IAS already has accredited two certifying bodies that have met the EPA WaterSense requirements and is currently accepting applications from organizations that want to participate in the WaterSense Program.
Pat McCullen, vice president of IAS, said, “Through our Memorandum of Understanding with EPA, our job is to ensure that EPA-licensed independent testing and certification bodies follow the WaterSense Product Certification System.”
IAS is a leading accreditation body in the United States and a signatory to several international mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) worldwide. As an EPA partner in the WaterSense Program, IAS will assess the competence of certification bodies to certify WaterSense labeled products against the requirements set forth in:
- International Standard ISO/IEC
Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification
systems;
- International Accreditation Forum – Guidance on application of ISO/IEC
Guide 65; and
- U.S. EPA’s own requirements as defined in the WaterSense Product Certification System.
Similar to the EPA Energy Star program for energy efficiency, WaterSense promotes the development and use of water-efficient products such as faucets and high-efficiency toilets. Under the WaterSense Program, qualifying products in general must perform 20 percent more efficiently than traditional counterparts.
Manufacturers must demonstrate through independent testing and certification from a certifying body accredited by an EPA-recognized accreditation body that its products meet the WaterSense efficiency and performance criteria and are eligible for the WaterSense label.
For more information about how product certification agencies can become IAS accredited to certify and label products that meet WaterSense requirements, visitwww.iasonline.org.
Source: International Accreditation Service
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