Proficiency testing 2016

Dear employees of the testing laboratories,

We would like to inform you about upcoming proficiency testing programs (ZZ) designed as an inter-laboratory comparison, to which we hereby invite you. The focus of these ZZ programmes is for testing laboratories that carry out tests of solid fossil fuels, i.e. brown (HU) and black (CU) coal and biofuels. The programs are designed for all laboratories of energy, mining and metallurgical enterprises as well as for research and service sites.

The proficiency testing group is aptitude test provider No. 7014 accredited by ČIA according to ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010. Finally, testing laboratories are offered a unique opportunity to participate in an accredited proficiency testing program with a domestic provider, thus fulfilling the CIA's recommendation that competency testing programs that meet the requirements of ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17043 and which are organized by providers whose compliance with these requirements has been confirmed by accreditation should be used as a priority.

This year we offer one accredited program (ZZ/UHLI/A, S, Q/2016) and two non-accredited programs (ZZ/UHLI/C, H, N, V/2016; ZZ/BIO/A, S, Q, C, H, N/2016).

Based on the evaluation of customer satisfaction questionnaires, we made the following changes in 2016:

• The specified parameters will be extended to include volatile combustible materials (programme ZZ/UHLI/C, H, N, V/2016).
• Participants will be offered samples used in ZZ programs as control RM (50 g).
• The marking of samples will be improved.
• The forms used by ZZ participants (application form and results) will be available electronically for download on ORGREZ, a.s.

Some comments from participants will remain unchanged:

• The list of participants will not be made public. This is due to the prevention of identification of individual participants.
• The Certificate of Participation will not indicate the z-score achieved. These are published in the final Programme Report, which is part of the Certificate of Participation. Each laboratory can have its success assessment system set up differently, taking into account its needs and the services offered to its customers.

Added on 29 July 2016

As part of the introduction of new services, we offer you a unique opportunity to enroll in the ZZ/BIO/A, S, Q, C, H, N/2016 aptitude test program completely gratis. This offer is valid for all laboratories, including those already registered. Thus, we extend the registration deadline to August 7, 2016.

Detailed information on the upcoming proficiency testing programmes can be found in the accompanying documents: