TECHNICAL
39 specific NACE code is such that the stringent requirements defined in ISO / IEC 17065 can be demonstrated and maintained .
The Certification Body is required to implement , maintain and manage a quality management system in accordance with the requirements defined in ISO / IEC 17065:2012 Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products , processes and services and certify a manufacturer in accordance with the relevant requirements .
Once this process is completed and the Certification Body is confident all the requirements can be clearly demonstrated the SANAS assessment is performed .
SANAS Accreditation process
• The SANAS assessment team comprises ISO / IEC 17065 quality system auditors tasked to audit the Certification Body ’ s quality management system with additional technical experts being contracted to assess the auditor ’ s technical competency in the specific NACE sector accreditation is required .
• The SANAS assessment team requires a ‘ witness audit ’ to be performed together with the Product Certification Body auditor / s at a manufacturer ’ s facility . This process forms an integral part of the SANAS assessment process whereby the auditing techniques and technical competency of the Certification Body auditors are fully demonstrated and confirmed as being acceptable .
• Once non-conformances identified during the assessment have been effectively addressed and cleared by the assessment team , SANAS accreditation is granted to the Certification Body for that specific product standard .
SANAS Accreditation Certificate
• The SANAS Accreditation Certificate comprises two parts , one being the Certificate and the other a Scope of Accreditation detailed as an Annexure . It is critical that the SANAS Accreditation Certificate is read in conjunction with the Scope of Accreditation which defines the specific product specifications the Certification Body is accredited for .
• The Certification Body may display the SANAS LOGO on their Product Certificate issued to the certificate holder , provided the relevant product specification is included in the Scope of Accreditation defined in the SANAS Certificate .
• The Certification Body may certify a manufacturer to any other product standard that is not included in the SANAS Scope of Accreditation but may not include the SANAS LOGO on the certificate issued to the manufacturer .
• In the event Certification Bodies fail to maintain their SANAS Accreditation for specific product standards the SANAS Scope of Certification is re-issued with those product specifications being removed from the Scope of Accreditation . The Certification Body is then required to re-issue all affected Certificates to exclude the SANAS LOGO indicating an unaccredited product certification .
What end users need to understand is that all SANAS Accredited Certification Bodies are accredited to the exact same ISO / IEC 17065 requirements with specific product specifications defined in their scope of accreditation . In addition , SANAS Accredited Certification Bodies through their ISO / IEC 17065 accreditation status are recognized and accepted internationally .
No ISO / IEC 17065 Accredited Certification Body can be considered ‘ more ’ accredited or ‘ less ’ accredited than the other . End-users that specify SANAS Accreditation for a specific product standard in their purchase documentation should be more concerned if the manufacturer of that product is certified by a Certification Body that is SANAS Accredited for that specific product standard . Being a SANAS Accredited Certification Body does not infer that any Product Certificate issued to a manufacturer is SANAS Accredited .
If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact us at stearsa @ satas . co . za . PA
Detailed information can be accessed at : IAF signatories : SANAS : SANAS Accredited Certification Bodies : www . iaf . nu www . sanas . co . za www . sanas . co . za
January 2021 Volume 26 I Number 11 www . plumbingafrica . co . za