Overview
ISO/TS 23406:2024 is a technical specification for the nuclear sector that supplements ISO/IEC 17021-1 by defining additional requirements for bodies that audit and certify quality management systems (QMS) of organizations supplying products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS). It is intended for use as a criteria document for accreditation, peer assessment or other audit processes, and specifically supports certification against ISO 19443.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Complements ISO/IEC 17021-1 to ensure certification bodies apply sector‑specific controls when assessing QMS for nuclear safety supply chains.
- Legal and contractual matters: Certification agreements must require clients to inform the certification body of any start, interruption or resumption of ITNS activities.
- Impartiality, liability and financing: Aligns with ISO/IEC 17021-1 principles to manage conflicts of interest and financial integrity.
- Organizational structure: Certification bodies shall identify a single office with an appointed employee responsible for implementation across locations.
- Resource and competence requirements: Annex A complements ISO/IEC 17021-1 with competence criteria for auditors and technical experts. Auditor qualification is documented, valid for 3 years, and renewal requires demonstration of:
- at least 6 ISO 19443 certification/recertification/surveillance audits in 3 years with a minimum of 20 audit days,
- maintenance of professional knowledge relevant to nuclear QMS,
- participation in mandatory training,
- satisfactory supervision during ISO 19443 audits, and
- absence of significant or recurrent complaints.
- Process requirements: Detailed requirements for pre‑certification activities, application review, audit programme and planning, determining audit time, multi‑site sampling, multi‑standard certifications, initial/recertification audits, surveillance, certification decisions, appeals, complaints and client records.
- Information and confidentiality: Public information, certification documentation, use of marks, confidentiality and information exchange between certification body and client.
- Annexes: Normative and informative annexes include required knowledge/skills, audit result summaries and eligibility criteria for multi‑site sampling.
Practical applications and users
- For certification bodies seeking to audit/certify suppliers in the nuclear industry against ISO 19443.
- For accreditation bodies and peer assessors using ISO/TS 23406 as criteria for evaluating certification bodies.
- For nuclear supply organizations and their compliance teams to understand expectations placed on certifying bodies and the audit process.
- Useful in procurement, regulatory oversight and supplier assurance programs where QMS certification contributes to nuclear safety risk management.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 17021-1 (conformity assessment - requirements for certification bodies)
- ISO 19443 (QMS specific requirements for organizations in the nuclear supply chain)
- ISO 9000 and ISO/IEC 17000 (terminology and conformity assessment principles)
Keywords: ISO/TS 23406:2024, nuclear sector, quality management systems, certification bodies, ISO 19443, ISO/IEC 17021-1, ITNS, audit, accreditation.