International interlaboratory comparisons (PT) are annual comparisons organized by institutions that meet the requirements of EN ISO 17043 “Conformity assessment. General requirements for the competence of organizations that perform proficiency testing.” All accredited laboratories must participate in these comparisons once during the accreditation period – this year, the Axioma Servisas laboratory also participated in interlaboratory comparisons (IC).
International comparison
In September, 34 laboratories from 11 countries, including France, Great Britain, Thailand, and others, participated in interlaboratory comparisons conducted by the Finnish Environment Institute Syke. Four companies from Lithuania participated in the study, one of which was Axioma Servisas.
How is the comparison carried out?
Each participating laboratory is assigned a confidential number and provided with a fuel sample, which is then tested according to selected criteria. Each institution submits the results to the organizer, who compares and evaluates them.
The Axioma Servisas laboratory performed tests to determine ash content, laboratory moisture, and calorific value.
The results were among the most accurate!
In October, a preliminary report prepared by the Syke organization was received. Each laboratory was able to view its results according to the confidential number assigned to it. The tests performed by the Axioma Servisas laboratory were among the most accurate:
- the ash content indicator differed from the actual value by only 0.01%;
- calorific value – 27 cal.
The laboratory moisture results are used in the calculation of the calorific value, so the “z” criterion was not calculated for this result.
“The results are truly encouraging. Such minimal deviations indicate that the quality of the laboratory’s work is high and that the test results correspond to reality and the declared values,” says Eglė Nugaraitė, Head of the Axioma Servisas laboratory.
About the laboratory’s activities
The Axioma Servisas biofuel testing laboratory is located at Zietelos g. 3, Vilnius. Its main activity is testing to determine the key quality indicators of solid biofuel – moisture content, ash content, calorific value, and fraction testing, which are performed by six accredited institutions in Lithuania. Last year, the laboratory was also accredited to perform metrological checks of gas leak analyzers-detectors and breathalyzers.
