Laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Entity (ENAC) are essential to guarantee quality, safety and reliability.
In this FAQ section, you will find key information about what accreditation is, how to identify an accredited laboratory, what its benefits are, and how it impacts the quality of services offered.
What does it mean to be accredited by ENAC?
Why does the ILAC logo appear next to the ENAC accreditation?
ILAC means International Laboratory Accreditation CooperationIt is an international organization that brings together laboratory accreditation entities and inspection bodies from around the world.
Its purpose is to promote international cooperation and the harmonization of standards and procedures in the field of conformity assessment, promoting the mutual recognition of certificates and results issued by accredited laboratories and bodies.
When the ENAC logo includes a reference to ILAC, it is generally indicating that:
- International recognition: Certificates or reports issued under ENAC accreditation are internationally recognized thanks to ILAC multilateral agreements.
- Global trust: Clients and authorities in other countries trust that accredited services meet international standards.
In short, the presence of “ILAC” reinforces the validity and global acceptance of the accreditation granted by ENAC.
What are the advantages of hiring accredited laboratories?
ENAC accreditation not only certifies the technical competence of laboratories, but also provides a series of key advantages for organizations and end users.
1. Security in products and services
Accreditation guarantees that the products and services evaluated comply with the most rigorous technical regulations and quality standards. This translates into greater protection for consumers and end users, since:
- Testing and certification are carried out by technically competent experts and teams.
- The risks associated with defective, dangerous or non-conforming products are significantly reduced.
- Companies demonstrate their commitment to safety and quality, increasing market confidence.
2. Cost savings by reducing redundant testing
ENAC accreditation allows for mutual recognition of test results and certifications at national and international level. This eliminates the need for duplicate testing to comply with regulations in different regions or countries, which means:
- Lower operating cost: Unnecessary expenses in repeated tests are avoided.
- Reduction of times: Export processes and entry into new markets are streamlined.
- Resource optimization: Accredited results are valid in multiple jurisdictions.
3. Operational efficiency thanks to periodic audits
Periodic audits carried out by ENAC encourage continuous improvement in the processes of accredited organisations. This involves:
- Uniform standards: Guarantee that internal procedures comply with international regulations.
- Proactive detection of improvements: Audits help identify areas of optimization in the operation.
- Maintaining quality: Constant reviews ensure that the services offered remain at the level expected by clients and authorities.
4. Markets: Accreditation recognized in more than 100 countries
ENAC is part of international agreements such as those of ILAC and EA, which ensures the recognition of reports, certificates and results in more than 100 countries. This facilitates:
- International expansion: Companies can operate in foreign markets with globally accepted ENAC accredited reports.
- Reduction of trade barriers: Fewer regulatory hurdles when demonstrating compliance with standards recognized in other countries.
- Global competitivenessAccredited organizations have an advantage in demonstrating the validity of their products or services beyond their borders.
5. Prestige: Reliability in products and services
A certificate or report endorsed by ENAC represents a seal of trust, which strengthens the reputation of accredited organisations. This implies:
- Differentiation in the market: Customers perceive reputable companies as more reliable and professional.
- Greater customer loyalty: Confidence in technical quality generates long-lasting business relationships.
- Brand value: Associating services with international standards increases corporate prestige.
6. Legal security: International recognition
ENAC accreditation provides legal and regulatory support, ensuring that the results issued by accredited bodies are recognized by regulatory authorities at national and international level. This allows:
- Normative compliance: Facilitates compliance with local and international laws.
- Reducing legal risks: Reduces exposure to disputes related to testing or certifications.
- Official validity: The documents issued have legal acceptance, especially in the European Union and countries with multilateral agreements.
7. Access to public purchases
In many cases, public tenders and purchases require that services, tests or certifications come from accredited bodies. ENAC accreditation facilitates:
- Compliance with requirements: Direct access to contracts that require accreditation as a condition.
- Competitive advantage: Accredited companies can participate in a greater number of tenders.
- Transparency and trust: Accredited results are accepted without question, streamlining the award process.
What does ENAC accreditation specifically certify?
It guarantees that it complies with a series of essential technical and operational requirements that ensure the accuracy, reliability and traceability of the results.
1. Competent personnel
Ensures that laboratory personnel have the training, experience and knowledge necessary to perform calibrations accurately and reliably. This includes:
- Specialized technical training: Technicians are trained in specific calibration methods and applicable regulations.
- Continuous update: Staff are ensured to receive regular training to keep up to date with best practices and technological advancements.
- Verified practical skills: Technicians demonstrate their expertise in performing calibrations and interpreting results.
2. Necessary equipment and facilities
An ENAC accredited laboratory has the appropriate physical resources to carry out calibrations accurately and under controlled conditions. This includes:
- Specialized teams: Tools and devices designed specifically for the required measurements.
- Controlled environments: Facilities with regulated environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, vibrations) to avoid interference in the results.
- Adequate availability: The equipment is sufficient and available to perform the tests efficiently.
3. Calibrated and properly maintained equipment
The reliability of the results depends on the laboratory's measuring equipment being correctly calibrated and regularly maintained. ENAC certifies that:
- Traceable calibration: The equipment is calibrated against internationally recognized standards, ensuring the traceability of measurements.
- Preventive maintenance: Periodic inspections and services are carried out to ensure the correct operation of the equipment.
- Life cycle management: A detailed record is kept of the use, maintenance, calibration and removal of the equipment.
4. Technically valid methods and procedures
Accreditation ensures that calibrations are carried out using methods and procedures recognised as technically valid. This involves:
- Compliance with international regulations: Methods approved by organizations such as ISO/IEC 17025 are used.
- Pre-validation: Before being applied, methods are tested to ensure their accuracy and applicability.
- Continuous update: Procedures are regularly reviewed and improved to incorporate best practices and advances in technology.
5. Execution with technical expertise
Calibration procedures and methods are not only valid, but are carried out with the utmost skill by laboratory personnel. This ensures that:
- Variation control: Technicians know how to minimize errors inherent in the calibration process.
- Uniform application: The methods are executed in a standardized manner to ensure consistency in the results.
- Adaptability: Sound technical decisions are made in the face of unforeseen circumstances or special requirements.
6. Strict quality control
The accredited laboratory's activity is subject to a rigorous quality control system, which guarantees the validity and reliability of the results. This includes:
- Continuous verification: The accuracy of calibrations is periodically evaluated through internal and external controls.
- Regular audits: ENAC carries out audits to ensure that the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 are met.
- Document traceability: All processes are documented, allowing a detailed review of the results and procedures used.
- Non-conformity management: Any deviation detected is corrected immediately and preventive measures are implemented.
How do I know which laboratories and tests are accredited?
ENAC makes available to users a specialized search engine on their website (www.enac.es) which facilitates the identification of accredited laboratories and the specific activities for which they have obtained accreditation.
The ENAC search engine is designed to offer an intuitive and complete experience, allowing you to locate accredited laboratories based on different criteria, such as:
- Name of the laboratory: Direct identification if the name of the entity is known.
- Type of test or calibration: Filtered by the type of accredited activity, for example, chemical analysis, microbiological analysis, dimensional calibrations, etc.
- Applicable standarde: Search based on international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025.
- Geographic location: To identify accredited laboratories in a specific region.
The information provided by the search engine includes details on the scope of accreditation, which specifies the types of tests or calibrations that the laboratory is authorized to perform under ENAC accreditation.
Importance of the report with the ENAC brand
A report that includes the ENAC brand has a critical significance, as it ensures that the results presented meet the strict requirements of accreditation. This implies that:
- Compliance with international regulations: Tests or calibrations are carried out according to internationally recognized standards, such as ISO/IEC 17025.
- Technical competence guaranteed: The laboratory has demonstrated to ENAC that it has qualified personnel, adequate equipment, validated procedures and an effective quality management system.
- Traceability: The results are supported by measurements calibrated against international standards, which guarantees their validity.
If a report does not include the ENAC mark, there is no guarantee that the tests or calibrations carried out meet the accreditation requirements. This entails significant risks, such as:
- Uncertainty in the results: There is no guarantee that measurements are accurate or reproducible.
- Lack of international validity: Results may not be accepted in other countries or by regulatory bodies.
- Limited trust: The absence of the mark calls into question the technical competence of the laboratory and the reliability of the results.