Interlaboratory comparisons - towards global chemical safety

Explosion in a chemical plant, fire on a dangerous goods freighter... the causes may be many. Prevention however, starts with testing the hazardous properties of the chemicals in the test laboratory. Safety experts must be able to fully rely on the precise execution of the tests and assessments.

The BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin supports the further development of an interlaboratory comparison programme within the Center for Quality Assurance for Testing of Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances, established in 2007. This is being operated by BAM in cooperation with the Quality Management and Statistics GmbH (quo data), Dresden, and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig.

Interlaboratory comparisons of the test methods for assessing physical and chemical properties such as explosive properties, flammability, oxidizing properties, corrosion behaviour, flash point, ignition temperature and combustibility of substances, preparations and mixtures should be carried out regularly.

The next interlaboratory comparison on the UN O.2 test method 'Test for oxidizing liquids' will be performed in the second half of 2009, and an interlaboratory comparison on the UN N.1 method 'Test method for readily combustible solids' will take place in 2010.

All laboratories may obtain information about current and future interlaboratory comparisons on the EPTIS Proficiency Testing Information System website (see below).

» EPTIS Proficiency Testing Information System

Source: Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)