterly).
hi

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD iii
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1
LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SUMMARY 6
HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY 7
INDEX A. LISTING BY LABORATORY NAME Al
INDEX B. LISTING BY FIELD OF ACCREDITATION Bl
CALIBRATION LABORATORIES GROUP B3
Dimensional B3
Electromagnetics - D C/Low Frequency B3
Electromagnetics - R F/Microwave B4
Ionizing Radiation B4
Mechanical B4
Optical Radiation B5
Thermodynamic B5
Time and Frequency B5
CHEMICAL CALIBRATION GROUP B6
NIST Traceable Reference Materials B6
Providers of Proficiency Testing B6
DOSIMETRY GROUP B6
Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry B6
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP B7
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP B12
Asbestos Fiber Analysis (PLM Test Method) B12
Asbestos Fiber Analysis (TEM Test Method) B17
FASTENERS AND METALS GROUP B19
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY TESTING GROUP B20
Common Criteria Testing B20
Cryptographic Module Testing B20
PRODUCT TESTING GROUP B20
Acoustical Testmg Services B20
Carpet and Carpet Cushion B21
Commercial Products Testing B2 1
Construction Materials Testing B2 1
Efficiency of Electric Motors B22
Energy Efficient Lighting Products B22
Thermal Insulation Materials B22
Wood Based Products B23
INDEX C. LISTING BY STATE/COUNTRY CI
INDEX D. LISTING OF TESTING LABORATORIES BY NVLAP LAB CODE Dl
INDEX E. LISTING OF CALIBRATION LABORATORIES BY NVLAP LAB CODE El
INDEX F. LISTING OF CHEMICAL CALIBRATION LABORATORIES BY NVLAP LAB CODE Fl
V

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the National Voluntary Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NVLAP). NVLAP is comprised of a series of laboratory accreditation programs
(LAPs) which are established on the basis of requests and demonstrated need. Each LAP includes specific
calibration and/or test standards and related methods and protocols assembled to satisfy the unique needs
for accreditation in a field of testing or calibration. NVLAP accredits public and private laboratories based
on evaluation of their technical qualifications and competence to carry out specific tests or calibrations.
Accreditation criteria are published in NIST Handbook 150:2001, NVLAP Procedures and General
Requirements, and encompass the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and the relevant requirements of
ISO 9002:1994. Accreditation is granted following successful completion of a process that includes
submission of an application and payment of fees by the laboratory, an on-site assessment, resolution of any
deficiencies identified during the on-site assessment, participation in proficiency testing, and technical
evaluation. The accreditation is formalized through issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation and Scope of
Accreditation (fig. 1) and publicized by announcement in various government and private media.
NVLAP accreditation is available to commercial laboratories; manufacturers' in-house laboratories;
university laboratories; and federal, state, and local government laboratories. Foreign-based laboratories
may also be accredited if t hey meet the same requirements as domestic laboratories and pay any additional
fees required for travel expenses.
NVLAP provides an unbiased third party evaluation and recognition of performance, as well as expert
technical guidance to upgrade laboratory performance. NVLAP accreditation signifies that a laboratory has
demonstrated that it operates in accordance with NVLAP management and technical requirements for
accreditation, which include requirements in the areas of quality systems, personnel, accommodation and
environmental conditions, test and calibration methods and method validation, equipment, measurement
traceability, sampling, handling of test and calibration items, assuring the quality of test and calibration
results, and reporting results. NVLAP accreditation does not imply any guarantee (certification) of
laboratory performance or test/calibration data; it i s solely a finding of laboratory competence. A laboratory
may cite its accredited status and use the NVLAP logo on reports, stationery, and in business and trade
publications provided that this use does not imply product certification.
This directory of laboratories is published annually and lists the name, address, contact person, phone and
fax numbers, e-mail and URL addresses (if a vailable), accreditation renewal date, and scope of accreditation
for each laboratory. An updated listing of laboratories is published quarterly on NVLAP's web site:
http://www.nist.gov/nvlap.
Accreditation Renewal Date
A laboratory accreditation is valid for one year and commences on one of four dates: January 1, A pril 1,
July 1, o r October 1. An accreditation will expire after one year unless renewed by the laboratory. Users
of this directory who are considering selection of accredited laboratories should be aware of the renewal date
and verify that the laboratory has retained its accreditation at the time its services are to be provided.
1
On-Site Assessment
Before initial accreditation, an on-site assessment of each laboratory is conducted to determine compliance
with the NVLAP criteria. After accreditation is granted, an on-site assessment must be conducted during
the first renewal year and every two years thereafter in order for the laboratory to maintain accreditation.
An assessment is conducted by one or more NVLAP assessors selected on the basis of their expertise in the
field of testing or calibration to be reviewed. They may be engineers or scientists currently active in the
field, consultants, college professors or retired persons. Their services are generally contracted as required.
For most programs, assessors use checklists provided by NVLAP so that each laboratory receives an
assessment comparable to that received by others. However, assessors have some latitude to make
judgments about a laboratory's compliance with the NVLAP criteria.
An assessment normally takes one to five days depending on the extent of the laboratory's application. Every
effort is made to conduct an assessment with as little disruption as possible to the normal operations of the
laboratory. During the assessment, the assessor carries out the following functions:
- meets with management and supervisory personnel responsible for the laboratory's activities to review
the assessment process and to set the assessment agenda;
- examines the laboratory's quality system, selects and traces the history of one or more samples from
receipt to final issuance of reports, evaluates the training program, examines notebooks or records
pertaining to the samples, checks sample identification and tracking procedures, determines whether
the appropriate environmental conditions are maintained, and examines copies of completed reports;
- reviews records of internal audits and management reviews, use of check samples or participation in
round-robin testing or other similar programs, personnel records including resumes and job descriptions
of key personnel, competency evaluations for all staff members who routinely perform the testing or
calibration for which accreditation is sought, calibration or verification records for apparatus used,
reports, and sample control records;
- observes demonstrations of laboratory techniques and discusses them with the technical personnel to
assure their understanding of the procedures; and
- examines major equipment, apparatus, and facilities.
At the conclusion of the assessment, the assessor will conduct an exit briefing with responsible laboratory
staff to discuss observations and any deficiencies. The assessor will forward a written assessment report to
NVLAP and leave a copy with the laboratory.
If the on-site assessment reveals deficiencies that pertain to NVLAP requirements, the laboratory must
respond in writing to NVLAP within 30 days of the date of the report. The response must provide
documentation, signed by the Authorized Representative, that the specified deficiencies have either been
corrected or include a plan of corrective actions.
2