Expression of Interest: Optical Gas Imaging

The recent development and implementation of Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technology has resulted in UKAS receiving a number of enquiries to perform accredited conformity activities related to the identification and quantification of emissions using OGI technology.

As this activity represents an new area of accreditation, UKAS needs to undertake a development project to confirm the applicability of the proposed conformity assessment and establish a robust and proportionate assessment approach. UKAS would like to invite conformity assessment bodies to express an interest in conducting OGI inspection and/or test activities.

The decision to progress accreditation against either/or ISO/IEC 17020:2012 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 will be determined from the responses to this call for interest and further exploration of the activity.

From this announcement, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email ([email protected]) by 30 September 2024.

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Scope of OGI conformity assessment activities currently undertaken and for which accreditation is sought.

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. Following this meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

Please note that if a development project was established a pilot programme will be required whereby there would be a development fee associated with participation in addition to the normal assessment fees.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.