Rule R-17011 published
After completion of the consultation process, the new rule “R-17011: Rule for application of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17011 for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies” (R-17011) came into force today and was published on the DAkkS website. This step is an important contribution to the establishment of the new system for the DAkkS body of rules.
Rule R-17011 fleshes out the requirements of the standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17011 at the necessary points. In addition to the legal requirements, this standard constitutes the basis for the accreditation activities carried out by DAkkS and is therefore at the “top” of the body of rules. Restructuring of the body of rules will continue with the compilation of the rules fleshing out the so-called level 3 standards (ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020, etc.), and where necessary sectoral rules for individual technical units based on these standards.
Understanding rule R-17011
Rule R-17011 makes no claim to being an “explanatory document”. Its content cannot be readily understood without a knowledge of the DIN EN ISO/IEC 17011 standard on which the document is based. The provisions of the rule are based on the text of the standard, which is neither repeated nor explained in rule document R-17011. The standard is a document protected by copyright that is available for purchase from the publisher Beuth-Verlag.
An explanation of the approach behind the body of rules and further information about the accreditation process can be found on the DAkkS website at:
EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE BODY OF RULES
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The “Information sheet on the accreditation procedure” (M-17011) also provides detailed information on the accreditation procedure. In the next step, the information sheet will be adapted in light of the rule that has now been published and a number of explanatory notes will be added.
What changes as a result of rule R-17011?
The workflow for cases of accreditation and the policies, procedures and processes in place at DAkkS remain unchanged by the new rule R-17011. The rule contains no requirements that do not already apply, instead simply fleshing out existing requirements and where necessary interpreting terms in the standard that are vague or indeterminate.
The previous fundamental DAkkS document, 71 SD 0 001 (“General rules for accreditation of conformity assessment bodies”), which combined the features of both information sheet and rule, is no longer effective. It will however be available on the DAkkS website until further notice, as it is still being appraised by the Accreditation Advisory Board and is published in the Federal Gazette.
