Proficiency Services

For more than 35 years Pira has provided the paper, printing and packaging industry with comparative testing services to enable test laboratories to monitor the proficiency of their testing procedures and equipment. Many of our clients use the service as the foundation for their own ISO accreditation. Currently we provide the following services:

• Paper Proficiency
• Tissue Proficiency
• Permeability Proficiency
• Burst Test Proficiency

We can provide customised inter-laboratory comparative testing for specific company groups, and indicative value sample packs for a range of tests. Pira are also a co-ordinating, qualifying and distributing laboratory for the European CEPI-CTS service.

Reporting Results

The services provide each participant with identical sample materials and instructions on the test procedure that should be followed. They return their results, to which we apply standard statistical tests (Cochran and Grubb) and compile a full data report and personalised trend charts which are sent with the next round of samples. See Downloads for example reports.

Paper

The Paper Proficiency Service (PPS) is the largest of our services and is predominantly for clients with an interest in paper, board and package materials testing. It is a bi-monthly service with samples and reports being supplied six times per year (February, April, June, August, October, and December). For two of the rounds (April and October) the service combines with the CEPI-CTS to provide a much larger comparative group. For the majority of PPS tests there are two samples/levels, clients can choose to take all levels or single levels for each selected test. See Downloads for the full list of current tests.

We are grateful to Tullis Russell Papermakers and Warren Board for supply of a number of the test samples.

CEPI-CTS

For the April and October rounds we can supply other tests or additional samples/levels from the CEPI-CTS range, which are not normally part of the PPS service. A list of properties for which samples are provided and their indicative ranges can be found here. The price of these samples and an order form can be found in Downloads.

Permeability

The Permeability Proficiency Service (PermPS) provides film samples for checking water vapour and oxygen permeability equipment. It is a bi-annual service; samples of film are prepared every six months at Pira and sent to each subscriber in April and October, accompanied by a statistical analysis report of the previous round results.

For each round and test condition, two different types of film are provided, to give two levels of permeability. Subscribers can choose to take samples for water vapour and/or Oxygen Permeability. For WVTR, two conditions are available: 25°C, 75% rh. and 38°C, 90% rh. and again you can choose one or the other or both. Samples are identified by film number and an indicative value that enables an immediate check on results.

Burst

This Burst Proficiency Service (BPS) uses soft temper aluminum foil as reference material to check the validity of burst tester measurements. Each foil is provided with an indicative value and a correction factor, established from the foil weight.

The BPS is a monthly service, as is the reporting. The reporting format is the same as for other services.

Tissue

This is a specialist service for tissue manufacturers and converters. It is a quarterly service with samples and reports sent out at the begining of January, April, July and October.

The service currently incorporates five tests, each having two sample levels. Test details are as follows:

• Thickness (EN 12625-3)
• Dry tensile strength and stretch (EN 12625-4)
• Dry tensile stretch to break (EN 12625-4)
• Wet tensile - Finch method (EN 12625-5)
• Grammage (EN 12625-6)

In addition to the above a foil and paper sample are supplied, which allows the laboratory to establish/check the relative humidity of the testing conditions.