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Technical Advisory Committees

A2LA establishes Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) for certain fields or program areas when advice from existing standards development organizations and industry committees would benefit from elaboration.

Each TAC provides advice on the development of program requirements and the application of particular clauses of the international conformity assessment standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020, etc.) for particular fields and/or programs to ensure transparency to the conformity assessment bodies (i.e., the organizations that A2LA accredits) and to assure a consistent assessment approach.

Participatory membership is open to all who meet the established membership rules within the TAC bylaws. TACs are normally composed of technical directors, quality managers, assessors, government agency representatives, industry users, and non-voting A2LA staff.

Face-to-face meetings are scheduled at least once a year and are held during the annual A2LA Annual Conference, but many advisory committees meet in the interim via conference call or web conferencing.

Decisions reached by TACs may result in program requirements or technical consensus decisions that provide clarity to existing standards through policies, limitations, or exceptions.

Active A2LA Technical Advisory Committees

Construction Materials Advisory Committee (CMAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the CMAC is the development of accreditation guidelines for construction materials, geotechnical, and putting green materials testing laboratories, as well as for inspection bodies. The committee also addresses the issues and concerns related to any proficiency testing providers that are relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, with other organizations, and with individuals in the subject area, so that duplication of effort is minimized.

CMAC Chair: John Vurpillat
A2LA Staff Contact – Amanda Styers (240.739.7585; astyers@A2LA.org)

Electromagnetic Advisory Committee (EMAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the EMAC is the development of accreditation guidelines, positions, and recommendations for electrical, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), product safety, telecom, environmental simulation [e.g., vibration, acceleration, rain, salt and moisture exposure, dust, thermal and humidity cycling, thermal and vibration shock, high/low temperature, low pressure (altitude), contamination by fluids, solar radiation (sunshine), fungus, explosive atmosphere, immersion, acoustic noise, life cycle/durability etc.], software, wireless, bluetooth, specific absorption ratio (SAR), electro-mechanical functional and characteristic (e.g., dielectric, strength, resistance, etc.), and stress (e.g., highly accelerated life test and stress simulation, stress screening, etc.) testing.
The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited product certification bodies and proficiency testing providers that are relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject areas, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized. The committee, as coordinated with or requested by A2LA, represents A2LA to various groups with a stake in the standards-development process (e.g., FCC, NVCASE, ISO, Bluetooth SIG, CCF, CTIA, IEC, IEEE, EIA, ISA, IPC, SAE, NAVAIR, ELAWG, ACIL).

The A2LA EMAC also discusses and reaches consensus on how relevant technical methods, procedures, protocols, techniques, and/or guidelines within the scope of the EMAC bylaws are to be interpreted and assessed. The list of current EMAC consensus items may be accessed from the customer portal. Please check back periodically for updates to this list, as these represent how A2LA assessors will assess to the technical items listed.

EMAC Chair: Thomas Dickten
A2LA Staff Contact – Dyana Cernicky (240.575.7482; dcernicky@A2LA.org)

Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The EAC is a working, advisory committee related to the Environmental programs offered by A2LA. This committee discusses the development of accreditation and assessment guidelines for environmental testing laboratories in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025, TNI standard, DoD/DOE Quality Systems Manual, and/or individual state program requirements. The committee consists of subject matter experts, regulators, vendors, and laboratories. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to the industry or relevant accredited proficiency testing providers and reference material providers. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

EAC Chair: Dorothy Love
A2LA Staff Contact – Stephanie Rippeon (240.575.7489; srippeon@A2LA.org)

Forensic Examination Advisory Committee (FEAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your Customer Portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the FEAC is the development of accreditation and assessment guidelines in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 requirements and any other requirements that are applicable for organizations performing testing or inspection-related activities where the result of those activities will be used in civil and criminal proceedings. The committee addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited proficiency testing providers and reference material producers relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

The A2LA FEAC also discusses and reaches consensus on how relevant technical methods, procedures, protocols, techniques, and/or guidelines are to be interpreted and assessed. The list of current FEAC consensus items can be found in P115 – Technical Consensus Decisions from the Forensic Examination Advisory Committee. Please check back periodically for updates to this list as these represent how A2LA assessors will assess to the technical items listed.

FEAC Chair: Jeffrey Smith
A2LA Staff Contact – Brittney Rollison (240.575.6407; brollison@A2LA.org)

Inspection Body Advisory Committee (IBAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the IBAC is the development of accreditation and assessment guidelines, positions, and explanations of relevant standards and recommendations to A2LA in the area of inspection body accreditation. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized. The committee, as coordinated with or requested by A2LA, represents A2LA to various groups with a stake in the standards development process (e.g., FedRAMP, ICC).

IBAC Chair: Neil Zuern
A2LA Staff Contact – Ashley Kamauf (301.644.3215; akamauf@A2LA.org)

Life Sciences Advisory Committee (LSAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the LSAC is the development of accreditation guidelines for biological, chemical, environmental, and clinical laboratories, stand-alone sampling organizations, and biobanking facilities. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited product certification bodies, proficiency testing providers, and reference material producers relevant to its scope. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

LSAC Chair: Bradley Stawick
A2LA Staff Contact – Cory Arant (240.575.7493; carant@A2LA.org)

Materials Testing Advisory Committee (MTAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the MTAC is the development of accreditation guidelines for testing laboratories performing the following types of materials and product testing: mechanical, chemical, nondestructive, thermal, electrical, transportation, and fasteners. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited product certification bodies and proficiency testing providers relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, with other organizations, and with individuals in the subject area, so that duplication of effort is minimized.

The A2LA MTAC also discusses and reaches consensus on how relevant technical methods, procedures, protocols, techniques, and/or guidelines within the scope of the bylaws of the MTAC (A2LA A110) are to be interpreted and assessed. The list of current MTAC consensus items may be found by accessing the link above. Please check back periodically for updates to this list, as these represent how A2LA assessors will assess to the technical items listed.

MTAC Chair: Tom Doggart
A2LA Staff Contact – Sam Hays (240.608.4346; shays@A2LA.org)

Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC)

The scope of the MAC is to develop guidelines and provide guidance related to calibration, measurement traceability, measurement uncertainty, dimensional inspection, reference materials, and measurement audits (proficiency testing). Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, with other organizations, and with individuals in the subject area, so that duplication of effort is minimized.

The A2LA MAC also discusses and reaches consensus on how relevant technical methods, procedures, protocols, techniques, and/or guidelines within the scope of the bylaws of the MAC are to be interpreted and assessed.

MAC Chair: Paul Keep
A2LA Staff Contact – Vincent Pugh (301.644.3232; vpugh@A2LA.org)

Medical Testing Advisory Committee (MedTAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the MedTAC is the development of accreditation and assessment guidelines for medical testing laboratories in accordance with the ISO 15189 and current CLIA requirements and any other applicable requirements. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited proficiency testing providers and reference material producers relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

A2LA Staff Contact – Carlyn Mathews (240.575.7486; cmathews@A2LA.org)

Product Certification Advisory Committee (PCAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the PCAC is the development of accreditation and assessment guidelines, positions, applications of relevant standards, and recommendations in the area of product certification. The committee, as coordinated with or requested by A2LA, represents A2LA to various groups with a stake in the standards development process (e.g., FCC, EPA, DOE, SGIP, IEC, ASTM). Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

A2LA Staff Contact – Jonathan Fuhrman (240.575.6408; jfuhrman@A2LA.org)

Proficiency Testing Provider Advisory Committee (PTPAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the PTPAC is to provide guidance on the development of accreditation requirements for proficiency testing providers. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited proficiency testing providers relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

PTPAC Chair: Daniel Tholen
A2LA Staff Contact – Nick Slawson (240.575.7495; nslawson@A2LA.org)

Reference Materials Producer Advisory Committee (RMPAC)

For consensus items related to this advisory committee, please check your customer portal or reach out to the A2LA Staff Contact.

The scope of the RMPAC is to provide guidance on the development of accreditation requirements for reference material producers. The committee also addresses issues and concerns related to any accredited reference material producers relevant to its scope of work. Project selection for this committee is coordinated with other A2LA advisory committees, as appropriate, and with other organizations and individuals in the subject area, so that unnecessary duplication of effort is minimized.

RMPAC Chair: Kelly Black
A2LA Staff Contact – Nick Slawson (240.575.7495; nslawson@A2LA.org)