A competent, authorised person who took no part in the audit, after an independent technical review of the audit file and corrections.
GLOBAL
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Global Energy Up is an independent certification body for management systems and a validation and verification body for greenhouse-gas information. We audit and decide; we do not consult.
A cycle, not an inspection.
A certificate is not the result of one visit; it is the result of a continuous cycle of evidence and decisions.
This page sets out what happens from application to recertification, who takes each decision, and what evidence each stage requires.
- Two-stage initial certification audit
- Audit time calculated, not negotiated
- Remote auditing never reduces time
- Three finding categories only
- Independent technical review of every file
- Decision by someone outside the audit team
Eight steps
01ApplicationOrganization · sites · scope
Legal entity, sites, scope, headcount, outsourced processes and any prior consultancy.
02ReviewCompetence · audit time
Impartiality and competence screening, audit-time calculation, a written quotation and agreement.
03Stage 1Documentation · readiness
Review of documentation, readiness and scope, and planning of Stage 2.
04Stage 2On-site conformity
Evaluation of implementation and effectiveness on objective evidence.
05FindingsCorrections · actions
Findings graded; corrections and corrective actions submitted and verified.
06DecisionSeparate from the audit
Independent technical review, then a decision by an authorised person outside the audit.
07CertificateWhere the decision supports it
Issued only when the decision supports it, naming entity, sites, scope, standard and edition.
08SurveillanceSurveillance · recertification
Annual surveillance, then recertification before the certificate expires.
How audit time is determined
Audit time is calculated under ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 clause 9.1.4 and the applicable scheme rules, and is never shortened for commercial reasons.
01.
Inputs
Effective personnel, shifts, sites, and the complexity of activities and risks.
02.
Scheme rules
IAF requirements for quality, environmental and OH&S systems; ISO 22003-1:2022 for food safety; ISO 50003:2021 for energy; ISO/IEC 20000-6:2017 for IT service management.
03.
Documentation
The calculation, any adjustment and its justification are recorded in the client file before the audit.
How findings are graded
Major nonconformity
Failure to fulfil a requirement that affects the system’s capability to achieve its intended results, or significant doubt that effective control is in place. Correction and corrective action are verified before the decision.
Minor nonconformity
Failure to fulfil a requirement that does not affect the system’s capability to achieve its intended results. An accepted plan for correction and corrective action is required before the decision.
Opportunity for improvement
A note that is not a nonconformity, given without recommending specific solutions or providers.
Certificate status
Every certificate appears in our register with its real status; suspended and withdrawn certificates are never removed from it.
Active
Valid on today’s date, for the scope shown and no more.
Suspended
Invalid for its whole scope during suspension; all claims of certification must stop. Suspension normally does not exceed six months.
Withdrawn
No longer certified; the mark must not be used and references must be corrected.
Scope reduced
Valid only for the amended scope, after excluding what no longer conforms.
Expired
The validity period ended without recertification.
Restored
Reinstated after the causes of suspension were resolved and verified.
- Who decides whether a certificate is granted?
- When is the first surveillance audit?No later than twelve months from the date of the certification decision.
- Can a suspension be extended?Suspension normally does not exceed six months. If the causes are not resolved within it, the certificate is withdrawn or its scope reduced.
