Laboratory accreditation

Environmental & renewable energy

UKAS accredits a large number of laboratories that carry out environmental testing services to the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025.
Accreditation assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

UKAS accredits the following areas of environmental testing:

• Radiochemistry & Radiological
• Asbestos sampling & analysis
• Soil sampling & chemistry analysis (contaminated land)
• Water Drinking Water, Waste Water, Effluents, Leachates
• Water & Environmental Ecotoxicology
• Occupational Hygiene
• Stack Emissions, Atmospheric Pollutants – Sampling & analysis
• Landfill Gas – Sampling & analysis
• Gases
• Surface Chemistry Analysis
• Sensory analysis
• Paints, Coatings and General
• Drugs of abuse

Renewable Energy

UKAS accredits laboratory testing of environmental performance and environmental efficiency. Laboratory testing is used to identify the performance of devices used in the harnessing and monitoring of both traditional and renewable energies. Laboratory testing is also fundamental to the proving of new technologies such as tidal and wind (or solar) energy.

Related links

• MCERTS (Environment Agency)
• DWI (Sampling, testing and transporting water supplies)
• Measurement Assurance and Certification Scotland scheme (MACS).