Accreditation · ISO/IEC 17020
ISO/IEC 17020 — UKAS Accreditation for Inspection Bodies
UKAS accreditation to 17020 is what separates a competent surveying body from a self-declared one. It is audited annually, requires documented independence and impartiality, and is the mark HSE inspectors look for on a report cover.
International Organization for Standardization / UKAS · ISO/IEC 17020:2012 · Status: Current
Scope
What it covers.
Structural independence, impartiality safeguards, competence management for surveyors, method validation, sample chain of custody, reporting standards, complaint and appeal procedures, and annual UKAS assessment.
Who it applies to
- Every asbestos surveying body claiming accredited status
- Buyers of survey services verifying supplier competence
- Enforcing authorities auditing report quality
Key provisions
The duties, provision by provision.
Defines Type A, B and C inspection bodies
Type A is fully independent of the client and any interested party. Type B is part of a client organisation but with an independence firewall. Type C has fewer independence requirements. Only Type A gives the highest level of impartiality — the level most clients need for defensible surveys.
Requires documented competence per inspector
Every inspector must be individually assessed against the accreditation schedule; competence records are auditable and updated annually.
Requires documented methodology
The inspection body must document how it applies HSG264, sample density, presumed-material logic and reporting — with any deviation from the standard method justified in writing.
Requires an accessible complaint route
Every client must have a route to complain about a survey outcome, with UKAS visibility of the outcome.
In practice
How we apply it.
- Elements Surveying Group is a UKAS 17020 accredited Type A inspection body — no removal arm, no referral fees, no conflict of interest.
- Our accreditation schedule and complaint procedure are publicly available on request.
FAQs
Common follow-up questions.
Can I trust a survey from a non-accredited firm?
You can rely on it only if you can independently verify surveyor competence, method control and impartiality. UKAS accreditation packages all three into one audited framework.
Do I need to see the accreditation certificate?
Yes. The certificate identifies the accredited scope — some bodies are accredited for surveying but not for testing (17025), or vice versa. Always match the scope to the work you are commissioning.
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