Revision: 1.

0
Guide to conversion to ISO/IEC 17025:2017
Date: 24.01.2018
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Contents:

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
2 Specific information about the conversion ............................................................................. 2

2.1 Transition period and validity of accreditations to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ............................ 2

2.2 Scheduling of assessments for the conversion................................................................................ 2

2.3 Preparation of laboratories for the conversion............................................................................... 2

2.4 Assessment by DAkkS ...................................................................................................................... 3

2.5 Information about DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 .............................................................................. 3

3 Other applicable documents ................................................................................................. 3

1 Introduction

The publication of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 marks the beginning of the three-
year transition period for the conversion of all accreditations for testing and calibration laboratories
issued on the basis of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, including bodies accredited in the area of
sampling on the basis of this standard. The purpose of this document is to define the framework
conditions for the conversion of the standard, the preparation work for laboratories for the
assessment of the conversion of their accreditation, the equal treatment of bodies accredited by
DAkkS and the guarantee of timely conversion of accreditations issued by DAkkS on the basis of DIN
EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The definitions in this document apply to all bodies accredited on the basis
of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, to new applicants and to DAkkS staff and auditors.
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2 Specific information about the conversion

2.1 Transition period and validity of accreditations to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005

The period for conversion to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 1 began with the publication of the
international standard in November 2017 and ends on 30.11.2020. All accreditations issued on the
basis of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 lose their validity after 30.11.2020. During the transition period,
accreditations to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 are of equal value in all
respects.

2.2 Scheduling of assessments for the conversion

In the first half of 2018, DAkkS is making the preparations required to carry out assessments of the
conversion to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018. These assessments can be carried out from 01.07.2018.
An essential prerequisite for this is comprehensive training of DAkkS auditors in the contents of the
standard and its application in the accreditation procedure, as well as the adaptation of the
assessment documents.

Planned assessments scheduled for after 01.07.2018 can and should be used for the conversion to
the new standard. To guarantee timely issue of the certificate/certificate appendix, an assessment of
the conversion to the new standard must be carried out no later than 31.05.2020.

Depending on the assessment dates agreed or to be agreed and in consultation between the
laboratories and DAkkS, procedures for initial accreditation to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 for which
applications have already been submitted may be carried out on the basis of
DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 if the necessary conditions are met.

2.3 Preparation of laboratories for the conversion

An essential prerequisite for assessment of the conversion to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 is for the
laboratory to have studied the revised standard and the new requirements in depth and in advance,
and to have defined and implemented the resulting measures. In preparation for the assessment of
the conversion, the following steps must be carried out by the laboratory at a minimum:

 Preparation of a documented action plan for the implementation of the new standard on the
basis of a comparison of the new and old standards
 Implementation of the specified measures
 Training of employees in the new DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 standard and the resulting
adjustments in the laboratory’s management system

1
The German version of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is not yet available at the time of publication of this guide.
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 Submission of an application for the conversion of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to

DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018
 Submission of the completed new DAkkS checklist for DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 and up-to-
date documents to DAkkS

During the on-site assessment, the work carried out by the laboratory with respect to the conversion
and documentation of the implementation of internally defined measures will be reviewed, and the
fulfilment of all requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 must also be demonstrated.
DAkkS recommends that all laboratories conduct an in-depth study of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018
before applying for conversion.

2.4 Assessment by DAkkS

The conversion to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 is a change of accreditation and requires an

application from the laboratory before the assessment.
The minimum period for the assessment of the conversion is a one-day on-site assessment (8
hours). Depending on the size and complexity of the laboratory, a longer period may be specified by
DAkkS. If the conversion takes place as part of scheduled monitoring, the assessment period required
for the conversion will be added to the assessment period required for scheduled monitoring.
The assessment of the conversion is usually carried out by a system auditor on behalf of DAkkS.

2.5 Information about DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018

Information events relating to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 have already been offered by DIN in
collaboration with DAkkS, and there will be further events of this kind providing detailed information
about the new standard. In the course of 2018 and beyond, DAkkS itself will be offering information
events which will specifically address the questions of the concrete impact of the new standard on
the accreditation procedure for laboratories, whether and how DAkkS will flesh out requirements set
out in DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018, and the expectations placed on laboratories with regard to the
implementation of requirements.

3 Other applicable documents

Not used