Interlaboratory Comparison as a Source of Information for the Product Evaluation Process. Case Study of Ceramic Tiles Adhesives

In this study, the results obtained by 19 laboratories participating in 2 editions of the interlaboratory comparison (ILC) determining 2 properties of ceramic tiles adhesives (CTAs), i.e., initial tensile adhesion strength and tensile adhesion strength after water immersion following EN 12004, were analyzed. The results show that participating laboratories maintain a constant quality of their work. The use of z-score analysis, under ISO 13528, allows for classifying 89.5% to 100% of laboratories as satisfactory, depending on the measurement’s kind and edition. The remaining laboratories are classified as questionable. The investigation of the predominant mode of failure of the CTA’s samples tested in the two editions shows significant differences. From the perspective of laboratories, the goal of the ILC has been achieved. From the standpoint of a manufacturer who evaluates a product’s properties when placing it on the market, the results indicate the necessity of a particular treatment of the product evaluation process because the variability of the obtained results is significant. It increases the possibility of the product failing to meet the assessment criteria verified by the construction market supervision authorities. The manufacturer must consider all possible variations in the risk analysis, including the ILC results, to improve the assessment process of CTAs.

IEA 4E SSL ANNEX INTERLABORATORY COMPARISON OF GONIOPHOTOMETERS MEASURING SOLID STATE LIGHTING PRODUCTS – RESULTS

The global interlaboratory comparison (IC 2017) on measurements of solid-state lighting (SSL) products with goniophotometers was conducted under the International Energy Agency 4E Solid State Lighting Annex with 36 participating laboratories from 19 countries with a total of 42 goniophotometric instruments including mirror-type, near-field type and source-rotating type goniophotometers. A narrow-beam LED lamp and three different types of LED luminaires, including a street lighting luminaire, were used as comparison artefacts for measurements of 16 different quantities. These included electrical, photometric, and colorimetric quantities, and goniophotometric quantities such as centre beam intensity, beam angle, partial flux (15° cone angle), and angular colour uniformity. CIE S 025 was used as the test method. The results demonstrated overall good agreement on luminous flux and colour quantities, however, larger variations and various problems were identified in goniophotometric quantity results. Near-field type and source-rotating type goniophotometers showed equivalent accuracies overall to those of far-field mirror type goniophotometers.

The Metrological Traceability, Performance and Precision of European Radon Calibration Facilities

An interlaboratory comparison for European radon calibration facilities was conducted to evaluate the establishment of a harmonized quality level for the activity concentration of radon in air and to demonstrate the performance of the facilities when calibrating measurement instruments for radon. Fifteen calibration facilities from 13 different European countries participated. They represented different levels in the metrological hierarchy: national metrology institutes and designated institutes, national authorities for radiation protection and participants from universities. The interlaboratory comparison was conducted by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and took place from 2018 to 2020. Participants were requested to measure radon in atmospheres of their own facilities according to their own procedures and requirements for metrological traceability. A measurement device with suitable properties was used to determine the comparison values. The results of the comparison showed that the radon activity concentrations that were determined by European calibration facilities complying with metrological traceability requirements were consistent with each other and had common mean values. The deviations from these values were normally distributed. The range of variation of the common mean value was a measure of the degree of agreement between the participants. For exposures above 1000 Bq/m3, the variation was about 4% for a level of confidence of approximately 95% (k=2). For lower exposure levels, the variation increased to about 6%.

Results of external quality assessment of cytogenetic investigations for 2020

Представлены результаты экспертной оценки качества цитогенетических исследований в лабораториях РФ в системе межлабораторных сличительных испытаний «ФСВОК» за 2020 г. The results of the expert assessment of the quality of cytogenetic studies in the laboratories of the Russian Federation in the system of interlaboratory comparison tests «FSVOK» for 2020 are presented.