Subject and Scope:

This international standard is developed with the intention of enhancing trust in inspection bodies.
Inspection bodies perform assessments on behalf of private clients, their parent organizations, or competent authorities to gather information about the conformity of the subject of inspection with regulations, standards, specifications, inspection schemes, or contracts.

Inspection parameters can relate to quantity, quality, safety, fitness for purpose, and continued operational safety of installations and/or systems.

This international standard harmonizes the general requirements that inspection bodies need to fulfill for their services to be accepted by clients and competent authorities.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 contains requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 applies to inspection bodies of Type A, B, or C as defined in this international standard and is applicable at all stages of inspection.

The stages of inspection include the design phase, type testing, initial inspection, in-service inspection, or supervision.