develop consensus standards for use by TNI's programs. This group has a support role in assisting other programs with activities such as guidance and standards interpretation.
fosters the generation of data of known and documented quality is through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, or NELAP. The purpose of this program is to establish and implement a program for the accreditation of environmental laboratories.
is to establish and maintain a national PT program to support TNI’s National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, and other activities.
Field Activities Program (NEFAP) Executive Committee is to establish and implement an accreditation program for field sampling and measurement organizations (FSMOs).
Audit Sample Program is to develop consensus standards for the manufacture and analysis of audit samples for source emission testing.
on a variety of topics of interest to the environmental measurement community. TNI also hosts two regularly scheduled meetings per year, typically in January and August. Both are a week long and involve open meetings of TNI committees as well as training courses and other special sessions.Standard Interpretation
Standard: 2003 NELAC
Section: 5.5.2.6.c.3, 5.5.4.2.2.d, Chapter 5 Appendix C.1, Chapter 5
Appendix C.2
Link to relevant standard
REQUEST:
A laboratory accredited by our program asserts that the form in NELAC Chapter 5 Appendix C.2 is needed only for documentation initial demonstrations of capability and not continuing demonstrations of capability. It cites the language from NELAC 5.5.4.2.2.d "in all cases, the appropriate forms such as the Certification Statement" and from NELAC Chapter 5 Appendix C.1 "It is the responsibility of the laboratory to document that other approaches to DOC are adequate." Other language in the same appendix prescribes the use of the form, for example C.1 "All demonstrations shall be documented through the use of the form in this appendix" and C.2 "The following certification statement shall be used to document the completion of each demonstration of capability."
I am requesting an interpretation to resolve the question, is the Chapter 5 Appendix C Certification Statement required for documentation of continuing demonstrations of capablity? Thank you for your assistance.
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
C.2 of Appendix C states that "The following certification statement shall be used to document the completion of each demonstration of capability"
This statement refers only to the demonstration of capability, not continuing demonstrations of capability. The laboratory may choose to use the form to document continuing demonstrations, but it is not required.