Conditions and Criteria for Recognition of Accreditation Bodies
for ENERGY STAR® Laboratory Recognition
In order to serve as an Accreditation Body (AB) for the ENERGY STAR Laboratory
Recognition Program, an AB shall agree in writing to the following requirements:
General Requirements:
1) Comply at all times with the conditions and criteria for recognition of accreditation bodies
for the ENERGY STAR Laboratory Recognition Program.
2) Operate its accreditation program in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011, “Conformityassessment: General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessmentbodies.”
3) Maintain its status as a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation(ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). Inform EPA, in writing, within 30 days ofany change in signatory status in the ILAC MRA.
4) Within the AB’s assessor training program, include training on the current requirements
described in the ENERGY STAR Laboratory Recognition Requirements. Assessors must betrained prior to performing assessments and continue to be provided new and refreshercourses. As per ISO/IEC 17011, training should be conducted as needed to ensure the AB
maintains a sufficient number of competent personnel given the work performed.
Reporting to EPA:
1) Submit an electronic copy of the quality management system documentation required inSection 5 of ISO/IEC 17011.
2) Participate in meetings with EPA as necessary as part of continual improvement efforts in theenhanced testing program. During these meetings, the AB will be expected to brief EPA staff
on the status of the program, common deficiencies, and issues related to accreditation oflaboratories. EPA and the AB will jointly determine whether the meeting should take placeby telephone or in-person.
3) Report to EPA within 30 days of any major changes that affect the AB’s:a) Legal, commercial, organizational, or ownership status;b) Organization and management, e.g., key managerial staff;c) Policies or procedures, where appropriate;d) Location;e) Personnel, facilities, working environment or other resources, where significant;f) Other such matters that may affect the AB's capability, scope of recognized activities, orcompliance with the ENERGY STAR requirements and relevant technical documents.
4) Forward any questions related to ENERGY STAR test procedures to EPA for resolution, andabide by the decisions of EPA relative to the resolution of those questions.
15) Upon request, provide EPA with electronic copies of laboratory accreditation informationincluding:a) Accreditation effective date;b) Accreditation expiration date (if applicable);c) ENERGY STAR-relevant accredited test methods; and,d) A list of qualified personnel per ENERGY STAR-relevant accredited test methods.
6) Notify EPA immediately in writing, and update the AB’s website to document any actionthat adversely affects the accreditation status of an EPA-recognized accredited laboratory.
7) Upon request, provide EPA with copies of laboratory assessment documentation related to
ENERGY STAR testing, including corrective action plans, and documentation of resolutionof deficiencies. Laboratories’ consent to this is a condition of their recognition by EPA.
Conducting Laboratory Assessments:
1) Assess laboratory operations for compliance with ENERGY STAR Laboratory Recognition
Requirements.
a) Upon a satisfactory outcome, attest to the technical competence of laboratories toperform tests required for ENERGY STAR qualification as outlined in the ENERGYSTAR Laboratory Recognition Requirements. This should include ensuring that the listof specific test methods for which the laboratory has been accredited is included within
the laboratory’s scope of accreditation.
b) Notify EPA of any observed test method interpretations that require clarification.
c) Assess documentation demonstrating the impartiality and freedom of laboratory
management and personnel from any undue internal or external commercial, financial orother pressures and influences that may adversely affect the quality of their work, asrequired by ISO/IEC 17025.
NOTE: It is EPA’s expectation that ABs will systematically monitor the impartiality oflaboratories on an ongoing basis. Document review, consistent with the requirements of
ISO/IEC 17025, shall include but may not be limited to the following:i) organization chart showing that the responsibilities, authorities, and interrelationships of all personnel who manage, perform or verify laboratory results arefree from influence that may adversely affect the quality of their work;ii) dates of internal audits, audit findings, and any corrective actions taken;iii) any customer complaints and corrective action taken;iv) original testing records containing sufficient information for repeatability, including
the names of staff who participated;v) evidence that laboratory employees participate in and regularly pass ethics andcompliance audits; and,vi) evidence that mechanisms for reporting and responding to attempts to exert undue
influence on test results are in place.
2) Conduct complete on-site assessments of each laboratory per the ILAC MRA and ISO/IEC
17011 requirements.
23) Verify that all assessment findings are resolved and corrective actions have been
implemented before granting accreditation to a laboratory.
4) Allow EPA, at its discretion, to witness any assessments performed for compliance with therequirements of the verification testing program. EPA agrees to jointly determine with theAB when such witnessing will occur so as not to disrupt the AB’s assessment schedule, andto operate solely as an observer and not participate in any way with the assessment activitiesof the AB and/or its assessors.
5) Publish and maintain on the AB’s website an up-to-date directory identifying all EPArecognized laboratories the AB has accredited. At a minimum, this directory must include thefollowing information:a) Laboratory name, address, and phone number;b) Laboratory point of contact;c) Accreditation effective date;d) Accreditation expiration date (as applicable); and,e) Scope of accreditation.
6) Maintain documentation relevant to the accreditation for at least five years.
7) Assume the responsibility of the laboratory accreditation decision itself; the AB cannot
delegate fully or partially the accreditation decision to another organization.

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