Accreditation of the 'ACTIVA-N' and 'IRM' laboratories

Full text: The 'ACTIVA-N' Laboratory (DFNA) - involved in applications of the gamma-ray spectrometry and INAA techniques, and the Ionising Radiation Metrology (IRM) from IFIN-HH have elaborated and implemented the whole Quality Management System (QMS) required by the national and international standards, based on two projects approved in the frame of the National Programme for Research-Development and Innovation 'INFRAS'. At present, the two (analytical and metrological) laboratories are in the final stage of preparation for getting Accreditation, after two steps of assessment Audit performed during this year by the IAEA Expert Dr. Michael Woods - President of the International Committee of Ionising Radiation Metrology and Counsellor (Emeritus NPL Fellow) of the Ionising Radiation from National Physical Laboratory - UK. The accreditation will be afforded by RENAR - the Accreditation Association acknowledged by the Romanian Government as the National Accreditation Body. RENAR has been already performed the pre-assessment Audit of the two laboratories, following that, after some modifications to be operated into the QMS documentation requested by the Audit team, the Accreditation Certificates to be approved by the National Accreditation Council. The accreditation of the 'ACTIVA-N' and IRM Laboratories according to the international Standards' requirements available in EU by RENAR - who is a member of the European Association of Accreditation (EA), is a performance, not only for IFIN-HH, but at the national level in the nuclear field. For this reasons, the Ministry of Research and Education awarded the two Laboratories for their results, within the frame of the 'CONRO' National Exhibition (september 2003), the certificate of Excellency - prize III. The Accreditation Certificates awarded by RENAR will be acknowledged in the whole EU area, thus opening a large area for applications and services, including countries from Central Europe and the third world. (author)