Cylinder Testing Changes
SITA/IDEST is pleased to announce that Accreditation has been granted by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Accreditation has been granted to ISO 17024 to provide certification of persons. Up to 1st July 2006, testing standards required that the work be carried out by a competent person.
From 2nd July 2006, the Department for Transport (which now has taken over responsibility from HSE) has announced that the competent person requirement has been replaced by persons subject to a third party conformity assessment.
This means that Test Houses will have to have their facilities and/or operatives assessed by an assessment/accreditation body. Only one accreditation body, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is recognised by DfT.
Almost 21 years ago, the diving trade body and BSAC were of the opinion that there should be some means of accrediting those Test Houses that were found to be working to the required standards and the Inspectorate for Diving Equipment Servicing and Testing (IDEST) was born. IDEST carries out independent inspections and assessments of cylinder Test Houses and those meeting the standards receive IDEST approval and a unique cylinder stamp. In recent years this activity has been overseen by the Scuba Industries Trades Association (SITA).
To meet IDEST criteria, a Test House must employ appropriately trained staff, have appropriate, regularly maintained equipment, work to an approved code of practice (SITA/IDEST use the Code of Practice 2 of the Association of Scuba Engineers and Technicians (ASSET CP 2), have adequate written procedures, appropriate British Standards and keep full records.
In order to meet DfT and UKAS requirements IDEST has changed from approving premises to also approving people (Cylinder Test Technicians).
Consequently SITA/IDEST made an application to HSE and to UKAS for assessment under BS EN ISO/IEC 17024:2003 “ Conformity assessment “ General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons.
Now that accreditation has been granted, SITA/IDEST approved Cylinder Test Technicians will be UKAS approved. SITA/IDEST Approved Test Houses MUST use only IDEST/UKAS Approved Cylinder Test Technicians.
Page last modified: 15th Jan 2007 - 16:45:56