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ACCREDITATION OF TESTING AUTHORITIES BY TELECOM NEW ZEALAND LTD |
November 1998 |
1. Introduction
2. Requirements for Accrediting NZ Testing Authorities (other than safety testing)
3. Requirements for Accrediting Electrical Safety Testing Authorities
4. Recognition of Overseas Testing Authorities for PTC Compliance
5. Certificate of Accreditation
6. Ongoing Changes and Periodic Audits
7. Acceptance of Test Reports to Equivalent Standards
RETURN TO MAIN INDEX
1.1 New Zealand telecommunications law gives each network operator the right to set interface and performance requirements for customer premises equipment (telecommunications terminal equipment) intended for connection to its network. Telecom New Zealand Limited (Telecom) exercises this right with its Telepermit system, which is essentially a carrier-specific form of Type Approval. Telecom has published various specifications (TNA and PTC Specifications), which define its network interfaces and customer premises equipment requirements. In general, independent testing authorities accredited by Telecom are used to determine the level of compliance with these requirements.
1.2 This document details Telecom's requirements and procedures for accrediting telecommunication testing authorities. These testing authorities deal directly with equipment suppliers on a confidential basis without reference to Telecom. The test reports produced by these authorities are submitted to Telecom by equipment suppliers wishing to obtain Telepermits for their products.
1.3 This document outlines the procedures currently used and the conditions that apply. However, Telecom has latitude to deal in a reasonable manner with any special cases or circumstances that arise.
1.4 Following successful assessment under the following procedures, Telecom's accreditation applies only as long as these requirements are complied with.
1.5 Numerous references are made in this document to IANZ (International Accreditation New Zealand Ltd - originally known as IANZ (Testing Laboratories Registration Council). This is New Zealand's statutory laboratory assessment body. It is affiliated with several equivalent overseas accreditation bodies.
2.1 Any NZ domiciled organisation wishing to become recognised as a testing authority for PTC (Telepermit) testing purposes shall make a formal application to the following:-
Manager, Access Standards
The application shall state the PTC Specifications to which testing is intended to be carried out.
2.2 The Applicant shall state:-
(a) Whether recognition has already been granted by IANZ or any other
recognised laboratory registration organisations overseas, and provide details, and
(b) Whether there are any other telecommunications administrations or
organisations which accept test results from the testing authority concerned.
2.3 The Applicant shall prepare a comprehensive test manual for submission to Telecom showing:-
(a) Name and Address of testing authority.
(b) The organisational structure of the testing authority, showing the qualifications and related experience of the staff and management.
(c) A general outline of the instrumentation and related facilities available for the testing to be undertaken.
(d) Details are to be given of the calibration procedures and traceability
arrangements for the instruments used.
(e) Details of the arrangements for training and qualifying new staff members.
(f) Arrangements for supervising the testing, the confirmation of test results by technically qualified senior staff, and for the formal signing off of all test reports on behalf of the testing authority.
(g) The arrangements proposed for holding records of the tests carried out in case there is need for future reference.
The above information is typically that which has already been prepared for an accreditation body.
In addition, Telecom requires details of the arrangements being put in place to carry out testing for Telepermit purposes, as follows:-
(h) For each PTC Specification to which it is proposed that testing will be carried out, a clause by clause statement outlining the test method and stating the instrumentation that will be used for the particular test. This should show how the instrument(s) are to be set up for each test.
(i) The proposed format and scope of the test results as they will be supplied to a client for later submission to Telecom in support of a 'Telepermit' application.
(j) Photographs of the general testing authority layout and close-ups of the test jigs, test equipment, etc, to clearly show the facilities available for Telepermit testing at the time the application is made.
(k) Any other matters considered relevant by the Applicant which will support the application.
(a) Carrying out particular tests.
(b) Testing samples provided by Telecom for reference purposes, or,
(c) arranging for the loan to Telecom of test samples, together with measurement results on those samples, so that they can be tested in a Telecom testing authority for comparison purposes.
2.5 The exact procedure for accreditation will be the subject of negotiation between Telecom and the Applicant. In general, the aim is that comparative tests be made on equipment of the types most likely to be covered in the proposed scope of testing. The following general principles will normally apply:-
(a) For telephones, test results for a minimum of 3 telephones from each of two types should be made available to Telecom. The two types must have quite different styles of handset.
(b) The telephones tested should then be loaned to Telecom for the purposes of verification testing, after which they will be returned.
(c) For other classes of equipment, similar comparative testing will be carried out by the Applicant on one sample of each class, and also by either the appropriate Telecom laboratory or another already recognised testing authority, as decided by Telecom Access Standards.
(d) The Applicant shall bear the cost of testing by Telecom or other testing authority, for the time spent in considering the application and for Telecom staff's time and costs incurred in visiting the testing authority.
2.6 In some cases, and where resources permit, Telecom may be willing to provide a consultancy service to assist the Applicant with particular tests or techniques or provide advice on the arrangements proposed.
Similarly, it may be possible for Telecom to assist with the supply of the sample telephones for testing. Such consultancy or services will be charged for at negotiated rates on request by the Applicant.
2.7 The Applicant shall agree to pay all charges set by Telecom for the above services at the commercial rates applying at the times the particular work is carried out.
3.1 The above requirements do NOT apply to New Zealand testing authorities carrying out electrical safety testing of mains-powered (LV) equipment. The Standards concerned are usually AS/NZS 3260 for telecommunications equipment, and AS 3108 for power supplies. Telecom does not claim the necessary expertise to assess safety testing authorities. In view of this, Telecom will accept test reports prepared to the appropriate standards ONLY from those New Zealand laboratories or testing authorities accredited by IANZ for this class of testing. No separate Telecom accreditation is necessary for this class of testing.
3.2 Similar arrangements apply for overseas electrical safety testing laboratories. Such testing authorities SHALL either be accredited for electrical safety testing by an assessment body affiliated to IANZ, or be accredited by a national electrical safety authority and be recognised by the Operations and Risk Management Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Commerce. Test reports prepared by such testing authorities to IEC 950, EN 60950, or their direct equivalent National Standards, will generally be acceptable to the Ministry of commerce. In view of this, they will be accepted by Telecom without prior arrangements.
3.3 In all cases, Telecom requires the actual test report for Telepermit purposes, and will not accept a simple "certificate of compliance". All test reports supplied shall be in English.
4.1 Telecom is willing to consider applications for accreditation from overseas telecommunications testing authorities wishing to carry out testing against Telecom's PTC specifications. Such testing authorities shall have been recognised by the national testing authority registration authority or by the national regulator, as applicable. For example, applications will be considered from any testing authority in Australia or Europe formally accredited by a Designated Conformity Assessment Body (an organisation which assesses test reports and issues certificates of compliance under the authority of the local Designating Authority - usually the relevant national regulator). A number of such Designating Authorities are listed in clause 4.4.
4.2 Applications from testing authorities meeting these criteria are to be addressed to Access Standards and shall meet the requirements of clauses 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above.
4.3 As explained in clause 2.3, the test manual submitted to Telecom may include sections originally prepared for local accreditation. However, it must also include full coverage of the proposed testing arrangements to confirm compliance with Telecom's applicable PTC specification(s). Such information is required for record purposes, but may also be of assistance if any subsequent comparative tests under clause 2.5 indicate measurement discrepancies. All information supplied shall be in English.
4.4 In accordance with the Mutual Recognition Agreement between New Zealand and the European Union, any testing laboratory designated by the relevant National Body responsible for designating Conformity Assessment Bodies and/or Testing Laboratories (as listed below) may, on request, also be formally recognised by Telecom for Telepermit compliance testing purposes:-
Austria: BfwA
4.5 For some product types, comparative testing of reference samples will be requested by Telecom, as mentioned in clause 2.5. Such comparative testing is generally to the benefit of both Telecom and the applicant authority, as it helps confirm that Telecom's specifications have been correctly interpreted before that authority enters into any commercial agreements with its clients.
4.6 It will NOT usually be necessary for a Telecom representative to visit a testing authority which has been formally accredited under the systems set up by one of the above Designating Authorities. However, Telecom reserves the right to insist on a visit if the results of comparative tests on reference samples or the methods used are shown to be inconsistent with Telecom's specifications. Any such visit will be at the Applicant's expense.
4.7 Applications from testing authorities in countries other than those listed in 4.4 above will be treated on their individual merits. Where they are already accredited by their own national accreditation body for the class of testing in question, consideration may be given for recognition on the same basis as for those covered by 4.4 above.
4.8 Accreditation for Telecom testing is NOT necessary, where the national or joint standard of the country or community concerned is identical to that adopted by Telecom.
4.9 Where Access Standards has agreed to recognise a testing authority, all test reports subsequently supplied for Telepermit purposes shall be in English.
5.1. On recognition of a testing authority in accordance with the above arrangements, the Manager, Access Standards will issue a Certificate of Accreditation.
5.2 This will certify that the testing authority concerned is recognised by Telecom to be capable of carrying out the appropriate tests to one or more PTC Specifications. Each of the PTC Specifications or classes of testing concerned will be specified in one or more such certificates, which can be used as evidence of recognition by Telecom when dealing with prospective clients.
1. INTRODUCTION
No changes are to be made within the testing authority which would lead to non-compliance with these requirements or affect the accuracy and reliability of the test results supplied.
2. REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITING NZ TESTING AUTHORITIES
(FOR OTHER THAN SAFETY TESTING)
Telecom New Zealand Ltd
P O BOX 570
Wellington, New Zealand.
2.4 Following an examination of the manual by Telecom, consideration will be given to arranging a visit to the Applicant's testing authority at an agreed time. The Telecom representative will observe testing in progress and carry out whatever investigations are deemed necessary to prove that Telecom's requirements are clearly understood and that Test Reports will be accurate, reliable and repeatable in all respects. The Applicant shall co-operate with any reasonable request by the Telecom representative, such as the following:-
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY TESTING AUTHORITIES
4. RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS TESTING AUTHORITIES FOR PTC
COMPLIANCE
Australia: JAS-ANZ and/or AUSTEL
Belgium: BIPT/IBPT
Denmark: Telestyrelsen
Finland: Liikenneministerio
France: DGPT
Germany: Ministerium fur Post und Telekommunikation
Greece: Ministry of Transport and Communications
Ireland: Department of Transport, Energy and Communications
Italy: Ispettorato Generale TLC
Luxembourg: Administration des Postes et Telecommunications
Netherlands: Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat
Portugal: Instituto das Communicacoes de Portugal
Spain: Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transpotes
Sweden: SWEDAC
U.K.: Department of Trade and Industry
5. CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION