Combustible Dust Testing

Laboratory testing to quantify dust explosion and reactivity hazards

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Gas and Vapor

Laboratory testing to quantify explosion hazards for vapor and gas mixtures

UN-DOT
Classification of hazardous materials subject to shipping and storage regulations
Hydrogen
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Thermal Stability

Safe storage or processing requires an understanding of the possible hazards associated with sensitivity to variations in temperature

Adiabatic Calorimetry
Data demonstrate the consequences of process upsets, such as failed equipment or improper procedures, and guide mitigation strategies including Emergency Relief System (ERS) design
Reaction Calorimetry
Data yield heat and gas removal requirements to control the desired process chemistry
Battery Safety

Testing to support safe design of batteries and electrical power backup facilities particularly to satisfy UL9540a ed.4

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Cable Testing
Evaluate electrical cables to demonstrate reliability and identify defects or degradation
Equipment Qualification (EQ)
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Water Hammer
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent unwanted hydraulic pressure transients in process piping
Acoustic Vibration
Identify and eliminate potential sources of unwanted vibration in piping and structural systems
Gas & Air Intrusion
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent intrusion of gas or air in piping systems
ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 in the field of Testing

ISO 9001:2015
Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO 9001:2015
Dust Hazards Analysis
Evaluate your process to identify combustible dust hazards and perform dust explosion testing
On-Site Risk Management
On-site safety studies can help identify explosibility and chemical reaction hazards so that appropriate testing, simulations, or calculations are identified to support safe scale up
DIERS Methodology
Design emergency pressure relief systems to mitigate the consequences of unwanted chemical reactivity and account for two-phase flow using the right tools and methods
Deflagrations (Dust/Vapor/Gas)

Properly size pressure relief vents to protect your processes from dust, vapor, and gas explosions

Effluent Handling

Pressure relief sizing is just the first step and it is critical to safely handle the effluent discharge from an overpressure event

FATE™ & Facility Modeling

FATE (Facility Flow, Aerosol, Thermal, and Explosion) is a flexible, fast-running code developed and maintained by Fauske and Associates under an ASME NQA-1 compliant QA program.

Mechanical, Piping, and Electrical
Engineering and testing to support safe plant operations and develop solutions to problems in heat transfer, fluid, flow, and electric power systems
Hydrogen Safety
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Thermal Hydraulics
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Nuclear Safety
Our Nuclear Services Group is recognized for comprehensive evaluations to help commercial nuclear power plants operate efficiently and stay compliant
Radioactive Waste
Safety analysis to underpin decomissioning process at facilities which have produced or used radioactive nuclear materials
Adiabatic Safety Calorimeters (ARSST and VSP2)

Low thermal inertial adiabatic calorimeters specially designed to provide directly scalable data that are critical to safe process design

Other Lab Equipment and Parts for the DSC/ARC/ARSST/VSP2 Calorimeters

Products and equipment for the process safety or process development laboratory

FERST

Software for emergency relief system design to ensure safe processing of reactive chemicals, including consideration of two-phase flow and runaway chemical reactions

FATE

Facility modeling software mechanistically tracks transport of heat, gasses, vapors, and aerosols for safety analysis of multi-room facilities

Blog

Our highly experienced team keeps you up-to-date on the latest process safety developments.

Process Safety Newsletter

Stay informed with our quarterly Process Safety Newsletters sharing topical articles and practical advice.

Resources

With over 40 years of industry expertise, we have a wealth of process safety knowledge to share.

Recent Posts

Is ISO 17025 Relevant to Your Organization?

Posted by Fauske & Associates on 07.02.14

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed ISO 17025 accreditation for use in laboratories that perform testing and calibrations. ISO 17025 covers standard testing, nonstandard testing and lab-developed testing methods. The current release was published in 2005.DSC Testing

According to EHow: "All labs that are ISO 17025-compliant must meet several requirements. Samples must be well documented and uniquely identified, and test results must be monitored for quality and integrity. Testing equipment must be calibrated and maintained. Written procedures should be used for all aspects of lab activities."  Indeed, labs must undergo rigorous annual inspection to maintain their accreditation.  

Per the ISO website:  

"Many countries around the world have one or more organizations responsible for the accreditation of their nation’s laboratories. Most of these accreditation bodies have now adopted ISO/IEC 17025 as the basis for accrediting their country’s testing and calibration laboratories. This has helped countries employ a uniform approach to determining laboratory competence. It has also encouraged laboratories to adopt internationally accepted testing and measurement practices, where possible. In order for accreditation bodies (at various part of the world) to recognize each others' accreditations, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) worked to establish methods of evaluating accreditation bodies against another ISO standard (ISO/IEC Guide 58 - which became ISO/IEC 17011). Around the world, geo-political regions such as the European Community, and Asia-Pacific, the Americas and others, established regional cooperations to manage the work needed for such mutual recognition. These regional bodies (all working within the ILAC umbrella) include European Accreditation Cooperation (EA), the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), Southern Africa Accreditation Cooperation (SADCA) and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).


L A B Client Symbol Accredited 17025 Small

Though, the Management Requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 has similarity with ISO 9001, it cannot be interpreted to be the same as certification against the ISO 9000 series Standards. Confidence in accreditation can only be obtained by a transparent system of control over the accredited laboratories and an assurance given by the accreditation body that the accredited laboratory constantly fulfills the accreditation criteria. Thus, demonstration of compliance with Management and Technical Requirements will allow the laboratories to operate a quality management system for their testing and calibration activities that also meets the principles of ISO 9001 and at the same time has the people, with the skills and knowledge, the environment with the facilities and equipment, the quality control and the procedures that are required to produce valid results."

Why does this matter?  Because the International Standard is applicable to all organizations. Most importantly, these include all laboratories where testing and calibrations to certify products are performed. That means if you outsource to one lab that sends to another and another, etc.  - as long as it is ISO 17025 certified, you are covered.

As one lab which participates, Fauske & Associates implements a quality management system to ensure compliance with requirements set forth by the ISO 17025 standard. Beginning with defining management roles and responsibilities through establishment of individual procedures for unique departments, care is taken to ensure that all employees are provided with the appropriate resources, guidelines and communication processes.

FAI establishes specific goals for three priority areas including safety, customer service and quality data. The end goal is to ensure a safe environment for employees while delivering the highest quality services and data to customers seeking non nuclear testing.

Protocols are in place to ensure that testing will meet customer expectations, that reliable vendors are used, that customer issues are resolved in a timely manner and that documentation is properly maintained. FAI has multiple methods and procedures in place to ensure that customers receive the highest quality of data. Systems are also in place to track non-conformances, corrective actions, preventive actions and ongoing process improvements. 

The quality management system is a continually evolving program at FAI and is updated as needed to improve processes and provide outstanding and professional service to customers. 

Here are additional benefits per the Standards.org site: 

  • Increase of confidence in Testing/ Calibration data and of personnel performing work.
  • Better control of laboratory operations and feedback to laboratories as to whether they have sound Quality Assurance System and are technically competent.
  • Potential increase in business due to enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction.
  • Customers can search and identify the laboratories accredited by The Accreditation Member Body for their specific requirements from their website or Directory of Accredited Laboratories.
  • Users of accredited laboratories will enjoy greater access for their products, in both domestic and international markets, when tested by accredited laboratories.
  • Savings in terms of time and money due to reduction or elimination of the need for re-testing of products.
  • Improved national and global reputation and image of the laboratory.
  • Continually improving data quality and laboratory effectiveness.

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Topics: Testing

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