9 June 2017 marks World Accreditation Day, a global initiative established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This year’s theme focuses on how accreditation delivers confidence in construction and the built environment.
The Chairs of IAF and ILAC have released a joint statement to share how accreditation can support those working in the sector including building owners, operators, contractors, manufacturers, designers, architects, and civil engineers. It also highlights how accreditation are used by policy makers, local authorities and regulators to support construction-based regulation, environmental protection, public safety, fraud prevention, public trust and innovation.

The EA Certification Committee has now published its list of Frequently Asked Questions on the EA website.
The FAQs originate from questions raised and answered at each EA Certification Committee meeting, the list will be updated as the answers to questions at subsequent meetings are finalised.
It is important to re-emphasize that the answers, which give the consensus view of the Committee, are intended for informational purposes and should not be used as official guidance for the implementation of the requirements of the standards concerned.
For further information please follow the link below which will take you to the EA news item and to the list of FAQs.

ISO has released the results of its 2014 Survey of Management System Standard Certifications, an annual survey that gathers data on the number of certificates issued to management systems standards.
Using data submitted by Certification Bodies accredited by IAF Members, the Survey covers eight standards: ISO 9001 (quality management systems), ISO 14001 (environmental management systems), ISO 50001 (energy management systems), ISO 27001 (information security management systems), ISO 22000 (food safety management systems), ISO/TS 16949 (quality management systems for the automotive sector), ISO 13485 (quality management systems for medical devices) and ISO 22301 (business continuity management systems).
According to the survey results, 1,609,294 certificates were issued worldwide in 2014, marking a 3% increase from the previous year.* The greatest growth was in ISO 50001, which showed a 40% increase, and ISO 22000, which showed a 14% increase. ISO 14001 certifications grew by 7% and ISO 9001 certifications by 1%, modest growth expected to increase with the introduction of the new ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards.
The 2014 Survey features a new standard, ISO 22301, for which 1,754 certificates have been issued. Growth in this field is expected to rise with increasing awareness of the value of protecting organizations against disruption during crises.
The full 2014 ISO Survey and Executive summary can be viewed here.
*Certificate numbers fluctuate based on CB participation and reporting.