What is BS ISO/IEC 17020 - Requirements for bodies performing inspection about?
BS ISO/IEC 17020:2026 sets requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of inspection bodies. It supports confidence in inspection activities and helps inspection results be accepted by clients, regulators and other stakeholders.
The standard can be used as a requirements document for accreditation, peer assessment, or other assessments.
Who is BS ISO/IEC 17020 - Requirements for bodies performing inspection for?
BS ISO/IEC 17020:2026 is for people and organizations that need confidence in inspection outcomes, including:
- Inspection bodies that perform inspections for private clients, parent organizations, regulators, or others.
- Regulators who rely on inspection results to support decisions.
- Accreditation bodies assessing inspection bodies.
- Scheme owners specifying inspection requirements in schemes or contracts.
The standard has broad application across sectors including engineering, environmental, food and farming, the built environment and forensic science.
What does BS ISO/IEC 17020 - Requirements for bodies performing inspection cover?
It provides requirements for:
- Competence and impartiality of bodies performing inspection.
- Consistent operation of inspection activities.
- Inspections against regulations, standards, specifications, schemes, or contracts.
- Inspection of items such as materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures, or services, plus reporting of results.
- Inspection across lifecycle stages, including the design stage, where relevant.
BS ISO/IEC 17020:2026 also recognizes that inspection can be embedded within wider conformity assessment activities, such as surveillance in a product certification scheme, or where outputs from other activities are used as inputs to inspection.
Why should you use BS ISO/IEC 17020 - Requirements for bodies performing inspection?
Use this standard to help you:
- Structure your inspection system so confidence can be placed in your activities.
- Support acceptance of your inspection results by clients and regulatory authorities.
- Provide a recognized basis for accreditation where regulations require operation to this standard.
- Underpin objective professional judgement about conformity of inspected items with specified requirements.
The 2026 revision also reflects experience using the previous version and the inclusion of technology in inspection processes.
What has changed?
BS ISO/IEC 17020:2026 is the latest edition and supersedes BS ISO/IEC 17020:2012 which will be withdrawn. Key changes to the standard include:
- Simplified independence classification: The previous Type A, B, and C structure has been replaced with a two tier approach (Type A and non Type A), consolidated under Section 5.
- Updated management system requirements: Updated to align with other ISO standards, with risk based thinking and more outcome focused requirements.
- Enhanced data and external services controls: New requirements for control of data and information and tighter control over externally provided services.
- Updated definitions: Updated terminology to improve clarity, including definitions for “item” and “client”.
- Strengthened impartiality expectations: Clearer requirements for identifying, managing and documenting risks to impartiality and confidentiality.
The revision also strengthens alignment with the ISO/IEC 17000 series and includes elements of ILAC P15, reflecting years of accreditation experience.