ISO/IEC 17020 contains requirements for the competence and impartiality of bodies performing inspection, and for the consistent operation of their inspection activities. Inspection bodies perform inspection activities on behalf of private clients, their parent organisations, regulatory authorities or others. The objective is to provide information about the conformity of inspected items with regulations, standards, specifications, inspection schemes or contracts.
Inspection parameters include matters of quantity, quality, safety, fitness for purpose and conformity of inspected items with specified requirements (e.g. safety compliance of installations or systems in operation). ISO/IEC 17020 provides requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of inspection bodies as a basis to promote confidence about and acceptance of inspection results by clients, regulatory authorities and others.
ISO/IEC 17020 covers the activities of inspection bodies whose work can include the examination of materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures or services and the determination of their conformity with requirements. Inspection can concern all stages during the lifetime of these items, including the design stage. Such work normally requires the exercise of professional judgement in performing inspection, in particular when assessing conformity with general requirements. ISO/IEC 17020 can be used as a requirements document for accreditation or peer-assessment or other assessments.
ISO/IEC 17020:2026 text has been approved in Europe as EN ISO/IEC 17020:2026 without any changes.
