2020

“LVM zemes dzīles” Laboratory Carries out Accreditation Monitoring and Expansion of Its Scope

In October last year, the State Agency “Latvian National Accreditation Bureau” (LATAK) carried out monitoring of the mineral material testing and research procedures at LVM “LVM zemes dzīles” laboratory and the expansion of the accredited scope.

During the accreditation monitoring visit, both previously accredited methods and two testing methods added to the scope of accreditation were monitored. The new methods include the selection of filtration factor in accordance with “JSC “Latvian State Roads” Specifications 2019” and determination of form index.

“The accreditation process must include monitoring of the competence of the laboratory at least once a year. During the monitoring visit to “LVM zemes dzīles” laboratory, the laboratory quality management system was evaluated according to the LVS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard “Requirements for Testing and Calibration of Laboratory Competence”,” says LATAK Lead Assessor Dace Smiltiņa.

It was concluded that “LVM zemes dzīles” laboratory has fulfilled the requirements of Cabinet Regulation No. 1059 of 16 December 2008 “Regulation on the Evaluation, Accreditation and Supervision of Conformity Assessment Bodies”, and the standard LVS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 “General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories”.

Accreditation is a certification by a national accreditation body of the competence of the laboratory and its ability to perform specific conformity assessment activities. Accreditation is an independent assessment by a third party. Consequently, accreditation confirms that the laboratory is competent and capable to perform testing according to specific test methods. The scope of the accredited activity is defined in the appendix to the accreditation certificate of each conformity assessment body.

The aim of “LVM zemes dzīles” laboratory is to increase the competitiveness of the company in the field of subterranean depths, by testing not only mineral materials acquired at mineral extraction sites, but also the quality of building materials used at forest infrastructure construction sites. Accredited testing methods offered to the company's partners: