The DeutscheAkkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) was accredited as the national accreditation body of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2010 in accordance with the European standard EN ISO/IEC 17011. It is an independent institution, works in accordance with international standards as well as directives, and ensures the quality and expertise of test and calibration laboratories.
The standard specifies the principles according to which conformity assessment bodies perform their tasks and carry out their accreditations. It contains the structure and organization of the accreditation bodies including their independence, objectivity, responsibilities, and competencies. Criteria for the qualification and professional expertise of the personnel involved in the accreditation procedure are also addressed.
EN ISO/IEC 17011 ensures that the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies is based on internationally recognized principles and that tasks are performed consistently and reliably. Compliance with this standard ensures the trustworthiness and credibility of accreditation as an instrument for ensuring the quality as well as conformity of products, services, and systems.
The DAkkS accredits and monitors calibration laboratories as well as other test and monitoring facilities on the basis of defined criteria with regard to expertise, integrity, quality assurance, and independence. The requirements are standardized across all levels, so that the accreditation objectively documents the expertise of the audited organizations on a national and international level. This way, customers of accredited laboratories receive high-quality and internationally recognized test and calibration services.
The independence and integrity of the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle is subject to supervision by the shareholders' meeting, the accreditation committee, and the supervisory board. The partners include:
The supervisory board is made up of 3 members from each of the individual partners and comprises a total of 9 people.
The accreditation committee, which has around 230 members, decides on important issues such as accreditation guidelines and certain accreditation procedures. Its decision is decisive for the granting of an accreditation.
The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, ILAC for short, is an international organization that deals with the accreditation of laboratories and promotes the international recognition of test and calibration results. ILAC members are the national accreditation authorities of various countries that work together to develop international standards and procedures for laboratory accreditation, to strengthen the expertise of laboratories and to ensure high quality calibrations. The Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH is also a member of ILAC and, through its membership, undertakes to comply with the relevant standards and formal requirements.
To obtain DAkkS accreditation, an extensive application process with subject-specific annexes must be completed − this is a process that takes several months. After submission of the application, a thorough assessment and review is carried out by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle which includes an on-site inspection. If the laboratory meets all requirements, accreditation is granted by an accreditation committee.
After receiving accreditation, the accredited calibration laboratory is inspected at regular intervals to ensure that it meets the requirements according to DIN EN 17025. Consequently, a consistent quality of the offered services and a high level of technical expertise are guaranteed.
Each facility accredited by the DAkkS receives an individual identifier that serves as proof of successful accreditation. It is issued in the form of a registration number (e.g. D-K-15129-01-00) and uniquely identifies the accredited laboratory. This gives users the opportunity to check the accreditation to ensure that they are receiving services from a qualified and recognized laboratory.
The DAkkS offers a publicly accessible database in which accredited institutions for various areas are listed. This database enables companies and interested parties to find accredited laboratories in their area. You can search by type of conformity assessment, by location, and by certificate status.