Global: HGC Engineering Achieves ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation for Noise Testing of Wind Turbines

This international accreditation means that HGC Engineering has demonstrated that it has the compulsory laboratory quality management system in-place, and the required technical competence, to consistently produce valid, calibrated, test and measurement results demanded by renewable wind energy project developers, wind turbine manufacturers, and local municipalities and communities.

HGC Engineering is now part of a small, select group of international consultants that can complete accredited acoustic noise emission measurements of wind turbines.

"Valid measurement data is essential for use in verification audits or warranty claim issues against manufacturers by operators, or for investigations into noise complaints by neighboring wind farm communities or municipalities," explains Brian Howe, President of HGC Engineering and an internationally recognized authority on wind turbine noise. "To maintain our market leadership and continue to offer cutting-edge, unassailable data to all industry interests requires that we continue to invest in, and stay up-to-date on noise assessment best practices and technologies. There is no resting on our laurels."

To that end, HGC Engineering is now not only one of a handful of North American based ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited acoustical consultants, they are now also one of the few groups in the US and Canada to deploy RoBin, a European engineered, state-of-the-art measurement and analysis system which streamlines IEC-61400-11 testing.

This integrated infield software/hardware solution by Wölfel of Germany, allows acoustical, meteorological, and operational data streams to be consolidated, viewed and verified simultaneously for integrity in real-time via a wireless network.

"This investment in state-of-the-art technology, coupled with our measurement and testing expertise, and new ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, means we can continue to offer uncompromising responsiveness, accuracy and customer satisfaction to the wind energy industry and all its impacted stakeholders," notes Ian Bonsma, Senior Engineer and Manager of HGC Engineering's Wind Energy Division. "This unrivalled value proposition of speed and technical prowess has been very well received by our clients in North America and has led to growing interest and demand for our services around the world."