Glossary · definition
ISO/IEC 17025
The international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It covers impartiality, personnel, equipment, metrological traceability, methods, uncertainty, reporting and management-system requirements.
See also:Metrological traceabilityCMC (Calibration and Measurement Capability)UKAS
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Articles on ISO/IEC 17025
ISO/IEC 17025 calibration explained
What accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 does and does not tell you about a calibration.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 structure: what each clause covers
The 2017 edition is organised into general, structural, resource, process and management-system requirements. Knowing the map makes the standard far easier to use.
Impartiality and confidentiality under ISO/IEC 17025
The 2017 edition made impartiality a first-class requirement: laboratories must identify risks to it on an ongoing basis and show how they are managed.
Personnel competence records under ISO/IEC 17025
Competence must be defined, achieved, authorised and monitored — with records for each step, for every activity that affects results.
Equipment requirements in ISO/IEC 17025 (clause 6.4)
Equipment must be fit for purpose, calibrated where it affects results, checked, protected from adjustment, and fully recorded — including software.
Metrological traceability in ISO/IEC 17025 (clause 6.5)
Results must be traceable to the SI through calibration by a competent laboratory, certified values of certified reference materials, or direct realisation of SI units.