CNAS issues new CNAS-CL01-A018:2026 for construction testing laboratories: from 2027 raw data may not be overwritten, new staffing requirements, transition until 31 March 2029
On 30 September 2026 the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) published a notice on CNAS-CL01-A018:2026, the application guidance of the accreditation criteria for testing and calibration laboratories in the field of construction engineering testing. The document applies from 1 January 2027.
- The transition runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 March 2029; from 1 January 2027 CNAS accepts applications under the new version, after 1 July 2028 it no longer accepts applications under the 2021 version, and from 1 March 2027 on-site assessments may follow the new version. CNAS-CL01-A018:2021 ceases to apply on 1 April 2029, and laboratories that have not transitioned by 31 March 2029 will have their accreditation suspended up to withdrawal.
- New clause 7.5.2 states that raw data must not be directly overwritten or altered and every modification must leave a complete, traceable trail. Field testing equipment must be checked before use and after return for its function and metrological traceability status (previously: function and calibration status).
- The technical manager, quality manager, report reviewers and authorised signatories must not exceed the statutory retirement age; the managers must have worked in the laboratory continuously for at least 2 years and the signatories for at least 1 year. Construction testing staff must be contracted by the laboratory and work exclusively for it — the 2026 version prohibits work at any other testing body (previously: at another body of the same type).
- Requirements were added for waterway and highway testing, e.g. at least 8 persons with the national certificate of waterway structure and foundation test engineer and at least 10 with the road engineering test engineer certificate, and lightning protection testing of buildings must also meet CNAS-CL01-A003 (electrical testing). According to the CNAS document list of 27 August 2025, the previous version A018:2021 had applied from 1 May 2021.