In cases where a test report includes a statement of conformity with a specification, standard, regulation, or legislation, the prescribed decision rules for the evaluation of conformity are strictly applied.

A.Conformity assessment defined in Legislation, Regulations, Standards and Specifications

When the applicable Standards, Regulations, current Legislation and/or technical specifications define specific decision rules for declaring conformity of the examined samples, these rules are applied strictly and without deviation.

B.Conformity assessment not defined in Regulations, Legislation, Standards, Specifications or by the Customer

When no decision rule has been defined by statutory regulation, the customer, or a relevant standard, the laboratory applies the following decision rule for the evaluation and conformity of the results:

1.Result within the specification limit, including the expanded uncertainty:
The laboratory records the measurement result in the test report. The item under evaluation is characterized as Conforming.

2.Result within the specification limit but the limits overlap due to the expanded uncertainty:
The laboratory records the measurement result accompanied by the expanded uncertainty. The item under evaluation is characterized as Conforming, with a statement of the probability of erroneous acceptance.

3.Result outside the specification limit but the limits overlap due to the expanded uncertainty:
The laboratory records the measurement result accompanied by the expanded uncertainty. The item under evaluation is characterized as Non-Conforming, with a statement of the probability of erroneous rejection.

4.Result outside the specification limit, including the expanded uncertainty:
The laboratory records the measurement result in the test report. The item under evaluation is characterized as Non-Conforming.

C.Customer Specifications and/or Customer Decision Rule

1.Customer specifications may be accepted if:

• They are stricter than the applicable national or European Legislation.
• They are based on Third Country Legislation.
• No relevant Legislation exists.
• They are agreed and communicated prior to the issuance of the test report.

In such cases, the customer must submit the relevant specifications in writing and a reference shall be made in the Test Report.

2.a) A decision rule specified by the customer may be accepted provided it does not contradict any Legislative or Regulatory Document. In this case, the decision rule must be documented and a relevant reference shall be made in the Test Report.

2.b) In the case where no different Decision Rule is defined, and the measured result x is compared with a single declared value L, this is considered conforming at a confidence level of 95% when: x − 2u < L < x + 2u, where u is the standard uncertainty.