Proficiency and Interlaboratory Comparison Testing Scheme (PICTS) – 2024

2024 PROFICIENCY AND INTERLABORATORY COMPARISON TESTING SCHEME (PICTS)

Introduction

The Proficiency and Interlaboratory Testing Scheme (PICTS) that we have successfully been running since 2005 will be running again in 2024.

General

This year will see the expansion of the scheme to incorporate a variety of earthworks, strength and rock tests.

We will be having a single Scheme incorporating up to 26 tests. This year there will be no opportunity to increase the number and types of tests as those listed on the scheme registration page

As in previous years, we will require a minimum number of 6 participants for each test for the test to be included.

It is important to note that laboratories will have to perform tests to the listed Standards. There will be no opportunity to perform tests to other Standards.

In the case of BS EN ISO 17892 tests, other EN ISO 17892 Standards are permissible (ie DIN, БДС, NF, UNE etc).

In the case of BS 1377:2022 tests, BS 1377:1990 methods are permissible.

Please bear this in mind when deciding to participate in each phase of the scheme.

We will describe how the samples should be identified within the AGS file when the samples are dispatched to each participant.

Scheme Programme

The 2024 Scheme is now open to all UK laboratories. Laboratories wishing to participate must first register their interest by completing the online registration form by clicking the button at the bottom of this form.

This will allow interested participants the opportunity to select the tests they may wish to participate in.

The participant will then be able to automatically submit the completed form to ourselves.

If you are unable to provide AGS data from your own laboratory software we will make available an Excel reporting template for downloading and sending to us when submitting test data to the Scheme.

We are proposing to gather all scheme registrations by 31st March 2024. Please make sure you register your willingness to participate by the date.

Once received, we will then assess the amount of representative material required for each test and prepare accordingly.

At the same time each laboratory wishing to participate in the Scheme will be invoiced and the invoice will be need to be paid, in full by 31st May 2024.

The invoice will include a postage and packing and/or courier fees (where applicable). The postage and packing charges may vary for each laboratory depending upon the types of tests required to participate in and the destination address.

Once full payment is received and the representative material prepared, the material will be sent out to the participant laboratories who have paid their invoice no later than 31st May 2023.

Any payment not made in full by 31st May 2024 will not be included in the scheme.

Participating laboratories must return their completed results by 31st August 2024.

These dates must be adhered to. Data not submitted to the scheme before the 31st August 2024 deadline will not be included in the final report.

We will aim to provide a report by 30th September 2024.

Confidentiality

As before, all participating laboratories in the scheme will be allocated a unique laboratory number known only to that participating laboratory and the scheme organiser.

The reports to all participating laboratories will be provided as a factual report including tabular and/or graphical formats (if appropriate) with the identification designation being their unique laboratory number.

In this way confidentiality between laboratories will be maintained.

We will be issuing the final report to all participating laboratories with their unique identification number watermarked on their copy to further ensure security of the report to the designated laboratory only.

The final confidential report will be sent to all participating laboratories as well as UKAS; Ground Engineering magazine; Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) and other academic and trade institutions.

As in previous years, a list of the participant laboratories in alphabetical order, will be included in the report but without any reference to their unique laboratory number.

Confidentiality will be maintained throughout.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please contact us as soon as possible.