The NATA accreditation of Duratec’s in-house lab reinforces the reliability of its operations, and the validity and accuracy of the results it generates.
Offering a comprehensive range of chemical and petrographic testing on concrete, aggregate and other building materials, Duratec’s in-house laboratory plays an important role in the company’s durability engineering service. It ensures the root causes of deterioration can be uncovered quickly and addressed in a timely, cost-effective manner.
The lab’s recent NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accreditation to ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 17025 means clients can rest assured their assets are in good hands and undergoing services within a verified quality system. Agreed upon by experts, International Standards can be thought of as a formula to achieve best practice.
ISO 17025 enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world.
Obtaining the accreditation was a lengthy and painstaking process undertaken by Duratec’s laboratory manager Daniel Cukierski. It involved the development of a new quality management system (QMS) to comply directly with each of the clauses and benchmarks attributed to ISO 17025.
After creating a manual for the QMS, a NATA representative looked over the draft and recommended minor
amendments. Proficiency testing was then carried out, followed by an audit. Some weeks later, Dan received notice that the lab had been accredited to ISO 17025.
The lab’s accredited scope consists of three types of evaluation of geotechnical and civil construction material, i.e.
- Aggregate petrographic examination
- Concrete petrographic examination
- Concrete, grout and mortar chemical tests
The lab will continually assess testing services to add to its ever-growing scope.
