Calibration And Calibrating Your Instruments

Getting a calibration certificate for your instruments is very important

. In today's industry, more instruments are being used without firstly being checked for traceable accuracy, yet the accuracy of the instrument could be the difference between failing an inspection procedure, and being correct the first time. If your company is ISO certified, having all controlling instruments calibrated on a regular basis, and holding their calibration certificate on file is a mandatory part of the auditable procedure.

The importance of calibration is not just to check that the instrument's displayed values are within specification, but also to help you understand the inaccuracy of the displayed values at specific points of measurement. When you're calibrating an instrument, it's best practise to calibrate at points of measurement critical to the instrument's application. For instance, it's a legal requirement for food caterers and retailers to ensure hot-held food is kept at 63C or above to avoid cultivating harmful bacteria, therefore it would be advisable to calibrate a thermometer at 63C, or as close as possible.

A calibration certificate proves that an instrument has been checked and verified against these critical points of measurement, and will list any errors the instrument has, giving you confidence to demonstrate to an auditor or customer that your instrument reading is within the specified accuracy, and is fit for your desired application. The certificate will be available for most instruments that are used in a professional environment where traceable accuracy is required.

In a professional environment, it's standard procedure to calibrate an instrument upon its purchase, and on an annual re-calibration basis, but if your instrument application demands a shorter period between calibrations, it's often best practise to set-up an 'automatic re-call' procedure with a qualified laboratory technician. This way you'll always be reminded when your instrument is due to be calibrated, and the instrument's accuracy won't be compromised without your prior knowledge.

If you're using an instrument that hasn't been calibrated, it has to be considered that your measurement may be seen as unreliable and incompliant to national or international standards in a professional environment.

Let's look at the options for calibrating an instrument

Traceable Calibration (National Standard)

Traceable Calibration is carried out to fully documented procedures. All calibration equipment used has UKAS Certification traceable to National Standards.

UKAS Calibration (International Standard)

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). A laboratory that provides test and calibration services to International Standards. It has regular technical audits to ensure it can maintain measurement capabilities, and complies with detailed procedures and standards of competence. This ensures that calibrations are carried out to the highest standards. UKAS certificates are also a legal document that will stand up in court.

If you're unsure about any stage of calibrating your instrument, always consult the help of a professional body.

by: Samuel Allen

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